AN ACT relating to pretrial release.

Amend KRS 431.066 to limit the use of money bail to certain high-risk defendants and create a preventive detention process for defendants of select risk levels and charge types; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to establish a preventive detention hearing process and define the limited circumstances in which money bail may be imposed; amend various other sections to conform; repeal KRS 431.021, relating to guaranteed arrest bond certificates.

Introduced: January 12, 2026

Last action: January 20, 2026

To Judiciary (H)

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This bill would change how Kentucky courts handle the release of people who have been arrested but not yet tried. It would limit the use of cash bail to only certain higher-risk defendants and create a new process that could allow courts to hold some defendants in jail before trial without the option of paying for release. It also removes a current law related to guaranteed arrest bond certificates. Who it may affect: people who have been arrested and are awaiting trial, as well as their families.

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