Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB637: AN ACT relating to animal welfare.
Status: In committee, February 20, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 17 to define terms; require the Department of Kentucky State Police to develop and operate an animal abuse offender registry; require offenders to register for 2 years for a first offense and 5 years for subsequent offenses; require offenders to pay a $100 registration fee and $100 every year the offender is registered; establish that a violation of registration requirements and providing false information to the registry are Class A misdemeanors; establish the animal abuse offender registry fund; create a new section of KRS Chapter 620 to require Cabinet for Health and Family Services employees to report animal abuse; amend KRS 321.188 to require veterinarians to report animal abuse.
What the bill says
An act relating to animal welfare.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to animal welfare. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 17 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Animal abuse offender registry" means the registry for animal abuse offenders established under subsection (2) of this section; (b) "Animal abuse offense" means a violation of KRS 525.125, 525.130, 525.135, 525.137, 525.200, or 525.205; (c) "Department" means the Department of Kentucky State Police; (d) "Offender" means any person who has been convicted of, pled guilty to, or entered an Alford plea to an animal abuse offense; and (e) "Offender information" means an offender's name, age, county of residence, current photograph, a description of the crime or crimes committed, and other identifying information determined necessary by the department. (2) The department shall develop and operate an animal abuse offender registry by January 1, 2027. (3) (a) After the department has developed the animal abuse offender registry and it is operational, an offender, upon his or her release by a court or the, Parole Board, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, or any detention facility shall be required to register with the department for two (2) years for a first animal abuse offense, and five (5) years for each subsequent animal …
Sponsors
- Rachel Roarx (D, HD-038) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: State Agencies, Police, State, Criminal Procedure, Crimes And Punishments, Crime Victims, Courts, Animals, Livestock, And Poultry, Corrections And Correctional Facilities, State
Common questions
- What is HB637?
- HB637 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to animal welfare.
- What does HB637 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to animal welfare.
- What is the status of HB637?
- In committee as of February 20, 2026. Latest action: to Judiciary (H) (February 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB637?
- Rachel Roarx (D, HD-038).
- Where is the official record for HB637?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb637.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.