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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky House Bill 858 Authorizes Criminal Case Mediation in Circuit and District Courts
Last action · March 10, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsor: Patrick Flannery
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 858 permits Circuit and s to refer criminal matters to mediation upon the agreement of all parties, including the victim, provided the mediator meets specific legal experience and training requirements.
Establishes a formal referral process for criminal mediation overseen by the Court of Justice, creating specific qualification standards for mediators handling criminal cases.
- The General Assembly of Kentucky is the state legislature responsible for enacting statutory law. context
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.
Crime Victims
Victims must give their agreement before a pending criminal matter can be referred to mediation.
Circuit and District Courts
Courts gain the authority to refer pending criminal matters to mediation upon the agreement of all parties.
Mediators
Mediators must meet specific legal background, geographic experience, and 40-hour training thresholds to qualify for court appointments.
Key Facts
- Parties in any criminal matter pending in Circuit or District Court may request the matter be referred for mediation.
- Court referral to mediation requires the agreement of all parties, including the victim.
- Mediators must meet at least two specified professional experience requirements, such as serving as a former county attorney, public advocacy attorney, district or circuit judge, or long-term licensed attorney with criminal law experience.
- Mediators must have local experience in the same circuit or district, a contiguous district, or within a 75-mile radius.
Show all 8 facts
- Mediators must complete a minimum of 40 hours of mediation training.
- Mediators are compensated as authorized by the policies of the Court of Justice unless otherwise agreed by the parties.
- Mediation under this section operates in addition to any existing felony mediation program authorized by the Court of Justice.
- Court of Justice rules regarding confidentiality and reporting apply to mediations conducted under this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must agree before a criminal matter can be referred to mediation?
What training requirements must a mediator satisfy under House Bill 858?
How are mediators compensated?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Mar 10, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
- Mar 3, 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 45)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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