Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the Bail Project. The error has been corrected. (Jan. 18, 2024)

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Several advocacy groups are criticizing a recently filed broad-reaching anti-crime bill by Kentucky House Republicans. 

What You Need To Know

  • House Bill 5, known as the Safer Kentucky Act, was filed last week 

  • Several Republican lawmakers have backed the bill, arguing it's the right approach toward lowering crime 

  • Opponents have said they believe it will do more harm than good

Several organizations released video statements Tuesday in opposition of State Rep. Jared Bauman’s (R-Louisville) House Bill 5, known as the Safer Kentucky Act. The bill focuses primarily on violent crime. 

Among other things, it would create a three-strike law where repeat violent criminals would receive a life sentence, a statewide carjacking statute and regulate charitable bail funding organizations.

HB 5 would limit those groups from posting someone’s bail that is higher than $5,000 or for people charged with a violent crime. 

“It privileges wealthy people who will still be able to pay to secure their freedom, regardless of the underlining safety concerns over poor people," said Carrie Cole, Kentucky Policy Advocacy and partnership manager of The Bail Project. "Additionally, this legislation contains an overly broad definition of 'charitable bail organizations,' with onerous restrictions that might even apply to churches or a mom-and-pop shop putting up a GoFundMe to support their son." 

The bill would affect the homeless, banning street camping and requiring some seeking housing to enter substance-abuse treatment. HB 5 also allows cities to create a designated space where camping is permitted. 

Felicia Nu'Man, policy director of the Louisville Urban League, said she opposes a section of the bill that would create a three-strike law as it could hamper the judicial system and lead to an overcrowded jail population. 

“We do not need to take away prosecutorial discretion in sentencing defendants," Nu'Man said. "It will cripple the prosecutor by making it harder to settle cases, causing more delays in justice, more trials and costing more governments more money."  

The Safer Kentucky Act has more than 40 Republican cosponsors and has not yet been assigned to a committee. 

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