SENS. BRANDON STORM, ADAMS HIGHLIGHT NEED
FOR CERTAINTY IN JUSTICE WHILE
APPROVING HOUSE BILL 422
Proposed legislation honors memory of those lost to violent crime
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 1, 2026) — On Tuesday, the Senate approved House Bill (HB) 422, which strengthens and updates Kentucky law to strengthen parole ineligibility periods for certain serious offenses. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Dan Fister, R-Versailles, and was strengthened in the Senate by Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who was inspired by the case of the 23-year-old Jordan Wells, who was shot and killed in 2024 while walking down the street near Dairy Kastle.
“The loss of Jordan Wells in Louisville is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact violent crime has on families and communities,” Storm said. “When lives are taken, there must be clarity and certainty in how our justice system responds. This legislation is about reinforcing that principle, ensuring accountability is consistent and that the law reflects the seriousness of these crimes.”
“As the Senate considered this bill, we focused on strengthening the framework around violent offenders, closing gaps and making sure the system works as intended. Families should not be left questioning outcomes or whether justice will be carried through. Our responsibility is to provide a system that is clear, consistent and worthy of public trust.”
HB 422, as amended by Senate Committee Substitute 1 and a Senate floor amendment, strengthens Kentucky’s criminal justice statutes and increases minimum parole ineligibility periods for certain serious offenses. It clarifies that mandatory reentry supervision does not apply to inmates who are ineligible for parole, those convicted of capital, Class A or Class B felonies or violent offenders denied discretionary parole. The legislation also revises standards related to criminal responsibility and ensures sentencing records clearly reflect parole eligibility, improving transparency for victims and the justice system.
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, supported the measure.
“It’s devastating when young lives are taken in such violent manners, and for no reason whatsoever,” Adams said. “I was happy to support HB 422, and I will continue to support measures such as this to ensure justice for Kentucky families, especially those who endure the unimaginable loss of a child.”
HB 422 was also inspired by the 2015 killing of Logan Tipton in Woodford County. The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, who represents Woodford County and who spoke on the Tipton case and its impact on the victim’s family.