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Bill Summary · HB 109

Overview

HB 109 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky) is an act relating to the dissolution of marriage. The bill moves through House committees and timelines as part of the standard legislative process. The available action history shows committee referrals and readings but does not provide the full text. The summary below highlights likely areas of focus for a dissolution-of-marriage bill and the procedural milestones evident from the record.

Primary purpose and intent

  • Establishes or modifies state law governing the dissolution of marriage (divorce) in Kentucky.
  • Aims to clarify procedures, standards, or timelines related to the termination of marital status, and may address related matters such as property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support as they pertain to dissolution proceedings.
  • The act is likely to affect how courts handle divorce filings, decisions, and related court costs or administrative processes.

Key provisions and changes (subject to the bill’s actual text)

Note: The exact text of HB 109 is not included here, but typical components in a dissolution-related bill may include:
- Grounds for dissolution of marriage (e.g., no-fault vs. fault-based approaches).
- Procedural requirements for filing for divorce, including residency, required disclosures, and waiting periods.
- Definitions of, and standards for, property division, equitable distribution, and handling of marital vs. separate property.
- Spousal support alimony formulas or guidelines, duration, and modification rules.
- Child custody and visitation standards, best interests of the child determinations, and frameworks for parenting plans.
- Child support calculations, enforcement, and modification procedures.
- Allocation of attorney fees and court costs.
- Temporary relief provisions pending final resolution (e.g., temporary support, custody arrangements).
- Administrative and procedural reforms (e.g., new forms, filing fees, or electronic filing requirements).
- Any sunset clauses, review provisions, or date-specific implementation timelines.

Affected parties and affected systems

  • Married individuals seeking dissolution of marriage in Kentucky courts.
  • Family court systems, including judges, clerks, and family law practitioners.
  • Attorneys representing petitioners or respondents in divorce proceedings.
  • Other parties potentially impacted by child custody, support, or property division decisions (e.g., minor children, co-parents, spouses).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The action history shows several key steps:
    • Introduced in the House (January 7).
    • Reassigned to the Judiciary Committee (January 14).
    • Referred to Families & Children (January 20).
    • Reported favorably and advanced to 2nd reading on the floor (February 5-6), then to Rules (February 6).
    • Recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (April 15), suggesting a potential fiscal impact or alignment with budget considerations.
  • If ultimately enacted, the bill would become effective on a specified date (often a future date after enactment) or upon provision-specific effective dates within the act.
  • Possible procedural implications include new or revised filing forms, fee changes, or administrative rule adjustments inherent to dissolution proceedings.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Financial: Possible changes to alimony, child support calculation methods, and court costs or fees.
  • Custody: Potential updates to standards for determining child custody and parenting plans.
  • Property: Revisions to how marital assets and debts are divided.
  • Administrative: Required changes to court procedures, forms, or filing systems; potential budgetary implications if the bill affects court resources or state programs.

If you’d like, I can locate the bill text or fiscal notes to provide exact provisions, numerical standards (percentages, timelines), and any fiscal impact statements to enrich this summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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