LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) — A bill that advocates say is long overdue has passed both the Kentucky House and Senate and is now heading to the governor’s desk.
The legislation, House Bill 4, would criminalize grooming of minors and provide a clearer legal definition of the behavior.
Advocates across Kentucky say the bill marks an important step forward in protecting children.
“If you look at the headlines, it’s story after story, and so clearly, whatever we’re doing is not working,” said Laura Wills-Coppelman, co-founder of Institutional Complicity Kentucky. “So, it’s time to take action.”
Once enacted, H.B. 4 will classify grooming of a minor as a criminal offense and clarify what constitutes grooming under state law.
“I think it’s important for our role to share with legislators what we see on the ground level so that we can build those laws and have stronger laws to protect children and then also to criminalize the perpetrators that are trying to get access to our children,” said Sonja Grey, executive director of Exploited Children’s Help Organization.
H.B. 4 is one of several measures supported this session by the Exploited Children’s Help Organization. Grey emphasized that recognizing grooming behaviors is increasingly important, especially with the rise of digital communication.
“A lot of times, what we are seeing within the classroom…there is a lot of activity within these digital spaces,” Grey said. “This is not the time for us as adults to sit back and think this is going away because technology is always advancing. We have to keep up and make sure our kids are safe.”
Institutional Complicity Kentucky, another advocacy group supporting the bill, formed after former Shelby County Schools students came forward with allegations of sexual abuse and grooming by staff members.
Some of those students, including Wills-Coppelman, have actively lobbied lawmakers in Frankfort, speaking in committee meetings and sharing their experiences.
“We can take what we’ve learned from these experiences that we have all gone through, and things we’ve learned from others who may never come forward publicly,” Wills-Coppelman said. “As more survivor stories emerged, patterns became clear, and that showed us that policy is the foundation and the pathway to addressing these issues.”
With the passage of H.B. 4, Kentucky becomes one of 13 states with laws specifically addressing grooming.
Wills-Coppelman said she hopes the legislation will raise awareness and serve as a model for addressing the issue more broadly.
“There’s a lot of reasons why this legislation is a priority bill this session,” she said. “We’re seeing these patterns play out both nationally and within our communities every day.”
The Kentucky General Assembly is scheduled to conclude its 2026 legislative session in mid-April.
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