SB 181 PASSES GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEADS TO GOVERNOR’S DESK AS ANOTHER MEASURE TO PROTECT KENTUCKY’S CHILDREN
FRANKFORT, KY (March 28, 2025)—Senate Bill 181 (SB 181), sponsored by Senator Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, has officially cleared both the Kentucky House and Senate unanimously, marking another major step in the legislature’s ongoing efforts to safeguard children across the commonwealth. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
SB 181 establishes clear guidelines for electronic communication between school district employees, volunteers, and students, ensuring parental oversight and preventing unauthorized communication that could pose risks to student safety. The legislation enhances transparency, accountability, and safeguards against misconduct while reinforcing Kentucky’s commitment to protecting minors.
This bill is also about protecting the integrity of education, ensuring that communication in educational settings remains professional, secure, and conducive to a safe learning environment.
“This legislation is about putting our children first and ensuring they are protected from inappropriate or unauthorized communication,” said Tichenor. “SB 181 strengthens parental involvement, sets clear expectations for school-related communication, and ensures accountability for those entrusted with our students' well-being.”
Under SB 181, key definitions are established to clarify the roles and responsibilities of parents, school district employees, and volunteers, as well as to define what constitutes a traceable communication system and unauthorized electronic communication. The bill also mandates the use of a designated traceable communication system, which tracks all school-related communication and allows parental access.
To ensure proper oversight, each local board of education is required to designate an official traceable electronic communication system for all school-related messaging. Parents must be notified within the first ten days of the school year about this system and provided with instructions on how to access it. School employees and volunteers are strictly prohibited from using personal email, text messaging, or social media to communicate with students unless prior written parental consent is given.
By increasing transparency and accountability in student-staff communication, SB 181 strengthens parental involvement and ensures that clear consequences are in place for unauthorized contact. The legislation prioritizes student safety while also maintaining confidentiality and a structured process for handling sensitive complaints.
With final approval from the Governor, SB 181 will officially become law, reinforcing the General Assembly's commitment to protecting our most precious resource—our children.
For further updates on SB 181 and other legislative initiatives, visit Legislature.ky.gov.
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Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, represents the 6th Senate District, including Oldham and Trimble Counties and part of Jefferson County. Tichenor serves as vice chair of the Senate Education Committee. She is a member of the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity statutory committee. She is also a member of the Senate Committees on Health Services; State and Local Government; and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection. Additionally, Tichenor serves as a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services and as a member of the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee.
For a high-resolution JPEG file of Tichenor please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate106.jpg
