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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky HB 297 expands police officer definitions to include State Fair Board special officers
Last action · February 20, 2026: received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)Sponsors: Chris Lewis and 7 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky House Bill 297 updates the statutory definition of a police officer to include Kentucky State Fair Board special police officers, making them subject to specific training and qualification standards under KRS 15.410 to 15.510.
Modifies the eligibility criteria for state training and qualification frameworks by adding Kentucky State Fair Board special police officers to the official roster of recognized state law enforcement personnel.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Kentucky State Fair Board special police officers
Their professional classification is updated to include them explicitly as state officers under KRS 15.420.
Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
The cabinet oversees the statutory definitions and framework governing the newly included peace officers.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is newly included as a police officer under HB 297?
Does the bill include local constables or auxiliary police officers?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in the Senate.
Procedural history
7 actions- Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroducedreceived in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
- Feb 19, 2026HouseFloor3rd reading, passed 96-0
- Feb 18, 2026HouseFloor2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 19 2026
- Feb 17, 2026Housereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- Jan 30, 2026HouseCommitteereassigned to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)
- Jan 16, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
Show 1 earlier action
- Jan 9, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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