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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky HB 443 expands definitions and penalties for sex crimes and professional misconduct
Last action · January 28, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsors: James Tipton and 2 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky HB 443 updates definitions and disciplinary standards related to sex crimes, incorporating peace officers, school employees, and adult intermediaries, and broadens professional board powers to discipline licensees convicted of sex offenses.
Changes criminal definitions and expands grounds for professional license revocation or suspension for educators, medical personnel, and social workers convicted of sex crimes or engaging in sexual misconduct with minors or patients.
- Kentucky's penal code classifies sexual offenses into degrees based on factors such as the victim's age, the offender's relationship or authority position, and the use of force or incapacitation. context
- Professional licensing boards in Kentucky hold statutory authority to investigate complaints and discipline certificate or license holders for professional misconduct or criminal convictions. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
School employees
School employees face expanded statutory definitions and potential professional certificate revocation or suspension for sexual misconduct with students.
Peace officers
Peace officers are explicitly included in criminal statutes regarding sexual activity with individuals in their custody or under investigation.
Professional licensees in healthcare and social work
Licensees including nurses, physicians, physical therapists, and social workers are subject to mandatory disciplinary reviews or license revocations for sexual contact with patients or clients.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill apply to peace officers?
What actions can professional boards take against licensees convicted of sex crimes?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
- Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Professional Accountability
The legislation uniformly strengthens disciplinary standards across diverse professional boards including education, medicine, nursing, massage therapy, physical therapy, and social work regarding sex offenses.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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