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HB 4 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to grooming a minor.

Summary
­Create a new section of KRS Chapter 510 to establish the offense of grooming a minor; amend KRS 510.010 to define "course of conduct," "grooming behavior," and "sexual conduct"; amend various sections to conform; make technical corrections.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new offense for grooming minors, expanding criminalization within Crimes And Punishments subject, not advancing reform.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify that the law does not prevent legitimate communications with minors, such as those by healthcare providers, educators, and parents. Additionally, the definition of 'grooming behavior' was expanded to explicitly include online interactions and indirect methods, broadening the scope of prohibited conduct.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly exempts lawful activities like medical treatment, educational curriculum, and parental communication from being considered criminal grooming behavior.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'grooming behavior' was updated to clarify that it can occur online, in person, or through third parties, and includes acts intended to normalize sexual conduct even if no meeting occurs.

The list of lawful exceptions for communicating with minors was reorganized and expanded to include 'volunteer-related duties' and clarified that conversations can occur with siblings or guardians.

SCOPE

New language was added to explicitly state that the section does not prevent communication with minors for lawful purposes, including medical diagnosis, teaching sexuality education, and age-appropriate conversations by parents.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
11
Committee
8
Amendments
2
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 65)
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 92-0
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 98-0 with Floor Amendment (2)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) and (3) filed
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.