# Kentucky HB 4: AN ACT relating to grooming a minor. Kentucky HB 4, AN ACT relating to grooming a minor., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marianne Proctor (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-10 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 65)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB4-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky HB 4 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to grooming a minor. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-10, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 65) - Sponsor: Marianne Proctor (Republican) - Cosponsors: 41 - Subjects: Children And Minors, Crimes And Punishments, Criminal Procedure, Corrections Impact, Local Mandate - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (228 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New crime for grooming minors: benefit, high. Kentucky creates the crime of grooming a minor. An adult who grooms a child under 14 to set up sexual conduct commits a crime. If the adult is in a position of authority and targets a minor under 18 to push sexual conduct or a secretive relationship, it is also a crime. Penalties range from a Class… - Massage therapists face stricter conduct rules: cost, medium. The board can deny, suspend, or revoke a massage therapy license and issue reprimands or probation. Fines can be up to $1,000 per violation. A guilty verdict, an admission of guilt, or a no‑contest plea counts as a conviction. Unprofessional conduct includes sexual contact with a client or lewd or… - Sanctions for social workers’ sexual contact: cost, medium. If a social worker has sexual contact with a client while the client is under care, the board can suspend or revoke the license. The board can require treatment for the social worker and require payment for the client’s mental health care. Convictions for listed sexual crimes also allow license rev… - Stronger penalties for nurse misconduct: cost, medium. The board can discipline a nurse who is on the adult caregiver or nurse aide abuse registry for substantiated abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, or who has a substantiated or court finding of child abuse or neglect. If the board proves a nurse had sexual contact with a patient under care, it can… - Tougher discipline for behavior analysts: cost, medium. The board can fine applied behavior analysts up to $2,500 per violation. The board can also discipline a licensee for nonconsensual sexual contact or sexual harassment of an employee or coworker. Private admonishments are confidential and not made public, but the board can use them later. - Tougher discipline for doctors’ misconduct: cost, medium. The medical board can place a doctor on probation for up to five years, suspend for up to five years, restrict practice indefinitely, or revoke a license for listed misconduct. Convictions for sexual offenses involving patients, including KRS 530.064(1)(a) and KRS 531.310, or a board finding of sex… - Stronger EMS reporting and penalty rules: cost, medium. EMS employers must report workers who they know or reasonably suspect are unfit to practice, broke laws or rules, committed fraud, practiced without a valid credential, abused drugs, or falsified essential records. Reports go to the licensing board on its official form. It is a Class A misdemeanor… - Boards broaden conviction definition: cost, low. For applied behavior analyst and physical therapy boards, a guilty finding, an admission of guilt, or a no‑contest plea counts as a conviction for discipline. This makes it easier for boards to use conviction‑based rules when they decide cases. - Stronger reporting and discipline for educators: mixed, high. School superintendents must report to the state within 30 calendar days when a certified employee is fired, resigns under threat, is not renewed for cause, is convicted, or may have broken rules. The Education Professional Standards Board confirms receipt within seven business days and notifies the… - Stricter rules for physical therapists: mixed, medium. The board can discipline physical therapy licensees for breaking KRS 304.39‑215 or for conduct that carries penalties under KRS 304.99‑060(4) or (5). Private admonishments are confidential and not public, but may be used by the board later. These changes add explicit grounds for action while keepin… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Marianne Proctor (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Beverly Chester-Burton (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Bill Wesley (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chris Fugate (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chris Lewis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Candy Massaroni (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Elliott (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Deanna Gordon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Grossberg (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: David Hale (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David W. Osborne (Republican), House - Cosponsor: DJ Johnson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Felicia Rabourn (Republican), House - Cosponsor: George Brown Jr. (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Josh Calloway (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Decker (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jim Gooch Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John Hodgson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jason Nemes (Republican), House - Cosponsor: James Tipton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kim Banta (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kim Holloway (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kimberly Poore Moser (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mark Hart (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mary Beth Imes (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Matt Lockett (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Nancy Tate (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Patrick Flannery (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Peyton Griffee (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ryan Bivens (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ryan Dotson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Richard White (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Shane Baker (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Steve Bratcher (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Steven Doan (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Savannah Maddox (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Scott Sharp (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Tony Hampton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Thomas Huff (Republican), House - Cosponsor: T.J. Roberts (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Vanessa Grossl (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Walker Thomas (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | House | passed | pass | 92 | 0 | | | 2026-03-26 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 98 | 0 | | ## Actions (27) - 2026-04-10: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 65) - 2026-03-31: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-03-31: passed 92-0 (House) - 2026-03-31: House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-31: posted for passage for concurrence in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-27: to Rules (H) (House) - 2026-03-27: received in House (House) - 2026-03-26: 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-25: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-24: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-20: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-20: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-19: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-16: to Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-04: 3rd reading, passed 98-0 with Floor Amendment (2) (House) - 2026-02-03: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 04 2026 (House) - 2026-02-03: floor amendment (2) and (3) filed (House) - 2026-02-02: floor amendment (1) filed (House) - 2026-01-29: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-01-28: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (House) - 2026-01-21: to Judiciary (H) (House) - 2026-01-13: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-01-13: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-31: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb4/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb4/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb4/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb4/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB4-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).