31 total bills, 7 anti-gun bills,
10 pro-gun bills for this session
Proposed Kentucky Firearm Legislation
31 total bills, 7 anti-gun bills,
10 pro-gun bills for this session
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Filter: Click on bill number for details. jump to upper chamber
note: Kentucky does not carry over legislation from session to session
Title: AN ACT relating to emergencies and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 39A to define "emergency order", set parameters for the issuance of an emergency order, and provide for legal action to enforce the parameters; amend Section 39A.090 to apply the emergency order definition to executive orders issued under KRS Chapters 39A to 39F; amend KRS 39A.100 to require that emergency orders issued by the Governor contain an expiration date not greater than 14 days, with extension only as provided by the General Assembly, require that emergency orders issued by a chief executive of a local government contain an expiration date of not greater than 14 days with extension only as provided by the legislative body of the local government, move associated election deadlines if the date of the election is moved, prohibit the suspension of any laws, and specify that no governmental entity may prohibit or severely limit in-person worship; amend KRS 194A.025 to specify that the Secretary for Heath and Family Services may not take any action contrary to the specific limitations on actions by the cabinet in the event of infectious or contagious diseases; amend KRS 214.020 to limit actions taken by the Cabinet for Heath and Family Services in the event of infectious or contagious disease to 21 days unless extended or changed by the General Assembly, and prohibit similar or related actions taken to extend the time limitation; name the Act the "Ensuring Basic Checks and Balances and Basic Liberties During Emergencies Act; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to emergencies.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.090 to limit the effective dates of emergency executive orders issued by the Governor to thirty days unless extended by the General Assembly; amend KRS 39A.100 to require executive orders suspending or delaying an election to remain in effect unless changed by an action of the General Assembly; amend KRS 367.374 to allow the Governor only one additional fifteen day extension period.
Last Action: introduced in House
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to governmental emergencies.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.100 to require the Governor to call an extraordinary session of the General Assembly simultaneously with any declaration of emergency in order for the declaration to be valid for 15 days unless changed by the General Assembly; prohibit the Governor from declaring a new emergency based on the same facts upon the expiration of the initial declaration; prohibit the Governor from suspending statutes or administrative regulations unless the subject matter is enumerated under Chapter 39A; amend KRS 39A.280, 315.500, and 367.374 to conform.
Last Action: introduced in House
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms.
Description: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to define terms; grant authority to District Court to issue search warrants to law enforcement officers to seize firearms from persons believed to be dangerous due to untreated mental illness or documented evidence of a propensity for violence; grant authority to law enforcement officers to seize firearms from persons believed to be dangerous without a warrant; establish protocols for court hearing to determine dangerousness of person and authority to prohibit person from possessing firearms; establish protocol for petitions to prove person is no longer dangerous; establish protocol for disposition of seized firearms after specified time; require the Administrative Office of the Courts to collect and publish statistics on gun seizures; establish penalties; amend KRS 16.220 to conform.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to gun safety for children.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to make it a crime to unlawfully store a firearm; establish elements of the crime for recklessly allowing access to an unsecured firearm by a minor; establish the crime as a Class B misdemeanor unless a physical injury or death results, in which case it is a Class A misdemeanor; establish the short title of "Baby Dre Gun Safety Act."
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to specify definitions for "assault weapons," "large-capacity ammunition-feeding devices," and "ammunition sellers"; require background checks for private firearms sales; require reporting to law enforcement of firearm and ammunition thefts and losses; require the safe storage of firearms; amend KRS 395.250 to require an estate's inventory to list each firearm; amend KRS 403.735 to require judges, when issuing an order of protection, to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing an firearm; amend KRS 504.030 to require judges in criminal cases where a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity to demand the surrender of the defendant's firearms; amend KRS 237.104 to conform; amend KRS 506.080 to specify that the offense of facilitation includes assistance in providing firearms; amend KRS 508.020 to include physical injury to a minor by virtue of the intentional discharge of a firearm within the offense of assault in the second degree; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to create the offense of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon; amend KRS 527.040 to require that the sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm be served subsequent to any other felony sentence; amend KRS 527.070 to include postsecondary education facilities within the existing ban on firearms in schools; amend KRS 532.030 to require the judge pronouncing a defendant guilty but mentally ill to demand the surrender of the person's firearms; create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to require the State Police to promulgate administrative regulations relating to the licensing of persons to possess handguns and assault weapons, the registration of handguns and assault weapons, and the logging of firearms and ammunition sales effective January 1, 2022; amend KRS 532.025 to conform; amend KRS 237.115 to conform; repeal KRS 65.870; EMERGENCY; some provisions EFFECTIVE January 1, 2022.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to governmental emergencies and declaring an emergency.
Description: Repeal, reenact, and amend KRS 39A.100 to limit declarations of emergency, including executive orders relating to an emergency, to 15 days unless extended by the General Assembly; prohibit the Governor from declaring a new emergency based on the same facts upon the expiration of the initial declaration; prohibit the Governor from suspending statutes or administrative regulations unless the subject matter is authorized by statute; limit declarations of emergency by local chief executive officers to 15 days unless terminated earlier or extended by the corresponding local legislative body; amend KRS 39A.180, 39A.280, 315.500, and 367.374 to conform; create a noncodified section asserting the provisions of the Act are nonseverable; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to unlawful discriminatory practices.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to define terms; establish an unlawful discriminatory practice against the firearms industry; create a civil cause of action to be brought by victims; create a civil cause of action to be brought by the Attorney General.
Last Action: to Licensing & Occupations (S)
Last Action Date: March 11, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to emergencies and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 48 to prohibit the use of governmental funds in contravention of the provisions of KRS Chapters 39A to 39F; amend KRS 39A.090 to apply emergency order limitations to executive orders issued under KRS Chapters 39A to 39F; amend KRS 39A.100 to require that emergency orders issued by the Governor be limited to 15 days, with extension only as provided by the General Assembly; require that emergency orders issued by a chief executive of a local government be limited to 15 days with extension only as provided by the legislative body of the local government; remove the ability of the Governor to change the manner of the election in an emergency; require the Governor to report to the General Assembly or the Legislative Research Commission every 30 days expenditures relating to contracts issued during the emergency and all revenues received from the federal government and their expenditure; allow the Governor to suspend a statute in an emergency only under certain conditions; place certain limitations on the issuance of an emergency executive order; define the burden of proof in actions for declaratory or injunctive relief to enforce the requirements; waive immunity for declaratory and prospective equitable relief under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution of the United States for cases brought under KRS 446.350 or to enforce the provisions in KRS 39A.100; prohibit the Governor from issuing an emergency executive order that imposes restrictions on freedom of speech, press, and religion; prohibit any governmental entity from using governmental funds in contravention of KRS 39A.100 or 194A.025; amend KRS 39A.180 removing authority for the Governor to suspend laws and administrative regulations during an emergency; amend KRS 39A.280 to specify immunity during a declared emergency; amend KRS 39A.990 to make a violation of Chapter 39A subject to a fine instead of a misdemeanor charge; amend KRS 39D.040 to exempt any officer whose vacancy is filled by the Constitution of Kentucky from the definition of "office" and specify that those officers are exempt from the provisions of filling an office during an emergency; amend KRS 315.500 to require any extension of the 30-day emergency supply of drugs be approved by the General Assembly; amend KRS 367.374 to conform; amend KRS 194A.025 to prohibit the secretary of health and family services from taking any action contrary to the requirements of KRS 39A.100; name the Act the "Ensuring Basic Checks and Balances and Basic Liberties During Emergencies Act"; provide a severability clause; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: taken from State & Local Government (S)
Last Action Date: March 15, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to religion.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.100 to exclude houses of worship from emergency condemnation authority; prohibit a governmental entity from prohibiting religious services during an emergency to a greater extent than imposed on other organizations or businesses that provide essential services; require a compelling governmental interest to place a burden on a religious organizations; prohibit a governmental entity from taking any discriminatory action against a religious organization on the basis that the organization is religious; define "discriminatory action," "governmental entity," "religious organization," and "religious services"; allow a religious organization to assert a violation of this section as a claim against a governmental entity or as a defense and waive sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity to the extent of liability under the Act; set out remedies available to a religious organization under this Act; specify how the Act is to be construed; require a religious organization to bring an action under this Act no later than 2 years from the date the person should have known of the discriminatory action.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to concealed deadly weapons.
Description: Repeal KRS 237.115 interpreting the application of the concealed carry deadly weapon licensing statute to postsecondary facilities and permitting state and local governments to pass legislation limiting concealed carry in buildings controlled by that government; amend various sections to conform.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 2, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to preserving the right of Kentuckians to own and use firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to state legislative findings and make declarations that all federal laws and regulations commandeering state or local law enforcement to enforce federal restrictions of firearms are invalid and of no effect in Kentucky and that the General Assembly has the duty to enact all measures to prevent their enforcement; that the General Assembly has the duty to protect and defend the state and federal constitutions; that proposed presidential actions relating to the acquisition, possession, and use of firearms and accessories are violative of presidential powers and citizens' rights under the federal constitution; provide retroactive application back to January 1, 2018; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 3, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to pretrial diversion.
Description: Amend KRS 533.250 to provide that acceptance of an Alford plea or a plea of guilty for pretrial diversion shall be suspended until a condition of pretrial diversion has been violated or the diversion program is completed; create a new section of KRS Chapter 533 to establish that a person who has accepted a pretrial diversion agreement retains his or her right to possess a firearm unless a court finds that the charge involved the use of a firearm and it is in the interest of the defendant and the public to restrict access.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 4, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to preserving the right of Kentuckians to own and use firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to state legislative findings and make declarations that all federal laws and regulations commandeering state or local law enforcement to enforce federal restrictions of firearms are invalid and of no effect in Kentucky and that the General Assembly has the duty to enact all measures to prevent their enforcement; that the General Assembly has the duty to protect and defend the state and federal constitutions; that proposed presidential actions relating to the acquisition, possession, and use of firearms and accessories are violative of presidential powers and citizens' rights under the federal constitution; provide retroactive application back to January 1, 2018; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 9, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms.
Description: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to allow law enforcement officers to petition a court to issue extreme risk protection orders when a respondent poses a present danger of causing serious physical injury to themselves or others through purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm; establish procedures for the filing, review, hearing, termination, or renewal of the petition and orders; provide court processes and evidentiary standards; allow entry of the orders into law enforcement systems; prescribe issuance and service procedures for resulting protection orders; establish procedures for the surrender, storage, transfer, and return of firearms; establish penalties; create new sections of KRS Chapter 16 to direct the Kentucky State Police to establish the Kentucky Voluntary No Sell Firearms List to prohibit the possession, sale, or transfer of firearms to individuals who voluntarily request to be added the list; prescribe procedures for application for entry and removal from the list; establish penalties; amend KRS 16.220 to direct proceeds of an auctioned firearm confiscated pursuant to a protective order to go to the firearm owner; amend KRS 237.110 to exclude persons subject to protection order from eligibility for license to carry a concealed weapon; amend KRS 431.015 to allow warrantless arrest for violation of protection order; amend 431.076 to allow expungement of records of dismissed petitions.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 10, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to specify definitions for "assault weapons," "large-capacity ammunition-feeding devices," and "ammunition sellers"; require background checks for private firearms sales; require reporting to law enforcement of firearm and ammunition thefts and losses; require the safe storage of firearms; amend KRS 395.250 to require an estate's inventory to list each firearm; amend KRS 403.735 and 456.050 to require judges, when issuing an order of protection or interpersonal protective order, to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing an firearm; amend KRS 504.030 to require judges in criminal cases where a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity to demand the surrender of the defendant's firearms; amend KRS 237.104 to conform; amend KRS 506.080 to specify that the offense of facilitation includes assistance in providing firearms; amend KRS 508.020 to include physical injury to a minor by virtue of the intentional discharge of a firearm within the offense of assault in the second degree; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to create the offense of criminal purchase or transfer of a firearm; amend KRS 527.040 to require that the sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm be served subsequent to any other felony sentence; amend KRS 527.070 to include postsecondary education facilities within the existing ban on firearms in schools; amend KRS 532.030 to require the judge pronouncing a defendant guilty but mentally ill to demand the surrender of the person's firearms; create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to require the State Police to promulgate administrative regulations relating to the licensing of persons to possess handguns and assault weapons, the registration of handguns and assault weapons, and the logging of firearms and ammunition sales effective January 1, 2022; amend KRS 532.025 to conform; amend KRS 237.115 to conform; repeal KRS 65.870; EMERGENCY; some provisions EFFECTIVE January 1, 2022.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 11, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to executive powers.
Description: Create a new section in KRS Chapter 11 that would prohibit an executive order from substanially burdening a person's freedom of religion, right to bear arms, right to protect themselves or their property, own or operate a business, or a person's right to collect, extract, or distribute natural resources that would serve as a source of energy to heat, cool, or provide electricity to homes, or provide fuel to vehicles; prohibit an executive order from violating other laws; create a new section in KRS Chapter 13A that would prohbit an administrative regulation from substanially burdening a person's freedom of religion, right to bear arms, right to protect themselves or their property, own or operate a business, or a person's right to collect, extract, or distribute natural resources that would serve as a source of energy to heat, cool, or provide electricity to homes, or provide fuel to vehicles; prohibit an administrative regulation from violating other laws.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 22, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms.
Description: Amend KRS 237.104 to expand the limitation on emergency powers to include selling, transporting, storing, or displaying a firearm accessory or ammunition-reloading equipment and supplies; prohibit any person, unit of government, or governmental organization from requiring the registration of a firearm, firearm part, firearm accessory, ammunition, ammunition component, ammunition-reloading requipment and supplies, or any deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; prohibit any person, unit of government, or governmental organization from suspending or revoking a license to carry a concealed weapon except as provided in KRS 237.110; prohibit any person, unit of government, or governmental organization from refusing to accept an application for license to carry a concealed weapon; prohibit any person, unit of government, or governmental organization from closing or limited the operating hours of firearms sellers or shooting ranges, or to limit or restrict by quantity the sale or servicing of firearms and firearm parts and accessories; create a civil cause of action for violations.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 22, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to emergencies and making an appropriation therefor.
Description: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 198A to establish the Kentucky emergency rental assistance fund and provide for its administration and funding; set out the requirements for the use of the Kentucky emergency rental assistance fund; amend KRS 39A.100 to limit the Governor from suspending or modifying KRS Chapter 383 or KRS 65.875 during an emergency; amend KRS 214.020 to limit the actions taken by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services during an epidemic to 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 23, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to elections and making an appropriation therefor.
Description: Amend various sections of KRS Chapters 48, 65, 83A, 116, 117, 118, 118A, 119, 120, 242, and 424 relating to paper ballots, voting equipment, voting systems, election education, voter registration, mail-in and in-person absentee voting and procedures, county board of election appointments, precinct election officer qualifications, consolidated precincts, mail-in absentee portal for mail-in ballot application requests, drop-box or receptacle for mail-in absentee ballots, voter assistance requirements prescribed, extension of time for reviewing and processing mail-in absentee ballots and procedures related, establishing recanvass thresholds, penalties prescribed for furnishing mail-in absentee ballots when not permissible, prohibiting tax dollars from being used to influence public opinion for ballot questions, and elections. repeal KRS 117.381 and 117.387, relating to electronic voting systems.
Last Action: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 197)
Last Action Date: April 7, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to define terms; prohibit a covered entity from enforcing, or assisting in the enforcement of, any federal statute, order, rule, or regulation of firearms that does not exist under the laws of Kentucky; create a Class A misdemeanor for any government official who violates the prohibition; grant authority to the Attorney General to file a civil action in Circuit Court to enforce the prohibition; permit citizens to file complaints with the Attorney general for violations of the prohibition; state the Act shall be known as the Kentucky Firearms Protection Act; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 23, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to production and manufacturing.
Description: Amend KRS 154.32-010 to further define manufacturer as a producer of ammunition, firearms, personal protective equipment, and over-the-counter drugs; define "ammunition," "firearms," "over-the-counter drugs," and "personal protective equipment"; amend KRS 154.32-020 to declare a purpose of the subchapter is to provide an economic stimulus to bolster in-state production of ammunition, firearms, over-the-counter drugs, personal protective equipment and allow facilities that produce ammunition, firearms, personal protective equipment, and over-the-counter drugs to qualify for tax incentives under the subchapter; amend KRS 154.32-060 to allow for facilities that are rehabilitated or replaced in order to produce these items to be eligible for tax benefits under the subchapter; amend KRS 154.34-010 to include a facility that reinvests in the production of ammunition, firearms, personal protective equipment, and over-the-counter drugs.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: February 23, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to emergencies and declaring an emergency.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.090 to limit the effective dates of executive orders issued by the Governor to 30 days unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly, and prohibit the Governor from issuing a new executive order relating to the same emergency without the approval of the General Assembly; amend KRS 39A.100 to allow an executive order relating to elections to remain in effect regardless of the time limitations in KRS 39A.090; amend KRS 39A.180 to limit administrative regulations promulgated under KRS 39A.180 to 30 days unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly; amend KRS 214.020 to limit administrative regulations promulgated under KRS 214.020 to 30 days unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly; amend KRS 241.090 to limit the emergency jurisdiction and peace officer status of administrators and investigators under the alcohol beverage control board to the limitations in KRS 39A.090; amend KRS 315.500 to prevent the time limitations of KRS 39A.090 from affecting the emergency distribution of pharmaceuticals; amend KRS 39A.374 to prevent the time limitations of KRS 39A.090 from affecting the limitations on increased prices during an emergency.
Last Action: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 6)
Last Action Date: February 2, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to gun safety for children.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to make it a crime to unlawfully store a firearm; establish elements of the crime for recklessly allowing access to an unsecured firearm by a minor; establish the crime as a Class B misdemeanor unless a physical injury or death results, in which case it is a Class A misdemeanor; establish the short title of "Baby Dre Gun Safety Act."
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (S)
Last Action Date: January 5, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to elections.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.100 to remove the ability of the Governor to declare the manner of voting during an emergency, and remove the ability of the Governor and the Secretary of State to establish procedures for voting during an emergency.
Last Action: to State & Local Government (S)
Last Action Date: February 10, 2021
Title: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Juvenile Handgun Violence Prevention Task Force.
Description: Request that the Legislative Research Commission create the Juvenile Handgun Violence Prevention Task Force to study the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to juvenile handgun violence in Kentucky.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (S)
Last Action Date: February 23, 2021
Title: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION to protect the Second Amendment rights of Kentuckians from federal overreach in the REAL ID Act of 2005.
Description: Express the intent of the Kentucky General Assembly to withdraw from compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005 and urge the Kentucky congressional delegation to seek to repeal or amend the Act should it be applied in any way to infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of Kentuckians; express the Kentucky General Assembly's intent to oppose any proposed congressional legislation granting the federal government the power to usurp Kentucky's abiltiy to determine the standards of its driver's license and ID cards.
Last Action: to Judiciary (S)
Last Action Date: March 3, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to the sale of confiscated firearms.
Description: Amend KRS 16.220 to establish the Law Enforcement Protection Program, prioritize purchase of individual first aid kits through the program, and authorize the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to use firearms sales proceeds to cover departmental costs of administering the program.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: March 3, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to preserving the right of Kentuckians to own and use firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: State legislative findings; create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to declare that all federal laws and regulations commandeering state or local law enforcement to enforce federal restrictions of firearms are invalid and of no effect in Kentucky and that the General Assembly has the duty to enact all measures to prevent their enforcement; that the General Assembly has the duty to protect and defend the state and federal constitutions; that proposed presidential actions relating to the acquisition, possession, and use of firearms and accessories are violative of presidential powers and citizens' rights under the federal constitution; provide retroactive application back to January 1, 2018; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)
Last Action Date: February 22, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to religious freedom.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.100 and 39A.180 to limit the Governor and political subdivisions and agencies from exercising emergency powers to substantially burden a person's freedom of religion; amend KRS 446.350 to waive the sovereign immunity of the Commonwealth in claims seeking equitable relief relating to the government substantially burdening a person's freedom of religion; require court to award reasonable attorney fees and costs and $10 a day in damages for violations.
Last Action: to Judiciary (S)
Last Action Date: February 26, 2021
Title: AN ACT relating to eviction prohibition during emergencies.
Description: Amend KRS 39A.100 to forbid a prohibition against evictions during an emergency.
Last Action: returned to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
Last Action Date: March 11, 2021
