Recovery Ready Communities and felony theft threshold bills signed into law

This week, Gov. Andy Beshear has signed into law legislation that will improve Kentucky’s criminal justice system and help more Kentuckians get back on track.

Legislation that ensures individuals get the help they need from their communities when struggling with substance use disorder was signed into law Tuesday.

House Bill 7, sponsored by Rep. Adam Bowling, establishes a framework for communities to become “Recovery Ready,” bringing much needed consistency to local substance use prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.

As Kentucky works to reform its criminal justice system and lower prison populations, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation to increase the felony theft threshold for the first time since the 1990s.

Sponsored by Rep. Ed Massey, the House Chair of the Judiciary Committee, House Bill 126 raises the felony theft threshold from $500 to $1,000, which would aim to remove barriers to individuals who have made mistakes, according to Massey. Gov. Beshear signed the legislation Monday.

The Kentucky Chamber applauded the bills being signed into law:

“We applaud Gov. Beshear for signing House Bills 7 and 126 into law after achieving broad bi-partisan support. Rep. Bowling’s House Bill 7 ensures all Kentuckians, regardless of where they call home, can access the comprehensive support services needed to achieve recovery from substance use disorders by establishing Recovery Ready Communities across the Commonwealth. Rep. Massey’s House Bill 126 raises the felony theft threshold to align with most other states, removing barriers for low-level offenders. We thank the legislature and governor for their efforts on these important issues to help all Kentuckians get the help and second chance they deserve,” Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts said.

The governor has signed and vetoed many other bills and will continue to do so in the days ahead before the legislature returns for their final legislative action Monday and Tuesday.