Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB418: AN ACT relating to domestic violence.
Status: In committee, March 25, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 403 to prohibit the removal from custody or the reduction in parenting time of a party solely for improvement of relationship between the child and the other party where the court has made a finding of domestic violence or abuse; require the court to make considerations of scientific validity prior to ordering therapy for reunification; require orders remediating the resistance of a child to contact with a violent or abusive parent to primarily address the behavior of that parent; amend KRS 403.270 to require a court to consider allegations of domestic violence or abuse and make written findings on the record prior to consideration of other factors relevant to determination of custody; add malicious false allegations of child abuse as a factor to be considered in custody determinations; amend KRS 403.290 to require paid visitation supervisors and parenting coordinators in custody proceedings to receive specialized training; amend KRS 403.315 to provide for a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and shared equal parenting time are not in the best interests of the child where the court finds that a party has committed 2 or more acts of domestic violence or abuse against another party; require a parent found to have committed 2 or more acts of domestic violence or abuse against another party to undergo counseling or treatment prior to being awarded custody of a child; amend KRS 403.727 to require guardians ad litem to receive specialized training for proceedings involving petitions for orders of protection for minors; allow victim advocates to attend evidentiary hearings in orders of protection proceedings involving minors; amend KRS 456.035 to require guardians ad litem to receive specialized training for proceedings involving interpersonal orders of protection for minors; allow victim advocates to attend evidentiary hearings on interpersonal orders of protection proceedings involving minors.
What the bill says
An act relating to domestic violence.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to domestic violence. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 403 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: In any proceeding for child custody under this chapter where the court has made a finding that a party has committed domestic violence and abuse as defined in KRS 403.720 against another party to the proceeding or a child of the parties: (1) The court shall not remove custody from or reduce the parenting time of the nonoffending party to whom the child is bonded or attached if the court finds that and (b) Removal would be solely for purposes of improving the relationship between the child and the offending party; and (2) Any order to remediate resistance of a child to contact with a violent or abusive parent shall primarily address the behavior of that parent. Section 2. KRS 403.270 is amended to read as follows: (1) (a) As used in this chapter and KRS 405.020, unless the context requires otherwise, "de facto custodian" means a person who has been shown by clear and convincing evidence to have been the primary caregiver for, and financial supporter of, a child who within the last two (2) years has resided with the person for an aggregate period of …
Sponsors
- Jason Nemes (R, HD-033) · primary sponsor
- George Brown (D, HD-077)
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Vanessa Grossl (R, HD-088)
- Kimberly Holloway (R, HD-002)
Latest actions
- : returned to Committee on Committees (S)
- : 1st reading
- : taken from Committee on Committees (S)
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 96-1 with Committee Substitute (1)
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 04 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- : to Families & Children (H)
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 190 (March 4, 2026): 96 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Domestic Relations, Courts, Children And Minors, Parental Rights, Courts, Family, Courts, Circuit, Civil Actions, Civil Procedure
Common questions
- What is HB418?
- HB418 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to domestic violence.
- What does HB418 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to domestic violence.
- What is the status of HB418?
- In committee as of March 25, 2026. Latest action: returned to Committee on Committees (S) (March 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB418?
- Jason Nemes (R, HD-033), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB418?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb418.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.