LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear has signed a bill into law that restricts no-knock warrants in Kentucky.


What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 4 limits the use of no-knock warrants

  • Another bill that would ban all no-knock warrants did not advance in the General Assembly

  • Breonna Taylor's mother attended the ceremony

  • The governor also signed SB 270 and HB 321

Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, stood behind the governor Friday at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.

The ceremony was held a little more than a year after police shot and killed Taylor in her home while serving a warrant.

Under the new law, no-knock warrants can only be used under certain conditions, like if knocking would endanger lives. 

It bans executing warrants overnight and requires an EMT to be nearby to give medical care.

“I’m signing Senate Bill 4 to ensure another mother never goes through the pain that Tamika Palmer has felt," Beshear said. 

Some supporters have said the legislation doesn’t go far enough, but it’s a start. 

“It’s a recognition, Ms. Palmer, that we in Frankfort are willing to say her name, Breonna Taylor," said Sen. Morgan McGarvey (D, Louisville). "We must ban no-knock warrants and look intentionally at the policies that led to that night.” 

Another bill named "Breonna's Law," House Bill 21, would ban all no-knock warrants, but it was never brought to a vote during the legislative session. 

Taylor family attorney Lonita Baker said Palmer was encouraged by the progress. 

"This is definitely just a start," Baker said. "We look forward to working with the General Assembly in the future on additional legislation, hopefully some more restrictions on the use of no-knock warrants as well as other legislation as it relates to police accountability." 

The governor also signed Senate Bill 270, which allows students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to receive Kentucky tuition grants and House Bill 321, which creates a tax increment financing district to help pay for projects in West Louisville.