Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB569: AN ACT relating to designation of special judges and declaring an emergency.
Status: In committee, March 18, 2026
Amend KRS 26A.020 to establish that any person may submit an affidavit to the Attorney General asserting that an assigned judge cannot impartially preside in a pending action; authorize the Attorney General to determine if the impartiality of the judge may reasonably be questioned; authorize the Attorney General to submit the affidavit to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who shall determine whether to appoint a special judge.
What the bill says
An act relating to designation of special judges and declaring an emergency.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to designation of special judges and declaring an emergency. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 26A.020 is amended to read as follows: (1) (a) When, from any cause, a judge of any Circuit or District Court fails to attend, or being in attendance cannot properly preside in an action pending in the court, or if a vacancy occurs or exists in the office of circuit or district judge, the circuit clerk shall at once certify the facts to the Chief Justice who shall immediately designate a regular or retired justice or judge of the Court of Justice as special judge. (b) 1. If any[either] party files with the circuit clerk his or her affidavit that the judge will not afford him or her a fair and impartial trial, or will not impartially decide an application for a change of venue, the circuit clerk shall at once certify the facts to the Chief Justice who shall immediately review the facts and determine whether to designate a regular or retired justice or judge of the Court of Justice as special judge. 2. Any person may submit to the Attorney General his or her affidavit that the judge will not impartially decide a question of law or a constitutional challenge to …
Sponsors
- Stephanie Dietz (R, HD-065) · primary sponsor
- T.J. Roberts (R, HD-066)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 75-16 with Floor Amendment (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title)
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026
- : floor amendments (1) and (2-title) filed
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 269 (March 17, 2026): 75 yea, 16 nay, passed
Subjects: Courts, Circuit, Courts, District, Court, Supreme, Attorney General, Civil Actions, Judges And Court Commissioners, Civil Procedure
Common questions
- What is HB569?
- HB569 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to designation of special judges and declaring an emergency.
- What does HB569 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to designation of special judges and declaring an emergency.
- What is the status of HB569?
- In committee as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB569?
- Stephanie Dietz (R, HD-065), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB569?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb569.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.