Committee passes bill aimed at reforming caregiver sentencing March 19, 2026 Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, (right) and Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, speak on Senate Bill 122 during Thursday’s meeting of the House Families and Children Committee. A high-resolution photo can be foun d here. FRANKFORT — Legislation aimed at maintaining parent-child bonds for incarcerated caregivers passed the House Families and Children Committee on Thursday. Senate Bill 122 would allow courts to consider alternative sentencing programs for individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses who are the primary caregivers of dependent children. The measure would also require participation in programs designed to support and preserve child-parent relationships during alternative sentencing. Supporters say the bill is intended to reduce the long-term impact of incarceration on children while still holding offenders accountable through structured supervision, treatment and rehabilitation services. Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, the bill’s primary sponsor, told lawmakers that while she introduced the legislation, much of the work to move it forward has been done in the House. “Even though this has a Senate bill number attached, it’s Representative Wilson’s,” she said. “I want to give him all the credit because as a lawyer he has been able to participate in conversations that were not in my wheelhouse.” Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, emphasized the importance of a quicker recovery process. “If we can speed up that recovery process for any mothers, fathers, family members, then that would be a huge win for Kentucky.” Lawmakers heard testimony from several Kentuckians who shared personal experiences with incarceration and its effects on families, particularly children separated from their primary caregivers. Brittany Herrington, a mother who previously struggled with drug addiction, told the committee that access to treatment programs rather than incarceration could have significantly changed her life and her relationship with her child. “I currently work with many mothers who aren’t getting a second chance, and their kids are currently wondering where their mothers are,” she said. “That is why this bill matters. It still holds people accountable, but it does so while keeping families together and gives parents a chance to recover before permanent damage is done to a family unit.” Her son, Gavin Herrington, also spoke in support of the bill, describing the emotional toll of having a parent incarcerated. “I’m lucky in one way. I was young when I lost my mom for that time, but I wasn’t so young that I forgot what it felt like to not be with her,” he said. “My mom wasn’t a bad mom, she was sick, and instead of getting help right away she was punished first.” Another son of an incarcerated parent, Jayden Spence, told lawmakers that no child should have to experience the trauma associated with a parent battling addiction and navigating the criminal justice system. “The trauma of it will probably never leave me, and I just don’t want others to feel the same way because it’s not necessary, it’s not needed,” he said. “These people can be helped, these children can be helped.” Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, shared her experience as a foster parent, describing the instability faced by children when a parent is incarcerated due to substance use. “I remember sitting there on the side of his bed while he was crying because he didn’t understand why his mom was picking drugs over him and that’s what was causing her to be incarcerated,” she said. “It was a difficult conversation to try and explain about the powers of addiction and that’s not really what she wanted. It was heartbreaking, and anything we can do to avoid children having these really traumatic experiences, I will always be in favor of.” Jessica Ashby, a mother who was pardoned by the governor, also spoke briefly in support of the legislation. Ashby said she remains without custody of her daughter and believes earlier access to treatment could have changed the trajectory of her life. Wilson said the legislation is not about avoiding incarceration but about improving outcomes for families. “Senate Bill 122 is not just about letting people out of jail; we all understand that. However, we’ve heard from two successful mothers who, given the opportunity, have turned their lives around. Senate Bill 122 is really about trying to help those opportunities happen while in probation as opposed to while in prison.” The bill passed committee 14-0 and now moves to the House floor. The post Committee passes bill aimed at reforming caregiver sentencing appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less