ZeroV Legislative Updates: January 13

It’s the second week of Kentucky's legislative session, and legislators have filed more than 400 bills so far. Here’s what you need to know about how this session may affect survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). 

Bills 

In response to several high-profile domestic violence homicides last year, lawmakers are seeking to create legislation that can help reduce such horrific and preventable outcomes.  

Last week, they filed several bills addressing IPV, including three that affect how courts handle domestic violence cases and one that gives survivors unemployment insurance when they lose a job due to domestic violence victimization.  

You can find brief descriptions of how these bills would affect survivors in ZeroV’s Bill Tracker, which we will update weekly throughout the legislative session as new bills of interest are filed and relevant amendments are proposed. 

Budget 

In other legislative news, Governor Andy Beshear delivered his State of the Commonwealth and biennial budget address last week, outlining his priorities for the upcoming two-year budget.  

The Governor’s budget proposes an additional $2 million to fund critical domestic violence services through ZeroV’s coalition of 15 state-designated domestic violence programs.  

The Governor’s budget proposal is an important step in the budget-making process, but the legislature creates the final version of our state’s two-year spending plan. The next step in the process is for the House to announce its own budget, which will then be considered by the Senate. Budget negotiations will continue throughout the legislative session, at the end of which the budget bills will be sent to the Governor to sign into law or veto. Learn more about the budget process. 

About ZeroV’s Policy Advocacy 

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

Throughout this session, ZeroV will advocate for adequate funding for domestic violence services. We will also advocate for policies that support survivor safety, healing, and thriving. 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. 

About ZeroV’s Legislative Updates 

ZeroV's Legislative Update emails are sent out on Tuesdays, most weeks of the session. To have these updates delivered to your inbox each week, subscribe at ZeroV.org/join. Thank you for supporting survivors, staying informed, and getting involved in this legislative session!  

Posted January 13, 2026