LEXINGTON, Ky. — Legislation that would restrict Kentucky governors' ability to grant pardons during election periods advanced through a House committee Thursday, according to a release from the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.

Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit governors from exercising pardoning and sentence commutation powers during a 90-day window: the 60 days preceding a gubernatorial election and through the fifth Tuesday following that election.

"In essence, 90 days out of every 4 years, there is no power to pardon vested in the governor," McDaniel told House lawmakers. "If a governor believes in a pardon strongly enough, he or she can stand in front of the voters, or have their party stand in front of the voters to decide their opinion of the pardon."

The bill's genesis lies in controversial pardons issued by former Gov. Matt Bevin in his final weeks in 2019, when he granted hundreds of clemencies including to violent offenders. McDaniel emphasized the amendment would ensure voter transparency on pardon decisions rather than restricting pardons based on crime categories.

During committee discussion, Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, expressed concern that the time restriction might prevent pardons of innocent people convicted unjustly. McDaniel responded that sufficient safeguards exist, noting a new administration could review cases during the open pardon window.

The Kentucky State Legislature voted April 1 to send the constitutional amendment to voters in November. If approved by voters, the amendment would take effect in Kentucky, making it the first statewide ballot measure certified in Kentucky for 2026.