LINK nky invited our local legislators to share their priorities for the 2025 legislative session, which began Jan. 7 and concludes March 29. Stephanie Dietz, a Republican from Edgewood, represents House District 65.
As the 2025 Legislative Session approaches, we face a number of pressing issues. Among them, several; stand out to me. Two of these issues are critical for protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring justice: addressing coercive control in abusive relationships and reforming the guardian ad litem (GAL) system. Both areas require legislative action to modernize our legal framework and safeguard the rights of victims and children in family court proceedings.Â
Coercive control is defined as a pattern of psychological, emotional, financial, and technological; abuse used to dominate and isolate victims. Yet, in many jurisdictions, the legal system still focuses primarily on physical violence, leaving victims of non-physical abuse without adequate protection.Â
I plan to file legislation that would present a crucial amendment to the domestic violence statute. The measure would add coercive control to protective orders and give victims a way out before the physical violence starts. The 2025 Regular Session offers a pivotal opportunity for Kentucky to join other states in the movement to ensure that victims are heard and protected from all forms of abuse. By defining coercive control within our domestic violence statutes, we can empower our courts to issue protective orders and intervene earlier, preventing further escalation.Â
Another one of my top priorities is guardian ad litem (GAL) system reform. This is likely a two-year project that we will examine during the next budget session; however, I believe it is important to start working on it now. GAL is designed to represent the best interests of children in custody and abuse cases. Despite their role, GALs often operate with minimal oversight, leading to inconsistent practices and the risk of potential harm to the children.Â
Last session, I brought HB 436 to improve advocacy for children. The measure requires a paid guardian to be appointed to any unrepresented minors named in an interpersonal protective order, emergency protective order, or domestic violence order. The guardian shall be paid a fee fixed by the court not to exceed $500, which shall be paid by the Finance and Administration Cabinet.
I am very pleased with the enactment of HB 436, but we still have work to do to reform the GAL system. We need to examine how GALs are currently being paid and if that makes the most sense moving forward.
Another issue that is very important to Kentuckians, is lowering the individual income tax. During my tenure, the legislature has taken steps to both cut and eventually eliminate the individual income tax. I think we’ll see a vote on this early in the session–maybe even one of the first we take once we convene. Since 2017, the legislature has lowered the individual income tax from 6% to 4%, and we have met the conditions necessary to lower the tax to 3.5% in 2026. Of course, this means Kentuckians will keep more of their income. The last two cuts alone have left more than a billion dollars in the pockets of those who worked to earn them. This couldn’t have come at a better time as inflation on the national level is hitting us hard.
In this session, it is important that we lead with courage and compassion. We need to ensure that our laws reflect the realities of those who need protection the most.
Representative Stephanie A. Dietz represents the 65th District in the Kentucky House of Representatives, which includes a portion of Kenton County. She can be reached by email at Stephanie.Dietz@kylegislature.gov or by phone at 1-800-372-7181.
