ZeroV 2026 Legislative Updates: February 17

Since our last legislative update, we have added one bill to our bill tracker and hosted our annual ZeroV Advocacy Day in Frankfort. Read on for the details.

New Bills

HB 598 creates a new state agency within the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to hire, train, and provide guardians ad litem (GALs). In cases of abuse, neglect, divorce, and custody disputes, judges appoint GALS to protect the interests of minors and incapacitated adults.HB 598 would ensure GALs receive training that increases their understanding of domestic violence so they can make the best recommendations to Judges when representing minors in protective order hearings.

You can see all the bills we're monitoring this session, along with brief descriptions of how they affect survivors, in ZeroV’s Bill Tracker. We will update our bill tracker on a weekly basis as new bills of interest are filed and relevant amendments are proposed. 

ZeroV Advocacy Day - February 11, 2026

Last Wednesday, ZeroV visited the Capitol for its annual Advocacy Day. ZeroV's Advocacy Day helps create opportunities for directors and board members to engage with legislators who represent communities in their service districts. This year, our advocacy day focused on preserving critical state funding for Kentucky's domestic violence (DV) services.

State funding is critical to the safety and well-being of not only survivors and their children, but also the communities in which they live. In fiscal year 2025, ZeroV member programs:

• provided services to over 14,000 adults and children.
• provided 157,704 bed nights to 2,382 adults and children residing in emergency shelter.
• reached 20,725 people and survivors through community, public awareness, outreach, and training activities.

Unfortunately, 1,814 requests for shelter went unmet due to member program capacity and staffing limitations – a 44% increase from FY23.

Not only do Kentucky’s state-designated DV programs need state funding to maintain our current level of services, but we also need additional investment to address these unmet needs and cover ever-increasing operating expenses. This year's budget decisions will set the course for DV programs' service provision for the next two fiscal years.

ZeroV will continue to monitor the budget process and advocate for state investment in Kentucky's lifesaving DV services. Learn more about the budget process. 

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!