NUNN’S CLASSROOM SAFETY 101
BILL GRADUATES FROM HOUSE
Teacher protection measures will soon arrive at the governor’s desk
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 25, 2026) — On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives approved Senate Bill (SB) 101, sponsored by Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, advancing a measure designed to strengthen protections for teachers and school employees and improve safety in classrooms across the commonwealth.
SB 101 establishes clear statewide standards for how schools respond to assaults against staff, requires incidents to be reported to law enforcement and ensures consistent accountability when reporting requirements are not followed.
“The House passing this bill shows there is a clear commitment to protecting the people who keep our schools running every day,” Nunn said. “Every educator and school employee deserves to feel safe when they walk into a classroom. That’s what we all expect when we go to work, and this bill helps make that expectation a reality.”
SB 101 requires a minimum 12-month expulsion for students in grades 6 through 12 who intentionally or recklessly cause or attempt to cause physical injury to school personnel. It also ensures expelled students continue to receive educational services through alternative or virtual programs.
Nunn said the final version of the legislation reflects extensive input from educators, administrators, law enforcement and youth advocates over the past year.
“From the beginning, we focused on getting this right,” Nunn said. “I’ve talked to teachers and school leaders about this since before I was even sworn into office, and I’m grateful it’s on its way to becoming law. I appreciate Rep. Patrick Flannery getting this bill closer to the finish line.”
Flannery, R-Olive Hill, cited information from the Kentucky Department of Education and from teacher organizations over the last five years: there have been roughly 25,000 assaults against teachers in the commonwealth.
He called it "unacceptable" and said teachers should not have to fear for their safety just to do their job.
“Every student deserves a safe place to learn, and every teacher and school employee deserves a safe place to work," Flannery said. "Unfortunately, when acts of violence go unreported or unaddressed, it puts entire school communities at risk. SB 101 takes an important step forward by ensuring assaults and attempted assaults are properly reported and taken seriously, while establishing clear consequences for those who intentionally harm school staff.
"By strengthening accountability and reinforcing zero tolerance for violence, we are sending a clear message: protecting our educators and students is not optional. I commend Sen. Nunn for his work on SB 101 and look forward to seeing it implemented.”
House revisions to SB 101
Nunn worked with House colleagues to revise the original bill. Revisions through a House Committee Substitution and through floor amendments added school bus stops as a location where student misconduct may trigger expulsions, and refined and clarified legal standards for expulsion, expanded reporting requirements to include attempted assaults and significant property damage, and strengthened data tracking requirements for school districts.
The final version of SB 101 also explicitly clarifies a school district's ability to provide intervention services for students who are expelled if the student does not pose a safety threat, and that the student may receive an evaluation or treatment by the appropriate state or community agency.
The bill offers a pathway by which a student, after 26 weeks, may return to the classroom if strict requirements are met, including a letter to the person injured by the student’s actions and to a review panel consisting of the victim, the school principal and the district superintendent, or designee. The panel reviews evidence to determine whether the requirements are satisfied and may authorize the end of the student’s expulsion only upon unanimous agreement of the adjudicating body. Additional requirements a student must meet for early admission back into school include 15 hours of community service for each week of expulsion, and a cumulative GPA of at least three on any coursework completed while expelled.
An additional amendment to the bill establishes clearer reporting requirements between a board of education-created law enforcement agency and a local law enforcement agency that is independent of campus law enforcement.
A chance for bipartisan agreement
Nunn pointed to the bill as an opportunity for unified support at the state level.
“Our Governor talks often about supporting teachers, and we’ve sent him a bill that does exactly that in one of the most meaningful ways possible,” Nunn said. “This legislation helps ensure educators and school staff feel protected when they go to do what only they can do in our classrooms. I’m hopeful the governor will sign it into law and stand with lawmakers in prioritizing school safety.”
With house revisions, the bill will return to the Senate for concurrence before being delivered to the governor.