Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB588: AN ACT relating to the abolition of the death penalty.
Status: In committee, February 13, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 532 to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without parole for inmates presently sentenced to death; amend KRS 532.030, relating to authorized dispositions for felony offenses, to remove the death penalty; amend KRS 533.010, relating to probation, to prohibit probation for a person sentenced to life without parole or life without parole for 25 years; amend KRS 640.010 to define terms; amend KRS 640.040, relating to penalties for juveniles convicted of felony offenses, to prohibit life imprisonment without benefit of parole for a capital offense; amend KRS 422.285, 532.050, and 532.100 to conform; repeal KRS 431.213, 431.2135, 431.218, 431.220, 431.223, 431.224, 431.240, 431.250, 431.260, 431.270, 507A.060, 532.025, 532.075, 532.130, 532.135, 532.140, 532.300, 532.305, and 532.309.
What the bill says
An act relating to the abolition of the death penalty.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the abolition of the death penalty. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 532 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, capital punishment by means of the death penalty is abolished as of the effective date of this Act. (2) The court having jurisdiction over a person sentenced to death before the effective date of this Act and for whom the death sentence has not been executed shall sentence that person to imprisonment for life without benefit of probation or parole. Section 2. KRS 422.285 is amended to read as follows: (1) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a person who was convicted of a capital offense, a Class A felony, a Class B felony, or any offense that would classify a person as a violent offender[designated a violent offense] under KRS 439.3401 and who meets the requirements of this section may at any time request the forensic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing and analysis of any evidence that is in the possession or control of the court or Commonwealth, that is related to the investigation or prosecution that resulted in the judgment of conviction and that may contain biological evidence. (b) …
Sponsors
- James Tipton (R, HD-053) · primary sponsor
- Anne Donworth (D, HD-076)
- Mark Hart (R, HD-078)
- Scott Sharp (R, HD-100)
Latest actions
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Criminal Procedure, Crimes And Punishments, Courts, Deaths, Children And Minors, Corrections Impact
Common questions
- What is HB588?
- HB588 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the abolition of the death penalty.
- What does HB588 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the abolition of the death penalty.
- What is the status of HB588?
- In committee as of February 13, 2026. Latest action: to Judiciary (H) (February 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB588?
- James Tipton (R, HD-053), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB588?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb588.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.