"Next week, a new law on 'Sextortion' will take effect, having been enacted through Kentucky's Senate Bill 73"
New Anti-Sextortion Law Passed in Kentucky
Kentucky has taken a significant step forward in combating the growing issue of sextortion, with Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Sen. Julie Raque Adams, being passed and set to take effect on June 27. This new law, which can be read at apps.legislature.ky.gov/sb73, aims to increase awareness and provide support for victims of sextortion within the state's schools.
Sextortion, defined as using threats such as exposure, violence, or reputational harm to coerce someone into providing sexual images, engaging in sexual acts, or giving money or something of value, is a calculated and cruel crime that thrives on fear and silence, according to the FBI. The offense can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the severity of the harm to the victim and factors such as the use of threats, prior offenses, the victim's age, or abuse of authority.
Under the new law, schools in Kentucky are required to provide age-appropriate information about sextortion to students and parents each year. They are also mandated to post signs with details on how to report sextortion and where to seek support, including the national suicide prevention hotline. This is a crucial measure as more than 20 teens have died by suicide after being targeted in sextortion cases.
The Kentucky Sextortion Coalition, led by Teena Halbig, spent two years advocating for anti-sextortion legislation before the new law was approved. Halbig initiated the legislation in 2024, stating that it will save lives.
The bill makes sexual extortion, or "sextortion," a separate crime in Kentucky. Those convicted of felonies under the statute will be added to the state's sex offender registry. Additionally, the law allows victims or their families to seek civil damages, legal fees, and court costs.
Sen. Julie Raque Adams stated that sexual extortion is the fastest-growing crime against children. In 2024, the FBI received over 54,000 sextortion-related reports, a 30 percent increase from the previous year. Financial losses from sextortion schemes have totaled nearly $65 million over the past two years.
While detailed information about a 2025 Kentucky anti-sextortion law is not publicly available in the provided data, it is common for such laws to include provisions for increased awareness, reporting mechanisms, support systems, and consequences for offenders. It is hoped that this new law will provide much-needed protection and support for victims of sextortion in Kentucky.
In the general news, Kentucky has taken a decisive step in addressing the increasing issue of sextortion through the passing of Senate Bill 73, which requires schools to provide education about sextortion to students and parents annually. This new law, a result of advocacy by the Kentucky Sextortion Coalition, will add convicted felons to the state's sex offender registry and allow victims or their families to seek civil damages. With sextortion identified as the fastest-growing crime against children, it is hoped that the new policy and legislation in Kentucky will significantly enhance protection and support for victims.
