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SB 138 KY
Introduced

AN ACT relating to the protection of children.

KY · session 2026RS · Senate · bill

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Introduced Jan 29, 2026

Latest action (Mar 13, 2026) 2nd reading, to Rules

Summary

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 507 to establish the offense of child abuse homicide as a capital offense; amend KRS 199.896 to require licensed child-care centers to maintain video surveillance of all public areas within the facility and retain video footage for 90 days; amend KRS 507.030 to increase the age of a child victim of manslaughter in the first degree from 12 or under to under 18; amend KRS 507.040 to increase the penalty of manslaughter in the second degree from a Class C to a Class B felony if the victim is under the age of 18; amend KRS 508.100 to add knowingly as a mental state of a person guilty of criminal abuse in the first degree; increase the age of a victim from under age 12 to under age 18; increase the penalty of criminal abuse in the first degree from a Class C to a Class B felony and from a Class B to a Class A felony if the victim is under the age of 18; amend KRS 508.110 to increase the age of a victim of criminal abuse in the second degree from age 12 or less to under 18; increase the penalty from a Class D to a Class C felony; amend KRS 508.120 to increase the age of a victim of criminal abuse in the third degree from age 12 or less to under 18; increase the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony; amend KRS 532.025, relating to aggravating circumstances in death penalty eligible cases, to increase the age of a victim of an intentional killing from under 12 to under 18; amend KRS 625.090 to create a rebuttable presumption that parental rights must be terminated if a parent has been convicted of a felony involving serious physical injury to any child or convicted of causing or contributing to the death of a child as a result of abuse; provide that the Act may be cited as Jayden's Law.

Sponsors (4)

Action history (5)

  1. Jan 29, 2026 introduced in Senate · upper
  2. Jan 29, 2026 to Committee on Committees (S) · upper
  3. Feb 11, 2026 to Judiciary (S) · upper
  4. Mar 12, 2026 reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) · upper
  5. Mar 13, 2026 2nd reading, to Rules · upper
Subjects
Children And MinorsCorrections ImpactCourts, CircuitCrimes And PunishmentsCriminal ProcedureLicensingRules Of EvidenceShort Titles And Popular Names

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