Kentucky2026Active
HB12
Privacy Protection for Kentucky Lawmakers and Judges
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 10:26 AM
In one sentence
This law requires government agencies to remove private contact details of lawmakers, judges, and their immediate family members from public records within 72 hours if those individuals submit a written request.
What it does
- Defines who counts as a covered person, including current General Assembly members, judicial officers (including federal judges), and their immediate family members.
- Lists specific types of personal data that are protected, such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, children's school names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, health data, and employer names for family members.
- Requires government agencies to remove this private information from public websites or documents within 72 hours after receiving a written request.
- Prohibits agencies from reposting the removed information unless the covered person chooses to publish it themselves online.
- Allows covered persons, or parents/guardians for minors, to file a lawsuit in court if an agency fails to follow these privacy rules.
Who it affects
- Current members of the Kentucky General Assembly and their immediate family members.
- Judicial officers, including state judges and specific federal judges serving in or related to Kentucky, plus their families.
- Government agencies that hold public records containing personal information about these individuals.
Limits and unknowns
- This law does not apply if another state rule (KRS Chapter 6 or 61) requires the government to release the specific information.
- The protection stops applying if the lawmaker, judge, or family member voluntarily posts their own private details on the internet.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Covered person
- A current lawmaker, a judge (including federal judges), or an immediate family member of either group who is protected by this law.
- Personally identifiable information
- Private data that can identify someone, such as their address, phone number, email, date of birth, health data, children's school names, Social Security number, or a family member's employer name.
- Written request
- A signed notice from a covered person asking an agency to stop sharing their private information publicly.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
AN ACT relating to privacy for members of the General Assembly.