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HB 19 Kentucky House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to privacy protection.

Summary
Amend KRS 500.130 to define terms; provide that the use of an unmanned aircraft system is not prohibited in the case of recreational or professional use if there is not intent to conduct surveillance on private property and there is no unauthorized use or publication of images of individuals or areas of private property, or in the case of an insurance company for purposes of underwriting a risk or investigating damage; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil action; create a new section of KRS Chapter 413 to establish a statute of limitations for the civil action.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Signed Mar 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 7 edits
MODERATE
This bill significantly expands drone usage regulations in Kentucky by adding 'streaming' services to communications definitions, removing lethal payload restrictions for military drones, and creating new civil remedies for privacy violations. The most substantive change is establishing a private right of action allowing property owners to sue for unauthorized surveillance, including seeking injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees. The bill also clarifies law enforcement drone use requirements and adds a seven-year statute of limitations for privacy lawsuits.
Scope change
The bill expands drone applicability to include streaming services and removes lethal payload restrictions for certain military operations, while adding new civil enforcement mechanisms for privacy violations.
DEFINITION

Added 'streaming' to the definition of communications services alongside cable, broadband, and telecommunications.

Removed the exception allowing lethal payloads on military unmanned aircraft systems.

Added a presumption that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy on their privately owned real property when not observable from ground level.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new categories of entities permitted to use drones for business purposes including aerial mapping, cargo operations, and insurance investigations.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new civil cause of action allowing property owners to sue for unauthorized drone surveillance with remedies including injunctive relief, actual damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorney fees.

TIMELINE

Established a seven-year statute of limitations for filing privacy-related civil actions.

REQUIREMENT

Strengthened law enforcement drone use requirements by mandating Fourth Amendment compliance, warrant specificity, and data minimization for non-suspects.

Floor votes · House Feb 21, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
6
Mar 15, 2025
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 19)
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 37-0
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 90-1 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
to Small Business & Information Technology (H)
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.