Lawmakers passed more than 140 bills and filed hundreds more during their time in Frankfort. They run the gamut from defunding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Kentucky’s colleges and universities, to a ban on students using smartphones at school and legislation to make “sextortion” a new crime.
Under Kentucky’s Constitution, new laws take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns. Exceptions include bills that have special effective dates, general appropriation measures and those with emergency clauses, which make them effective immediately, according to the Legislation Research Commission.
Here’s a look at new laws effecting education that are soon going into effect:
- Limits on teacher-student communications:Senate Bill 181 requires teachers to communicate with students using traceable technology. Emails and texts are prohibited. Several incidents involving inappropriate sexual communications between school staff and students have led to criminal charges in recent years. A 2022 Herald-Leader investigation found of the 194 teachers who lost their licenses in some way over the previous five years, 61% were related to sexual misconduct. In sponsoring the bill, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor said its goal is to outline clear guidelines for electronic communications between school staff, volunteers and students to protect student safety.
- A ban on student phone use during the school day:From California to Florida, school mobile phone bans are sweeping the country as states try to grapple with their negative effects on students’ attention and mental health. Now, Kentucky has joined the pack with House Bill 208. The bill requires school boards to, at a minimum, adopt policies that prohibit student phone use during the school day with a few limited exceptions. It was sponsored by Rep. Josh Bray.
- Moments of silence to start the school day: In another change students are likely to notice when schools start back, Senate Bill 19 requires schools to create “moments of silence” at the start of each school day, lasting up to two minutes. Students are invited to pray, meditate or otherwise remain silent, but they cannot distract other students. Critics have raised First Amendment concerns of mandating religious activities in public schools and note students are already free to pray during the school day if they wish. Senate Bill 19 sponsor Sen. Rick Girdler has said the bill has no religious connotations.
