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SB 281 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to grandparent visitation.

Summary
Amend KRS 405.021 to establish a clear and convincing standard of evidence in determining grandparent visitation; establish factors the court may consider in determining the best interests of the child; remove rebuttable presumption standard; amend KRS 620.090 to conform.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill reorganizes the statute to clarify that grandparents must prove visitation is in the child's best interest by a preponderance of the evidence, rather than overcoming a presumption that fit parents act in the child's best interest. It also adds a specific provision allowing visitation for deceased grandparents who have assumed financial child support obligations.
Scope change
The scope of applicability remains focused on grandparent visitation, but the legal standard for granting such visitation has been adjusted to remove the presumption against grandparents.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that grandparents must overcome a presumption that fit parents act in the child's best interest; the court now simply finds by a preponderance of the evidence that visitation is in the best interest of the child.

Reordered and renumbered the list of factors the court must consider when determining the best interest of the child to improve statutory clarity.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for visitation rights for grandparents whose child (the parent of the grandchild) is deceased, provided the grandparent has assumed the financial obligation of child support owed by the deceased parent.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2026

How they voted

41–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 44
Mar 17, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican38
35 Yea 3
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 36-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.