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HB 541KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead
Did Not Advance

Kentucky HB 541 updates peace officer certification, training, and background investigation requirements

Original title: AN ACT relating to peace officers.

Last action · March 19, 2026: received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)Sponsors: John Blanton and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 541 updates peace officer and court security officer certification standards, training mandates, and revocation procedures, while establishing strict reporting deadlines for employing agencies. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to report specific misconduct or revocation conditions to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council within 15 days and mandates sharing complete personnel files and internal investigation records for prospective hires.

Why it matters

Law enforcement agencies face potential funding suspension from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund for up to five years if they fail to report officer misconduct or termination conditions within 15 days. Additionally, prospective police recruits and current officers are subject to modified physical agility exemptions, mandatory background checks, and expanded grounds for automatic or council-ordered certification revocation.

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.

Directly affected

Peace officers

Certified peace officers are subject to new automatic and discretionary decertification triggers, mandatory 40-hour annual in-service training, and background screening rules.

Directly affected

Court security officers

Court security officers must complete 80 hours of basic training and 40 hours of biennial in-service training, with failure leading to loss of powers and precertification status lapse.

Directly affected

Law enforcement agencies

Agencies must fulfill strict 15-day reporting requirements for officer terminations or resignations under investigation, provide complete personnel and internal investigation files to hiring agencies within 14 days, and face potential funding suspension for non-compliance.

Directly affected

Kentucky Law Enforcement Council

The council receives reports of officer misconduct, conducts administrative hearings for decertification and reinstatement, and oversees training and background standards.

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

What happens if a police officer resigns while under administrative investigation for professional malfeasance?
The employing agency must report the condition to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council within 15 days of the resignation if the agency determines the officer likely would have been terminated had the facts been substantiated prior to resignation.
Can an agency be penalized if it fails to report an officer's termination for professional malfeasance?
Yes. If an agency fails to make required reports to the council, the council may suspend the agency from participating in the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund for a period not to exceed five years.
Are out-of-state transfer officers always required to pass a physical agility test in Kentucky?
No. An officer is exempt from passing a physical agility test if they provide certified documentation that they have been continuously employed as a full-time certified peace officer in another state for at least 10 years, are in good standing, and previously passed a physical agility test as a condition of employment.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in the Senate.

Procedural history

7 actions
  1. Mar 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
    received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
  2. Mar 18, 2026HouseFloor
    3rd reading, passed 95-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
  3. Mar 13, 2026House
    posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026
  4. Mar 12, 2026HouseFloor
    2nd reading, to Rules
  5. Mar 11, 2026House
    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
  6. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
    to Judiciary (H)
Show 1 earlier action
  1. Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
    introduced 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

John BlantonHouse · District 92RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Beverly Chester-BurtonHouse · District 44DemocraticCosponsor
Erika HancockHouse · District 57DemocraticCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Mandatory Reporting and Penalties for Agencies

HB 541 introduces rigid 15-day reporting windows for law enforcement agencies regarding officer misconduct and ties reporting compliance directly to Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund eligibility with suspensions up to five years.

Kentucky Law Enforcement Council

Connected Entities

Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Erika Hancock, Department of Criminal Justice Training and 6 more
OrganizationJustice and Public Safety Cabinet“Cabinet encompassing the Department of Criminal Justice Training”Map →
PersonErika Hancock“Cosponsor of HB 541”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Criminal Justice Training“Department providing basic training courses”Map →
OrganizationAdministrative Office of the Courts“Office developing court security officer training with the council”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body enacting the bill”Map →
OrganizationKentucky Law Enforcement Council“Council responsible for peace officer and court security officer certification a”Map →
PersonJohn Blanton“Primary sponsor of HB 541”Map →
OrganizationKentucky Department of Education“Body determining Kentucky high school graduation attendance and curriculum stand”Map →
PersonBeverly Chester-Burton“Cosponsor of HB 541”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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