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HB 493KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Kentucky classifies tampering with electronic supervision or correctional video devices as a Class D felony

Original title: AN ACT relating to tampering with a prisoner monitoring device.

Last action · February 3, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsor: Jared Bauman

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 493 establishes that intentionally altering, disabling, or destroying prisoner electronic monitoring equipment or correctional facility video systems is a .

Why it matters

The measure sets criminal penalties for individuals who interfere with supervision devices used during , probation, or parole, or who tamper with monitoring systems inside correctional facilities.

Background

Kentucky law establishes criminal penalties for interfering with correctional supervision, and this bill updates those statutes to explicitly cover electronic monitoring and correctional video equipment. 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.

Directly affected

Individuals on probation or parole

Individuals subject to electronic supervision face Class D felony charges if they intentionally interfere with or damage their monitoring devices.

Directly affected

Correctional facility inmates

Inmates and individuals within correctional facilities are subject to felony penalties for tampering with facility video monitoring and recording equipment.

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

What actions constitute tampering under this bill?

Intentionally and without authority altering, disabling, deactivating, tampering with, removing, damaging, or destroying electronic monitoring equipment or correctional facility video systems.

What is the penalty for tampering with a prisoner monitoring device?

It is classified as a .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
to Judiciary (H)
Jan 27, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced 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.

Connected Entities

General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Jared Bauman

OrganizationGeneral Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky“Legislative body enacting the bill”Map →

PersonJared Bauman“Primary sponsor of HB 493”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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