Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 446.080 (2026)

Liberal construction -- Statutes not retroactive -- Common usage --

✓ current as of May 2026

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Technical terms.

(1) All statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature, and the rule that statutes in derogation of the common law are to be strictly construed shall not apply to the statutes of this state.

(2) There shall be no difference in the construction of civil, penal and criminal statutes.

(3) No statute shall be construed to be retroactive, unless expressly so declared.

(4) All words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of language, but technical words and phrases, and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law, shall be construed according to such meaning. Effective: October 1, 1942 History: Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 459, 460.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 426 cases (87 in the last 5 years), 1943–2026 · leading case: Rodgers v. Commonwealth, 285 S.W.3d 740 (Ky. 2009).

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Rodgers v. Commonwealth, 285 S.W.3d 740 (Ky. 2009). · cites it 28× “This is consistent with our approach to substantive, procedural, and remedial civil statutes under KRS 446.080. That statute provides in part that "[t]here shall be no difference in the construction of civil, penal and criminal statutes" and that "[n]o statute shall be construed…”

Kentucky Ins. Guar. Ass'n v. Jeffers Ex Rel. Jeffers, 13 S.W.3d 606 (Ky. 2000). · cites it 44× “We believe our holding on this issue is consistent with the provision contained in KRS 446.080(1) that "[a]ll statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature.”

St. Clair v. Commonwealth, 140 S.W.3d 510 (Ky. 2004). · cites it 8× “In so doing, we are required by KRS 446.080(4) to construe words and phrases "according to the common and approved use of language.”

Baker v. Fletcher, 204 S.W.3d 589 (Ky. 2006). · cites it 8× “KRS 446.080(3) states that "[n]o statute shall be construed to be retroactive, unless expressly so declared.”

MPM Fin. Grp., Inc. v. Morton, 289 S.W.3d 193 (Ky. 2009). · cites it 5× “Before resolving that dispute, let us note first and foremost, that we are bound by subsection (1) of KRS 446.080, which directs that "[all statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature.”

Commonwealth v. Phon, 17 S.W.3d 106 (Ky. 2000). · cites it 8× “[1] To decide this matter, it is first necessary to resolve the apparent conflict between two statutes: 1) KRS 446.080(3), which mandates that retroactive application of a statute be expressly stated, and 2) KRS 446.”

Lewis v. Jackson Energy Coop. Corp., 189 S.W.3d 87 (Ky. 2005). · cites it 4× “See KRS 446.080 and Hale v. Combs, 30 S.W.3d 146 (Ky.”

Moore v. Stills, 307 S.W.3d 71 (Ky. 2010). · cites it 6× “As Petitioners and the Court of Appeals correctly observe, our Courts indulge a strong presumption, embodied in KRS 446.080, against the retroactive application of substantive changes to the law.”

Commonwealth v. Plowman, 86 S.W.3d 47 (Ky. 2002). · cites it 4× “All words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of language. Cf.”

Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. Fell ex rel. L.F., 391 S.W.3d 713 (Ky. 2012). · cites it 4× “This fundamental principle is underscored by the General Assembly itself in the following oft-quoted language of KRS 446.080(1): “All statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature.”

Firestone Textile Co. Div. v. Meadows, 666 S.W.2d 730 (Ky. 1983). · cites it 4× “" The mandate of KRS 446.080 is particularly applicable to the Workers' Compensation Act which is often cited as an act to be liberally construed to effect its remedial purpose.”

Kotila v. Commonwealth, 114 S.W.3d 226 (Ky. 2003). · cites it 4× “…5.01, cmt. 6(a) (A.L.I.1985) ("Whether a particular act is a substantial step is obviously a matter of degree."). [1] KRS 446.080.”

Show all 426 citing cases →

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 446.080(1) — 145 cases

Kentucky Ins. Guar. Ass'n v. Jeffers Ex Rel. Jeffers, 13 S.W.3d 606 (Ky. 2000). “We believe our holding on this issue is consistent with the provision contained in KRS 446.080(1) that "[a]ll statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature.”

Firestone Textile Co. Div. v. Meadows, 666 S.W.2d 730 (Ky. 1983). “" The mandate of KRS 446.080 is particularly applicable to the Workers' Compensation Act which is often cited as an act to be liberally construed to effect its remedial purpose.”

Cosby v. Commonwealth, 147 S.W.3d 56 (Ky. 2004).

Workforce Dev. Cabinet v. Gaines, 276 S.W.3d 789 (Ky. 2008).

Camera Ctr., Inc. v. Revenue Cabinet, 34 S.W.3d 39 (Ky. 2000).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 446.080(2) — 2 cases

Officeware v. Jackson, 247 S.W.3d 887 (Ky. 2008).

Officeware v. Stephen Jay Jackson (Ky. 2008).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 446.080(3) — 114 cases

Rodgers v. Commonwealth, 285 S.W.3d 740 (Ky. 2009). “This is consistent with our approach to substantive, procedural, and remedial civil statutes under KRS 446.080. That statute provides in part that "[t]here shall be no difference in the construction of civil, penal and criminal statutes" and that "[n]o statute shall be construed…”

Baker v. Fletcher, 204 S.W.3d 589 (Ky. 2006). “KRS 446.080(3) states that "[n]o statute shall be construed to be retroactive, unless expressly so declared.”

Commonwealth v. Phon, 17 S.W.3d 106 (Ky. 2000). “[1] To decide this matter, it is first necessary to resolve the apparent conflict between two statutes: 1) KRS 446.080(3), which mandates that retroactive application of a statute be expressly stated, and 2) KRS 446.”

Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp. v. Parrish, 58 S.W.3d 467 (Ky. 2001).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 446.080(4) — 125 cases

St. Clair v. Commonwealth, 140 S.W.3d 510 (Ky. 2004). “In so doing, we are required by KRS 446.080(4) to construe words and phrases "according to the common and approved use of language.”

MPM Fin. Grp., Inc. v. Morton, 289 S.W.3d 193 (Ky. 2009). “Before resolving that dispute, let us note first and foremost, that we are bound by subsection (1) of KRS 446.080, which directs that "[all statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature.”

Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. Fell ex rel. L.F., 391 S.W.3d 713 (Ky. 2012). “This fundamental principle is underscored by the General Assembly itself in the following oft-quoted language of KRS 446.080(1): “All statutes of this state shall be liberally construed with a view to promote their objects and carry out the intent of the legislature.”

Lewis v. Jackson Energy Coop. Corp., 189 S.W.3d 87 (Ky. 2005). “See KRS 446.080 and Hale v. Combs, 30 S.W.3d 146 (Ky.”

Dollar Gen. Stores, Ltd. v. Smith, 237 S.W.3d 162 (Ky. 2007).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 446.080(8) — 2 cases

Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. v. Glass, 996 S.W.2d 437 (Ky. 1999).

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