Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 10 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 159 — AN ACT relating to missing and unidentified persons.

Last action — to Committee on Committees (H)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    11 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (10 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Amend KRS 15.440, relating to eligibility for Law Enforcement Foundation Program funds, to require units of government to possess a written policy and procedures manual that requires local police departments to submit missing and unidentified persons case information to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System according to specified criteria.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

16 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill SB 159, some lines were added while an equal number were removed. The changes involve updates to the specific details and provisions of the bill, likely clarifying or revising existing language. These adjustments are important because they help ensure the bill is more precise, which can lead to better implementation and understanding of the law once passed.

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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 AN ACT relating to missing and unidentified persons.
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA AN ACT relating to missing and unidentified persons.
Requires all police officers to successfully complete a basic training course of nine hundred twenty-eight (928) hours' duration within one (1) year of the date of employment at a school certified or recognized by the council, which may provide a different number of hours of instruction as Page 1 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 established in this paragraph, except that each police officer employed prior to the date on which the officer's police department was included as a participant under KRS 15.410 to 15.510 shall be deemed to have met the requirements of this subsection.
Requires all police officers to successfully complete a basic training course of nine hundred twenty-eight (928) hours' duration within one (1) year of the date of employment at a school certified or recognized by the council, which may provide a different number of hours of instruction as Page 1 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA established in this paragraph, except that each police officer employed prior to the date on which the officer's police department was included as a participant under KRS 15.410 to 15.510 shall be deemed to have met the requirements of this subsection.
However, the training programs and schools for the basic training of law enforcement personnel conducted by the department pursuant to KRS 15A.070 shall not contain a curriculum that requires attendance of a number of hours for basic training that is different from nine hundred twenty-eight (928) Page 2 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 hours or the number of hours established in an administrative regulation promulgated by the council in accordance with[pursuant to the provisions of] KRS Chapter 13A as provided by subparagraphs 2.
However, the training programs and schools for the basic training of law enforcement personnel conducted by the department pursuant to KRS 15A.070 shall not contain a curriculum that requires attendance of a number of hours for basic training that is different from nine hundred twenty-eight (928) Page 2 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA hours or the number of hours established in an administrative regulation promulgated by the council in accordance with[pursuant to the provisions of] KRS Chapter 13A as provided by subparagraphs 2.
Sheriff's deputy, excluding special deputies appointed under Page 3 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 KRS 70.045;
Sheriff's deputy, excluding special deputies appointed under Page 3 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA KRS 70.045;
Page 4 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 (h) Possesses a written policy and procedures manual related to domestic violence for law enforcement agencies that has been approved by the cabinet.
Page 4 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA (h) Possesses a written policy and procedures manual related to domestic violence for law enforcement agencies that has been approved by the cabinet.
A requirement that all evidence retrieved from a collecting facility under Page 5 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 this paragraph be transmitted to the Department of Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory within thirty (30) days of its receipt by the police department;
A requirement that all evidence retrieved from a collecting facility under Page 5 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA this paragraph be transmitted to the Department of Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory within thirty (30) days of its receipt by the police department;
The Page 6 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 information shall be entered into NamUs according to the following criteria:
The Page 6 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA information shall be entered into NamUs according to the following criteria:
Page 7 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 179 (3) Deputies employed by a sheriff's office shall be eligible to participate in the distribution of funds from the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund regardless of participation by the sheriff.
Page 7 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 159/GA (3) Deputies employed by a sheriff's office shall be eligible to participate in the distribution of funds from the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund regardless of participation by the sheriff.
Page 8 of 8 BR017900.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:38 PM Jacketed
Page 8 of 8 SB015910.100 - 179 - XXXX 2/18/2026 2:39 PM GA
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How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a requirement for local police departments to submit missing and unidentified persons information to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

  • KRS 15.440

    Possesses a written policy and procedures manual related to submission of information to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, known as NamUs. The policy shall require the local police department to enter missing and unidentified persons case information into NamUs after it has been entered into the National Crime Information Center or NCIC.

    Adds a mandate for law enforcement agencies to report missing and unidentified cases to NamUs.

  • KRS 15.440

    The manual shall not relieve the local police department from other duties relating to missing persons and shall be in addition to those duties.

    Clarifies that the new reporting requirement does not replace existing obligations regarding missing persons.

  • KRS 15.440

    The information shall be entered into NamUs according to the following criteria: 1. Within seventy-two (72) hours of entry into NCIC: a. When there is reasonable indication or suspicion that a person under twenty-one (21) years of age has been abducted or is missing under circumstances suggesting foul play or a threat to life as indicated by an NCIC Missing Person code of Child Abduction; or b. When an AMBER Alert has been activated as indicated by an NCIC Missing Person code of AMBER Alert; 2. Within thirty (30) days of entry into NCIC: a. When a missing person alert other than an AMBER Alert has been activated; b. For a person of any age who is missing under other specified circumstances.

    Establishes specific timelines and conditions under which reports must be submitted to NamUs.

Action History

  1. to Committee on Committees (H)

  2. received in House

  3. 3rd reading, passed 36-0

  4. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 18 2026

  5. 2nd reading, to Rules

  6. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

  7. to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)

  8. to Committee on Committees (S)

  9. introduced in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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11 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 127 not signed on

Sponsors (11)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (127)

127 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 127 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASS SB 159

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5000
Republican 31002
Total 36002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Cassie Chambers Armstrong Democrat Yea
Gary Clemons Democrat Yea
Gerald A. Neal Democrat Yea
Karen Berg Democrat Yea
Keturah J. Herron Democrat Yea
Aaron Reed Republican Yea
Amanda Mays Bledsoe Republican Yea
Brandon J. Storm Republican Yea
Christian McDaniel Republican Yea
Craig Richardson Republican Yea
Danny Carroll Republican Yea
David P. Givens Republican Yea
Donald Douglas Republican Yea
Gary Boswell Republican Yea
Greg Elkins Republican Not Voting
Jared Carpenter Republican Yea
Jason Howell Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Yea
Jimmy Higdon Republican Yea
Julie Raque Adams Republican Not Voting
Lindsey Tichenor Republican Yea
Matt Nunn Republican Yea
Matthew Deneen Republican Yea
Max Wise Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Yea
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Phillip Wheeler Republican Yea
Rick Girdler Republican Yea
Robby Mills Republican Yea
Robert Stivers Republican Yea
Robin L. Webb Republican Yea
Scott Madon Republican Yea
Shelley Funke Frommeyer Republican Yea
Stephen West Republican Yea
Steve Rawlings Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 159 do?
Amend KRS 15.440, relating to eligibility for Law Enforcement Foundation Program funds, to require units of government to possess a written policy and procedures manual that requires local police departments to submit missing and unidentified persons case information to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System according to specified criteria.
Who sponsors SB 159?
SB 159 is sponsored by Mike Wilson (Republican), Phillip Wheeler (Republican), Aaron Reed (Republican), Matt Nunn (Republican), Gerald A. Neal (Democrat), Stephen Meredith (Republican), Scott Madon (Republican), Greg Elkins (Republican), Danny Carroll (Republican), Brandon J. Storm (Republican), and Matthew Deneen (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 159?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 159?
Track SB 159 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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