Kentucky Unanimously Passes HB 67 to Refine Educator‑Student Communication Rules

In February 2026 a Kentucky school district agreed to a $3 million settlement with a former high‑school soccer player who alleged abuse by a former coach now imprisoned. The payment is the largest ever recorded in the state for a school‑related child‑sex‑abuse claim. The case emerged amid a wave of similar allegations involving coaches who used private messaging apps to contact students. Earlier in 2025 the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 181, which banned direct, non‑traceable communication between district faculty and students unless through an approved third‑party platform. Teachers and coaches reported that the rule created practical problems, such as hindering legitimate team coordination and parent outreach. Senator Lindsey Tichenor, who sponsored the original bill, heard these concerns and sought to refine the language.

- HB 67 received unanimous approval in the Kentucky House and Senate and was forwarded to Governor Beshear on April 1, 2026. - The $3 million settlement in February 2026 marks the highest ever paid by a Kentucky school district for educator‑student abuse. - Senator Lindsey Tichenor stated that the intent of the legislation was not to burden schools. - The bill clarifies the definition of a volunteer, updates the parent definition to follow FERPA guidelines, adds cousins and blood‑or‑marriage relatives to the family‑member definition, and creates an exception for educators whose second‑job electronic contact is unrelated to school duties. - It also expands permissible public communication to include virtual school instruction and public social‑media posts.

HB 67 tightens the traceable‑communication requirement while offering clearer exemptions that address the unintended consequences noted after Senate Bill 181 took effect. By defining family members more broadly and allowing certain work‑related contacts, the law seeks to reduce the risk of private, non‑traceable exchanges that could facilitate grooming. At the same time, it preserves channels for legitimate educational outreach, such as online classes and public announcements. School districts will need to revise policies, train staff, and update monitoring systems to comply with the revised standards before the next school term.