SB 181 Kentucky Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to children.

Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to define terms; direct each local board of education to designate one or more programs or applications as a traceable communication system that shall be the exclusive means for school district employees and volunteers to communicate electronically with students; provide that a parent may submit written consent for a designated school district employee or volunteer to communicate electronically with a student outside of the traceable communication system; exclude communications between a parent that is a school district employee or volunteer and his or her own children; establish a mandatory duty to report violations for school employees and volunteers; require principals, superintendents, and the commissioner of education to notify parents of allegations of unauthorized electronic communication involving their children; require principals, superintendents, and the commissioner of education to report alleged violations to the Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB); require principals, superintendents, the commissioner of education, and EPSB to investigate designated allegations of unauthorized electronic communication; establish the methods of disciplinary action for a violation; amend KRS 161.120 to provide that the identity of complainants alleging unauthorized electronic communication, sexual contact, or other sexual misconduct that are dismissed and minors invovled in the complaint to remain confidential; provide that EPSB will have 120 days to conduct the initial review of complaints alleging unauthorized electronic communication, sexual contact, or other sexual misconduct.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Signed Apr 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly rewritten to broaden its scope from addressing school employee misconduct to protecting children more broadly. Key changes include redefining who counts as a 'family member' to include extended relatives like aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and expanding the definition of prohibited unauthorized electronic communications to cover interactions with students who are not family members. The bill also adds new requirements for principals to notify parents about electronic communication programs and establishes clearer disciplinary procedures for violations.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from focusing on school employee misconduct to a broader child protection framework that includes extended family members and clarifies rules around unauthorized electronic communications between school staff and students.
DEFINITION

Redefined 'family member' to include parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, expanding who is protected from unauthorized electronic communications.

Clarified that 'unauthorized electronic communication' applies to communications with students who are not family members, not just non-child students.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for principals to notify parents within 10 days of school year start about electronic communication programs and how to access them.

Added requirement that consent forms must designate a single specific employee who cannot be transferred to another employee.

ENFORCEMENT

Strengthened disciplinary procedures for employees who violate communication rules, with specific references to existing state laws for certified and classified employees.

EXEMPTIONS

Expanded exemption to allow electronic communications between students and their family members who are school employees or volunteers.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

420
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 43
Mar 6, 2025
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican37
36 Yea 1
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
31
Key actions
15
Committee
14
Amendments
1
Apr 1, 2025
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 149)
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed 38-0
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House Committee Substitute (1) and committee amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 100-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
to Families & Children (H)
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
taken from Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
returned to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
taken from Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
returned to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
taken from Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
to Families & Children (S)
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.