Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB541: AN ACT relating to peace officers.
Status: In committee, March 19, 2026
Amend KRS 15.310 to define "agency" and "court order"; amend KRS 15.382 to provide that minimum standards for peace officer certification shall be met prior to being hired; exclude any candidate that is prohibited by a court order from possessing a firearm; provide that certain screening tests conducted by local law enforcement agencies be approved by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council; amend KRS 15.3975 to provide that any extension for a court security officer to complete required training may be granted by the executive director of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council; amend KRS 15.404 to provide that any extension for a peace officer to complete required training may be granted by the executive director of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council; amend KRS 15.405 to require an agency to request previous employment records for a candidate before making a conditional offer of employment; amend KRS 15.990 to provide that any agency who does not comply with KRS 15.405 shall be subject to a fine of between $25 and $1,000.
What the bill says
An act relating to peace officers.
From the committee substitute text:
AN ACT relating to peace officers. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 15.310 is amended to read as follows: As used in KRS 15.310 to 15.510, 15.990, and 15.992, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Agency" means any law enforcement agency or other unit of government listed in KRS 15.380 that employs a certified peace officer or certified court security officer; (2) "Basic training course" means the peace officer or court security officer basic training course provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Training or a course approved and recognized by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council; (3)[(2)] "Certified court security officer" means a court security officer who is certified under KRS 15.380 to 15.404; (4)[(3)] "Certified peace officer" means a peace officer who is certified under KRS 15.380 to 15.404; (5)[(4)] "Certification" means the act by the council of issuing certification to a peace officer or court security officer who successfully completes the training requirements pursuant to KRS 15.404 and the requirements set forth within this chapter; (6)[(5)] "Council" means the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council established by KRS 15.310 to 15.510, 15.990, and 15.992; (7) "Court order" means any judgment, decree, or order restraining a person from a possessing a firearm that was issued by a federal court or a court …
Sponsors
- John Blanton (R, HD-092) · primary sponsor
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Erika Hancock (D, HD-057)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 95-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 277 (March 18, 2026): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Police, State, Peace Officers And Law Enforcement, Sheriffs, Police, City And County, Local Mandate
Common questions
- What is HB541?
- HB541 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to peace officers.
- What does HB541 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to peace officers.
- What is the status of HB541?
- In committee as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (March 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB541?
- John Blanton (R, HD-092), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB541?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb541.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.