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Bill Summary · HB 12

HB 12 (2026RS) — AN ACT relating to privacy for members of the General Assembly (Kentucky)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to protect the personally identifiable information (PII) of certain public officials by restricting government disclosure of that information. Specifically, it targets judicial officers and current members of the Kentucky General Assembly and their immediate family members.
  • It requires government agencies to honor written requests to refrain from publicly disclosing certain PII and to remove already-disclosed PII within a defined timeframe.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (KRS 61.7991, amended):

    • Covered person:
    • A judicial officer or an immediate family member of a judicial officer; or
    • A current member of the General Assembly or their immediate family member.
    • Disclose: To post, display, publish, or publicly release information.
    • Immediate family member: Spouse, child, parent, or person under familial custody/care of the covered person, or any other relative residing in the same household.
    • Judicial officer: Includes Kentucky Court of Justice judges, U.S. federal judges with specified roles, and certain U.S. and Kentucky judicial roles listed.
    • Personally identifiable information (PII): Data that can identify a covered person, including date of birth, biometric/health data, residence addresses, phone numbers, personal emails, children's schools and daycare, Social Security number, and the name/employer location of an immediate family member.
    • Written request: A notice signed by the covered person requesting non-disclosure of their PII.

  • Prohibition on disclosure following a written request:

    • Government agencies may not disclose the PII of a covered person if a written request is made.
    • Upon receipt, the PII must be removed from publicly available content within 72 hours.

  • Scope of requests:

    • A written request may be submitted on behalf of a minor who is a covered person.

  • Post-removal obligations:

    • After PII removal, agencies may not publicly post or release the information.
    • If the covered person previously publicized the PII online after June 27, 2025, such publication would supersede the removal prohibition.

  • Enforcement and remedies:

    • A covered person may file a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce these protections.

  • Exceptions:

    • The section does not apply to disclosures required under Kentucky Chapter 6 or Chapter 61 (presumably other statutory disclosure requirements).

Who is affected

  • Targeted entities: Kentucky state government agencies and other entities that publish or maintain publicly accessible information containing PII.
  • Beneficiaries:
    • Current members of the Kentucky General Assembly and their immediate family members.
    • Judicial officers and their immediate family members (as defined) who are considered “covered persons.”
  • Indirectly affected: Local governments and agencies that maintain PII and publish or archive public records, given potential compliance costs and risk of civil action for noncompliance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective actions required upon receipt of a written request:
    • Remove PII from publicly available content within 72 hours.
  • Post-removal: Agencies may not publish the PII again, except if the covered person voluntarily makes the information public after June 27, 2025.
  • Enforcement: Civil actions for injunctive or declaratory relief are available to enforce compliance.
  • Related fiscal note (local government impact):
    • Likely negative fiscal impact due to processing of requests and removal of PII, plus potential legal costs from civil actions for noncompliance.
    • The Local Government Mandate Statement notes the impact is indeterminable but could be costs to agencies that handle PII and requests for non-disclosure.

Key dates and status

  • Introduced: January 6, 2026
  • Action history includes referral to State Government and Committee on Committees
  • Status: Unofficial draft copy (BR 164) as part of the 2026 Regular Session process

Summary

HB 12 seeks to shield the PII of current legislators and certain judicial officers and their immediate families by requiring agencies not to disclose PII upon a written request and to remove already-public PII within 72 hours. It adds a private right of action for affected individuals to seek injunctive or declaratory relief if agencies fail to comply. The measure emphasizes preventing exposure of sensitive information (addresses, contact details, SSN, household information, etc.) while preserving existing mandatory disclosures required by other statutes. Local government entities may face administrative and legal costs to implement the new requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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