SB 73 Kentucky Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to sexual extortion.

Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 531 to establish the crime of sexual extortion as a felony; provide for enhancements to penalties; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil cause of action for sexual extortion; amend KRS 17.500 to include sexual extortion in the definition of "sex crime"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require superintendents of local school districts to notify students in grades four and above and parents and guardians of all students of the crime of sexual extortion; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require local school boards to display posters in schools with the definition of sexual extortion and contact information for entities offering assistance to victims; amend KRS 164.2518 to require postsecondary institutions to display posters with the definition of sexual extortion and contact information for entities offering assistance to victims in residential facilities and buildings containing instructional spaces, student services, or academic support services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed Mar 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill reorganizes and clarifies the definition of sexual extortion by separating the act of threatening someone into two distinct categories: threatening to coerce sexual conduct or the distribution of sexual images, versus threatening to distribute existing sexual images. It also adds new provisions for civil liability against perpetrators and creates specific exemptions for service providers and disclosures made in the public interest.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of sexual extortion to explicitly include threats to distribute sexual images as a separate category from threats to coerce sexual conduct, and adds civil liability provisions for victims to sue perpetrators.
DEFINITION

The definition of sexual extortion was restructured to clearly separate threats to coerce sexual conduct from threats to distribute sexual images, making the law easier to understand and enforce.

ENFORCEMENT

New civil liability provisions allow victims to sue perpetrators for actual and punitive damages, court costs, and attorney fees in Circuit Court.

EXEMPTIONS

Specific exemptions were added for service providers (internet, telecommunications, cable operators) and disclosures made in the public interest, such as reporting unlawful conduct or lawful law enforcement practices.

REQUIREMENT

The bill now includes specific exemptions for images involving voluntary nudity in public settings and disclosures made in the public interest, narrowing the scope of what constitutes sexual extortion.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

430
Passed
Total votes 43
Feb 12, 2025
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican37
37 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
7
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Mar 12, 2025
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 9)
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 94-0
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Jan 10, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 10, 2025
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.