Technology

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms, restrict digital instruction time for students in kindergarten to grade 5 to 45 minutes per student per day; exclude designated uses of technology from the restriction; direct in-person elementary schools to require at least 70% of student assignments to be written; require daily access to traditional learning material; require incorporation of physical manipulatives into math and science instruction; prohibit replacing primary instruction with instructional technology for designated elementary subjects; prohibit homework that requires instructional technology; prohibit requiring students to carry instructional technology to and from school daily; prohibit replacing library time with digital reading labs; require each school district to adopt a written technology-use policy; require school districts to publish an annual technology use report that includes designated items to its website.

Amend KRS 186.763 to prohibit a school district from operating a fully autonomous vehicle as a school bus or for transporting students; prohibit the operation of a fully autonomous vehicle if that vehicle requires an operator with a commercial driver's license; amend KRS 281.764 to conform.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 383 to define "algorithmic device"; prohibit the use of algorithmic devices in setting the amount of rent to be charged to a residential tenant and provide that such use violates KRS 367.170 and 367.175 of the Consumer Protection Act; provide that the prohibition shall apply to a landlord's calculation of rent for a rental agreement executed on or after the effective date of the Act.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to define "automated license plate reader" or "ALPR"; prohibit the use, deployment, and maintenance of an ALPR system; allow a person to bring a civil action for a violation and allow recovery of actual and punitive damages; make the use, deployment, and maintenance of an ALPR system a Class D felony and set a fine of $10,000.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 367 to define terms; restrict the use of artificial intelligence by certain licensed professionals in therapy and psychotherapy services; prohibit licensed professionals from using artificial intelligence to assist in providing supplementary support in therapy or psychotherapy services where the client's therapeutic session is recorded; provide exceptions; prohibit advertising or offering therapy or psychotherapy services unless the therapy or psychotherapy services are conducted by a licensed professional; limit how a licensed professional may use artificial intelligence; require all records between a licensed professional and a patient to be confidential; grant enforcement authority to the relevant board; exclude religious counseling, peer support, and self-help materials; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 369.130 to add and modify various definitions; create a new section of KRS 369.130 to 369.139 to prohibit the Commonwealth of Kentucky and governing authorities from issuing, recognizing as legal tender, accepting or requiring as payment, or participating in any test of central bank digital currency; create new sections of KRS 369.130 to 369.139 and KRS Chapter 393 to prohibit ownership of digital asset mining businesses by prohibited foreign parties; provide for enforcement by Attorney General and penalties for violation of prohibited foreign party prohibition; establish distribution of proceeds if digital asset mining business property is escheated due to a violation; amend KRS 45.345 to conform; amend KRS 42.500 to make technical corrections; permit the State Investment Commission to invest up to 10% of excess funds in bullion; prohibit State Investment Commission from investing in central bank digital currency; amend KRS 42.525 to make technical corrections; authorize the State Investment Commission to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out and effectuate certain authorized investments; establish Subtitle 13 of KRS Chapter 286 and create new sections thereof to regulate virtual currency kiosks; establish definitions; provide for enforcement by the commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions; establish license requirements for virtual currency kiosks; require regulatory filings to be submitted to a nationwide licensing system registry; establish initial and renewal application processes and requirements, reporting, surety bond and tangible net worth, and change of control requirements for virtual currency kiosk operators; require the commissioner to promulgate administrative regulations to establish format, document submission, fee, and trade practice requirements for virtual currency kiosk operators; establish record retention requirements for persons required to be licensed as virtual currency kiosk operators; establish trade practice requirements relating to protection of resident assets, virtual currency kiosk transactions, prohibited practices, and fraud and information security compliance procedures; authorize the commissioner to conduct investigations and examinations; provide for the confidentiality of certain documents provided to the commissioner; authorize the commissioner to share, disclose, and report information and take other actions to assist in the commissioner's duties; require the commissioner to submit an annual licensing report to the Legislative Research Commission; establish due process requirements for adverse actions taken by the commissioner against licensees and other persons; establish requirements for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license; authorize the commissioner to enter cease and desist orders and emergency orders; authorize the commissioner to order civil penalties against persons that violate the subtitle; create a new section of KRS Chapter 41 to define terms; recognize gold specie and silver specie as legal tender in Kentucky; provide for use of gold specie and silver specie as legal tender; require the State Treasurer to promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to designate or establish a bullion depository and authorize 1 or more electronic payment systems to facilitate electronic payment transactions; establish requirements for system participants, transaction information, and bullion deposits; require the State Treasurer to submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission and to implement the system within 1 year; provide that Section 32 of the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Transactional Gold and Silver Act; require the commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions to promulgate any required emergency and ordinary administrative regulations on or before January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE, in part, March 31, 2027.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 367 to define terms; prohibit social media platforms from providing minors an addictive feed and sending push notifications to minors between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. without permission from a parent or legal guardian; require social media platforms to determine a user's age upon account creation and establish guidelines for handling the information; require social media platforms to develop and implement a proactive strategy to prevent a minor from exposure to harmful material; grant enforcement power to the Office of the Attorney General and provide a private right of action to parents and legal guardians; provide that the Act may be cited as the Youth Online Safety Act, include severability clause. EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.