ZeroV's 2025 Legislative Session Review: Working Together for a Safer Kentucky

March 31, 2025

As the 2025 Legislative Session comes to a close with Sine Die on March 28, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the legislative progress made to enhance the lives and futures of survivors. Although this session was considered a “short” one, we witnessed many triumphs, signs of progress, and clear areas where further work is needed.

Our focus this session: Collaboration.

As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts for survivors of intimate partner violence, ZeroV and its coalition of 15 Domestic Violence Member Programs hosted their second Legislative Breakfast during our 2025 Advocacy Day. At this event, representatives from our Member Programs connected with legislators to share their program’s impact and highlight the needs of survivors in their regions.

Additionally, ZeroV launched its inaugural Bill Tracker, which is designed to help Kentuckians stay informed about bills that could affect the safety and well-being of survivors, as well as the social conditions and systems that contribute to intimate partner violence. Our Bill Tracker and the resources available on our Take Action Page aim to empower communities during the legislative session, encouraging them to stay updated on legislation impacting survivors and take an active role in the legislative process:

ZeroV’s 2025 Legislative Session Recap:

  • ZeroV’s Policy Team reviewed more than 1,000 pieces of legislation.
  • Dozens of these bills centered on various topics impacting survivors, including domestic violence-related crimes, court proceedings, protective orders, unemployment, and education.
  • The following bills impacting survivors are the few that made it across the legislative finish line:
    • HB 38, which gives judges additional tools to address repeated protective order violation convictions
    • SB73, which makes sextorition a crime
  • Another bill that has passed and awaits the Governor’s signature is SB 181, which adapts language from HB 805 that clarifies the criteria necessary for protective order petition-related DCBS investigations.

Thank you for your dedication to survivors.

ZeroV would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the legislators, advocates, and community members who uplifted survivors during this legislative session. We appreciate the lawmakers who introduced significant legislation aimed at supporting survivors, as well as the many Kentuckians who helped amplify their voices. By ensuring that survivors are acknowledged, heard, and considered at the policymaking table, we have made critical legislative strides toward creating a safer Kentucky for survivors and their children.

While the session has ended, our advocacy work continues.

ZeroV remains committed to our work of centering survivors during the legislative session and beyond. Sign up for our Action Alerts today to stay connected to our policy work and receive notifications about how to take action that supports survivors.