Frankfort, Ky.—Last Friday, Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 185 into law. This “fresh start” bill establishes a process so Kentuckians with criminal convictions can learn upfront whether their record would bar them from an occupation license. House Bill 185 makes workforce reentry faster and more accessible. The Institute for Justice (IJ), a leader in advancing fresh start laws across the nation, applauds the legislative champions that made this bill possible.
“People who have served their debt to society deserve a second chance,” said JoJo Tompkins, Legislative and Outreach Coordinator for IJ. “Research shows that finding meaningful work is a proven method to reduce recidivism, benefitting both the individual and the communities where they live.”
Kentucky ranks 4th in the nation for occupational licensing requirements, and with roughly 1 in 3 adult Americans living with a criminal record and nearly 1 in 5 workers needing a license, the barriers for people are significant. Millions of Americans and many Kentuckians with criminal records are barred from working in the career path of their choice. House Bill 185 addresses this issue directly.
With the passage of HB 185 four key reforms will be implemented:
- Creates a pre-determination process allowing people with criminal records to petition licensing agencies and boards at any point, including before investing in costly training, for a decision about whether their record is disqualifying.
- Strengthens individualized consideration of applicants by expanding the factors authorities must consider, explicitly adding items like the applicant’s age at the time of the offense and detailed evidence of rehabilitation.
- Strengthens due process protections by requiring denials to be shared as written findings of fact that explain why the conviction is relevant to the specific job or license sought.
- Improves public transparency, mandating that agencies and boards explain the application process that involve criminal background checks on their public-facing websites.
These reforms will help Kentucky by encouraging successful re-entry and expanding the pool of eligible workers for businesses.
The passage of HB 185 also reflects a national trend: Twenty-one states and Washington, D.C., allow individuals with criminal records to petition a licensing board before enrolling in required training to determine whether their record would be disqualifying. With HB 185, Kentucky aligns with this national shift toward policies that prioritize opportunity, clarity, and second chances.
# # #
To arrange interviews on this subject, journalists may contact Phillip Suderman, IJ’s Communications Project Manager, at [email protected] or (850) 376-4110. More information on the case is available at: https://ij.org/issues/economic-liberty/fresh-start/