The Administrative Office of the Court of Kentucky are warning that if legislators pass the current version of the Judicial Branch budget, then the specialty courts of the Commonwealth could suffer.
That includes the Drug, Mental Health and Veteran Treatment Courts, which service thousands of Kentuckians struggling with addiction, mental illness and other challenges. According to a news release, right now, House Bill 504 is calling for reductions to court base appropriations of four percent in the fiscal year 2027 and then seven percent in 2028. Officials claim it also under-funds court operations by $14.3 million for 2027.
Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Debra Hembree Lambert says that funding gap would leave the Judicial Branch with very limited options. She says, “The Judicial Branch already operates with a lean budget, with about 90% devoted to personnel and the basic costs required to keep courthouses open and functioning. When cuts of this magnitude occur, there is simply no way to absorb them through small efficiencies or administrative changes. The only viable option we have is to eliminate programs that are not constitutionally required, including Drug, Mental Health and Veterans Treatment Courts. These programs change lives every day, but without adequate funding we cannot continue them.”
Drug courts operate in all 120 Kentucky counties and currently serve approximately 2,500 active participants who are considered high risk and high need due to substance use disorders. Mental Health Courts operate in 17 counties, serving 270 participants with serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorders. Veterans Treatment Courts operate in eight counties, serving 92 military veterans and service members facing similar challenges.
Lawmakers are running out of time to pass a budget, as the veto recess for the 2026 session is rapidly approaching.