AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gerald Neal

Prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime, aligning Kentucky’s constitution with a ban on such practices in all penal contexts.

to Committee on Committees (S)

#constitution #ky. #countyclerks #crimesandpunishments #localmandate #secretaryofstate

Summary of SB 303 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose and intent

SB 303 proposes an amendment to Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution.

The stated objective is to address the issue of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime, consistent with a broader national and state trend toward prohibiting such practices as a condition of punishment.

Key provisions

Constitutional amendment: The bill would modify Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution. While the full text of the amendment is not included in the provided information, typical reforms of this type aim to prohibit or limit the use of slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime, aligning state law with constitutional prohibitions found in the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and related state jurisprudence.

Scope: The amendment is focused specifically on prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. It may specify that such practices are unconstitutional except as allowed under constitutional or statutory framework (e.g., compulsory service in certain contexts, if any exceptions are preserved by the amendment or referenced elsewhere).

Enforcement and interpretation: While not detailed in the summary, amendments of this nature typically outline that the prohibition applies to all levels of punishment prescribed by law and may require courts, agencies, or the General Assembly to ensure compliance.

Who would be affected

Individuals convicted of crimes: The primary effect would be to bar the imposition of punishment that constitutes slavery or involuntary servitude as a sentence or form of punishment.

Judicial and corrections systems: Courts and correctional authorities would be obligated to ensure that sentences and practices do not rely on or impose involuntary servitude or slavery as punishment.

Legislative and constitutional framework: The Kentucky Constitution would be amended, prompting possible further statutory revisions to harmonize with the new constitutional standard.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction: SB 303 was introduced in the Kentucky Senate on February 27, 2026.

Committee action: It was referred to the Senate Committee on Committees (S) on the same date.

Next steps (typical): If advanced, the bill would proceed through the committee process, potentially be amended, voted on by the Senate, then move to the Kentucky House of Representatives for consideration, with any final version subject to concurrence or conference committee processes and eventual voter consideration if a constitutional amendment is approved by both chambers.

Observations

The bill is a constitutional amendment proposal, requiring approval by both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly and, typically, voter ratification before taking effect.

The information provided does not include the exact constitutional language or any accompanying fiscal impact statements, implementation details, or proposed exceptions.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact text of the amendment (once available) and outline any potential transitional provisions or anticipated statutory changes that would be needed to implement the amendment.