Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.
HB858 • 2026
AN ACT relating to criminal mediation.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
AN ACT relating to criminal mediation.
to Judiciary (H)
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
AN ACT relating to criminal mediation.
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2259 Page 1 of 2 XXXX 3/3/2026 1:28 PM Jacketed AN ACT relating to criminal mediation. 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 455 IS CREATED TO 3 READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 (1) In any criminal matter pending in a Circuit Court or a District Court of this 5 Commonwealth, the parties may request that the matter be referred for mediation. 6 (2) Upon agreement of all parties, including the victim, the court may refer the 7 matter to a mediator who: 8 (a) Meets at least two (2) of the following qualifications: 9 1. A formerly elected county attorney or Commonwealth's attorney, 10 having served at least one (1) term in office, who has been a licensed 11 attorney for no less than fifteen (15) years; 12 2. A former attorney with the Department of Public Advocacy who has 13 been a licensed attorney for no less than fifteen (15) years; 14 3. A former District Judge or Circuit Judge who has been a licensed 15 attorney for no less than fifteen (15) years; 16 4. A licensed attorney for no less than twenty -five (25) years who has 17 extensive experience in criminal law; or 18 5. A licensed attorney with a minimum of two (2) years of service as: 19 i. An administrative law judge with the Department of Workers' 20 Claims under KRS Chapter 342; 21 ii. A domestic relations commissioner; or 22 iii. A hearing officer qualified under KRS Chapter 13B; 23 (b) Has experience in: 24 1. The same circuit or district where the case is pending; 25 2. A circuit or district that is contiguous to the circuit or district where 26 the case is pending; or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2259 Page 2 of 2 XXXX 3/3/2026 1:28 PM Jacketed 3. A circuit or district within a radius o f seventy -five (75) miles of the 1 circuit or district where the case is pending; and 2 (c) Has completed a minimum of forty (40) hours of mediation training. 3 (3) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the mediator shall be compensated as 4 authorized by the policies of the Court of Justice. 5 (4) (a) The mediation authorized under this section shall be in addition to any 6 felony mediation program authorized by the Court of Justice. 7 (b) To promote uniformity, the rules adopted by the Court of Justice related to 8 confidentiality and reporting to the court shall apply to any mediation under 9 this section. 10