FRANKFORT, Ky. (WEVV) — The Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously voted Friday to reform a 2025 law that imposed strict limits on how teachers and school staff communicate with students.
House Bill 67, sponsored by Rep. J.T. Payne of Henderson County, passed with an 85-0 vote. The legislation aims to resolve “everyday life” challenges created by Senate Bill 181, a law enacted last year that restricted one-on-one digital communication between school employees and minors.
“HB 67 would address many of these concerns while maintaining the intent of SB 181: keeping our children out of harm’s way,” Payne said.
The proposed changes would expand the types of communication that are allowed, including:
Emergency exemptions: Allowing direct contact during urgent situations.
Group and public communication: Permitting group messages and interactions on public social media platforms.
Expanded family definitions: Adding nieces and nephews to reflect family situations where age differences are small.
Civic and religious exemptions: Offering alternatives to written waivers for teachers who interact with students through churches or other civic groups.
An amendment introduced by Rep. Kim Holloway of Mayfield focused on family structures, ensuring relatives can communicate without legal complications regardless of age differences.
While the state Senate is reviewing its own version of the reform (SB 181 of 2026), HB 67 includes specific exemptions for field trips and work-based learning programs that the Senate version does not currently provide. The bill will now move to the Senate for further consideration.
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