FRANKFORT, KY – Attorney General Russell Coleman praised members of Kentucky's General Assembly after the Senate unanimously passed legislation to strengthen Kentucky's domestic violence laws.
HB 38, introduced by Representative James Tipton (R-Taylorsville) with a floor amendment from Senate Judiciary Chair Brandon Storm, (R-London), makes repeated violations of protective orders a felony offense.
The legislation will now go back to the Kentucky House of Representatives, which unanimously passed a previous version.
"In Kentucky, we take the protection of victims of domestic violence seriously. This legislation will give new tools to law enforcement and prosecutors to deter repeated criminal activity and keep Kentucky families safe," said Attorney General Coleman. "I'm grateful for the leadership of Chairman Storm, Chairman Tipton and all the members of our General Assembly for taking this strong step for victims and their families."
If you have been a victim of a crime, contact the Attorney General's Victim Resource and Referral Line at (800) 372-2551.
"Strengthening our domestic violence laws is about more than just punishment—it's about protecting survivors and preventing future harm," said Senate Judiciary Chair Brandon Storm. "With this bill, we're sending a clear message that Kentucky will not tolerate repeated abuse. I'm proud to have worked on this legislation with Attorney General Coleman, Rep. Tipton, and I appreciate the bipartisan support from my colleagues in the General Assembly."
"I hope that domestic violence victims across our Commonwealth will see the support this measure has received from Attorney General Coleman and the Kentucky General Assembly as a clear message that we stand with them. Ultimately, protective orders exist to protect victims and preserve peace, and we must ensure that everyone respects and abides by them," said Representative James Tipton. "I'm honored to have carried this bill and hope it empowers domestic violence victims to leave their abusers and seek help."
"As the statewide voice on ending intimate partner violence, we are grateful for this additional tool that will help our legal system protect survivors of domestic violence and their children. By making it clear that the courts will not abide repeated violations of protective orders, we can keep more Kentucky families safe," said Angela Yannelli, ZeroV Chief Executive Officer. "We are thankful to Attorney General Russell Coleman, Sen. Brandon Storm, Rep. James Tipton and all of our elected leaders who have made it a priority to listen to survivors and respond to their needs."
Last year, General Coleman released the 2024 Domestic Violence Prosecution Manual, a comprehensive resource for prosecutors, victim advocates and law enforcement to crack down on domestic violence crimes. Earlier this year, General Coleman published Kentucky's first ever strangulation resource manual. The toolkit identifies the signs of strangulation for medical professionals and law enforcement and shares strategies to effectively prosecute cases under Kentucky law and how advocates should engage with victims.
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