AN ACT relating to harassing communications.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kim Holloway

HB 728 criminalizes persistent or anonymous harassing communications across multiple channels, with escalating penalties and school-context protections.

to Judiciary (H)

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Summary of HB 728 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose and intent

HB 728 amends Kentucky law to address harassing communications. The bill defines the offense, clarifies when it applies (including to communications involving students in a school setting), and establishes penalties that escalate with repeated offenses or when the offender conceals their identity.

Key provisions and changes

Definition of harassing communications (KRS 525.080 as amended):
A person commits harassing communications if, with intent to intimidate, harass, annoy, or alarm another person, they engage in any of the following:

Communicate with another person (anonymously or not) by telephone, telegraph, mail, or any other form of electronic or written communication in a way that causes annoyance or alarm and serves no legitimate purpose.
Make a telephone call with no legitimate purpose, regardless of whether a conversation ensues.
When enrolled in a local school district, communicate with or about another school student, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, internet, telegraph, mail, or any other form of electronic or written communication in a manner that a reasonable person under the circumstances would know would cause fear of physical harm, intimidation, humiliation, or embarrassment, and which serves no legitimate purpose.

Penalties (classification of offenses):

First offense: Class B misdemeanor.
Second offense: Class A misdemeanor.
Third or subsequent offense, or any offense involving intentional concealment of identity to make the communication anonymous: Class D felony.

Who is affected

General public: Anyone who makes harassing communications as defined by the statute could be charged.

Students and school communities: The provision specifically addresses communications to or about other students within a local school district, expanding potential applicability to online or written communications affecting students’ sense of safety.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill outlines offense classification and escalation but does not specify sentencing ranges beyond the general Class B, Class A, and Class D felony designations.

The action history shows introduction and committee referrals in early 2026, with movement through the Judiciary and related committees, but no enacted dates or effective date provided in the text excerpt.

Practical impact and considerations

The bill provides a framework to criminalize persistent or anonymous harassing communications across multiple channels (phone, mail, internet, etc.).

It introduces greater penalties for repeat offenses and for concealment of identity, potentially increasing consequences for perpetrators who disguise their communications.

By including the school setting, it aims to deter behavior that threatens student safety or well-being inside school communities.

Notes

Specific statutory language relies on the current KRS 525.080 structure and references; future amendments or related statutes could affect interpretation.

No funding provisions or administrative rule changes are identified in the text provided.