ZeroV 2026 Legislative Updates: GA26 Wrap-Up

April 17, 2026

Wednesday, April 15, was sine die, marking the Kentucky legislature’s final adjournment of the 2026 legislative session. Over the past 59 legislative days, legislators from every corner of Kentucky convened to propose, deliberate, and decide policy changes that reflect the lives and interests of their constituents. Just as legislators are representatives of the interests of their constituents, ZeroV ‘s Policy Team serves as a conduit for the values, vision, and voices of survivors of intimate partner violence and their children. 

All policy impacts all Kentuckians, including our most vulnerable neighbors: survivors and their children.

From housing, to childcare, employment, crimes and incarceration, and the emotional, physical, and psychological health and wellbeing of survivors and that of their children, violence and abuse create a ripple effect of harm and barriers, both immediate and long-term, that endanger every aspect of survivors’ safety. Protecting and investing in survivor safety is not just the compass for our policy priorities that guides our advocacy; it is the standard of policy work we hold policymakers to as they propose, deliberate, and decide on legislative proposals. ZeroV Policy works every step of the way to ensure that victims and survivors remain the “why” of DV-related policy by working with policymakers from ideation to implementation on the “how” for every proposal. Throughout this “long” session and beyond, ZeroV Policy remains committed to creating, carrying, and continuing survivor-centered policy.

From all of us at ZeroV, we thank you for your dedication to survivors.

ZeroV would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the legislators, advocates, community members, and survivors who used their advocacy efforts to raise awareness and develop policy solutions to address the issues impacting survivors. 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.

As we take a break before the 2026 interim begins, we invite you to join us in reflecting on the many triumphs, signs of progress, and clear areas where further work is needed. Read on for a brief overview of our 2026 Session.

Thank you again for being on this journey with us, and we'll be in touch over the interim as opportunities arise for engagement on both the state and federal policy levels and as we set our policy priorities for 2027. As always, if you have policy ideas or concerns, or are interested in taking part in the policy process, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected].

Thank you for signing up for our Legislative Updates, getting involved in this legislative session, and, as always, supporting survivors!

2026 Legislative Session Snapshot:

  • ZeroV’s Policy Team reviewed more than 1,200 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 611, DV Data Bill
    • HB 521, Anti-Stalking Bill,
    • And SB 122, the Family Preservation and Accountability Act
  • HB 500, Kentucky’s Biennial Budget, also maintained vital funding Kentucky’s domestic violence programs need to preserve domestic violence services and program and shelter operations for the biennium ahead.

ZeroV Legislative Luncheon 

As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts for survivors, ZeroV and its coalition of 15 Domestic Violence Member Programs hosted its third legislative gathering, the 2026 Legislative Luncheon, to foster connection, collaboration, and care among KY’s DV programs, the legislators who represent them, and the survivors they serve. 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. This year, ZeroV was proud to host not only the leaders of their Member Programs but also the dedicated staff that support their program’s progress and work on the frontlines, day in and day out, with survivors and their children.

As we celebrate the success of this year’s legislative luncheon, we’re reminded that connection is the essential and powerful driver of meaningful change. Breaking bread is the first step to breaking the silence on intimate partner violence, and together as a Kentucky united against violence, we can break the barriers that stand in the way of safety for survivors and all Kentuckians.  

Legislative Testimonies

This session, ZeroV took a seat at the podium in the pursuit of protecting survivors’ seat at the policymaking table by providing testimony on multiple bills impacting survivors.  

On February 27, ZeroV joined the House Standing Committee on Families and Children, and on March 17, the Senate Families and Children Committee, as they deliberated on three key bills that support survivors and their children: House Bills 418, 598, and 611.  

ZeroV Chief Legal Officer Meg Savage and ZeroV Legislative Committee Chair Darlene Thomas joined Representative Jason Nemes to testify for HB 418. HB 418, filed by Rep. Nemes, protects children when there has been violence in the home, and the parents are in the process of separating. It installs guardrails for the courts to ensure that the safety and welfare of children are the top consideration in all custody orders. These guardrails will protect children when there has been violence in the home, and their parents are in the process of separating. The provisions of HB 418 were added as an amendment to SB 122.  

HB 598, filed by Rep. Dietz, would ensure that guardians ad litem (GALs) receive training on the complexities of domestic violence so they can make the best recommendations to judges when representing the interests of children in protective order hearings.  

HB 611, also filed by Rep. Dietz, updates and refines data collection for Kentucky’s Annual DV Data Report with the aim of improving data quality. By improving data quality, we will be able to more precisely illustrate the impact of intimate partner violence across Kentucky. On March 17, ZeroV Policy Lead Olivia Spradlin testified in front of the Senate Families and Children Committee as a guest of Rep. Stephanie Dietz in support of HB 611. 

ZeroV is grateful for Rep. Stephanie Dietz and Rep. Nemes for working with us to craft these important bills and for their ongoing efforts to support the safety and well-being of survivors. We are grateful to Rep. Heavrin, House Standing Committee on Families and Children chair, Sen. Danny Carroll, Senate Families and Children Committee Chair, and to the full House Standing Families and Children and Senate Families and Children Committees for supporting survivors and their children through these bills! 

About ZeroV’s Policy Advocacy 

The well-being of survivors is our top policy priority.  

Throughout the legislative session, ZeroV will advocate for adequate funding for domestic violence services. We will also advocate for policies that support the safety, healing, and well-being of survivors, enabling them to thrive. As a service to our community, we will provide weekly updates throughout the 2026 Legislative Session on the status of proposed legislation impacting survivors of domestic violence.

Thank you for staying informed and getting involved!