Kentucky
Subnational jurisdiction · as of 2026-07-15
Kentucky has required age verification for adult websites since 2024, enforceable only through private civil action since the statute bars government enforcement. A bill requiring age verification, parental consent, and default restrictions on addictive features for minors on social media and AI companion platforms passed the House unanimously in March 2026 but died in the Senate Judiciary Committee when the session ended. No app store accountability or design code bill has advanced past committee.
01
Instruments on record
HB 278, age verification for matter harmful to minors
In force
KRS 436.001 to 436.009 (2024 Ky. Acts ch. 106)
Effective 2024-07-15 · Applies to private
Commercial entities that knowingly publish or distribute matter harmful to minors on a website containing a substantial portion of such material must perform reasonable age verification of Kentucky users.
| Age threshold | 18 |
| Verification methods | gov id, transactional data |
| Penalties | Private civil action for at least $10,000 per instance a minor accessed harmful material, plus actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees. |
| Enforcement body | None; KRS 436.006 expressly prohibits enforcement by governmental entities or officers, leaving only private civil actions. |
| Private suits | yes |
Source: KRS 436.001 to 436.009 (2024 Ky. Acts ch. 106)
HB 227, addictive online platforms and minor protections
Proposed
House Bill No. 227 (2026 Regular Session), died in Senate committee
Applies to private
Would require social media and AI companion platforms to estimate user age, place users under 15 into default child safety settings and disable addictive features such as autoplay absent parental consent, and give parents account monitoring tools. Passed the House 96 to 0 on March 9, 2026, received two readings in the Senate, but died in the Senate Judiciary Committee when the 2026 session ended in April.
| Age threshold | 15 |
| Verification methods | self declaration, parental consent |
| Enforcement body | Kentucky Attorney General |
| Private suits | yes |
Source: House Bill No. 227 (2026 Regular Session), died in Senate committee