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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky HB 146 establishes new educational and experience qualifications and training requirements for victim advocates
Last action · January 14, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsors: Peyton Griffee and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
AN ACT relating to qualifications of victim advocates.
Commonwealth's and county attorneys must now hire support personnel meeting specific educational thresholds and ensure newly hired staff complete state-provided training within mandatory timelines.
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.
Victim advocates
Victim advocates face updated educational and experience hiring thresholds, must complete mandatory training within thirty days of hire, and are barred from political activities during work hours.
Commonwealth's and county attorneys
Attorneys employing victim advocates must develop written job descriptions for the roles and ensure staff complete required training.
Prosecutors Advisory Council
The Council is responsible for reviewing and approving the creation and funding of any new personnel positions.
Key Facts
- Victim advocates must be at least eighteen years of age, of good moral character, and hold either a bachelor's degree or a high school diploma with at least two years of experience providing direct services, support, counseling, or advocacy.
- The Office of Victims Advocacy in the Office of the Attorney General must provide training covering the role of the system-based advocate, unauthorized practice of law, relevant statutes, rights of crime victims, and best practices.
- Commonwealth's and county attorneys who employ victim advocates must develop a written job description and ensure training completion regarding domestic violence and elder abuse.
- The creation and funding of any new personnel position must be reviewed and approved by the Prosecutors Advisory Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What educational qualifications are required to be a victim advocate under this bill?
When must a newly hired victim advocate begin training?
What restrictions are placed on victim advocates regarding political activities?
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- Jan 14, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
- Jan 7, 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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