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HB 479KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead
Did Not Advance

Kentucky Bill Expands Hate Crime Definitions and Sets New Law Enforcement Training Standards

Original title: AN ACT relating to hate crimes.

Last action · January 30, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsor: Daniel Grossberg

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

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 479 updates the legal definition of hate crimes to explicitly include gender identity or expression, establishes a civil cause of action for victims, and mandates new hate crime training requirements for police officers and law enforcement agencies.

Why it matters

The bill broadens the protected categories under state hate crime statutes, allowing victims to sue perpetrators for triple damages and emotional distress while requiring local police departments to adopt specific hate crime policies to remain eligible for state training funds.

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

Law enforcement officers

Officers are required to complete periodic training on hate crime identification and reporting, and note bias indicators on uniform offense reports.

Directly affected

Crime victims

Victims gain a specific civil cause of action to sue perpetrators for triple damages, emotional distress, and legal fees.

Directly affected

Units of local government

Local governments must ensure their police departments maintain approved written policies on hate crimes to remain eligible for Law Enforcement Foundation Program distributions.

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 new characteristics are added to Kentucky's hate crime statute?
The bill explicitly adds 'gender identity or expression' alongside existing protected categories like race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, ethnicity, and national origin.
Can victims of hate crimes sue civilly under this measure?
Yes, victims who suffer bodily injury or property damage from a hate crime can bring a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator to recover , actual and emotional distress damages, triple actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions
  1. Jan 30, 2026HouseCommittee
    to Judiciary (H)
  2. Jan 22, 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

Daniel GrossbergHouse · District 30DemocraticPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift98% confidence

Expansion of Hate Crime Protections and Civil Liability

The bill shifts Kentucky law by explicitly protecting gender identity or expression in hate crimes and introducing private civil causes of action with triple damages.

General Assembly of the Commonwealth of KentuckyKentucky Law Enforcement Council

Connected Entities

Department of Kentucky State Police, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Federal Bureau of Investigation and 3 more
OrganizationDepartment of Kentucky State Police“Receives evidence and forensic submissions”Map →
OrganizationJustice and Public Safety Cabinet“Provides training on domestic violence, hate crimes, and abuse”Map →
OrganizationFederal Bureau of Investigation“Receives timely reports of hate crimes from law enforcement agencies”Map →
OrganizationKentucky Law Enforcement Council“Approves mandatory training subjects and courses”Map →
OrganizationCabinet for Health and Family Services“Secretary approves specialized pediatric trauma training organizations”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky“Legislative body enacting the bill”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)
  • Controversy70
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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