Law / United States / 
Kentucky
HB 278, age verification for matter harmful to minors
KRS 436.001 to 436.009 (2024 Ky. Acts ch. 106)
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What follows is LexLint's own research summary of this law, not legal advice.
In force since 15 July 2024.
An adult content age verification (AV) rule binding private bodies.
As of 2 September 2026.
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
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.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureNo
Private right of actionYes
Penalties
Private civil action for at least $10,000 per instance a minor accessed harmful material, plus actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees.
Statutory damages
KRS 436.002(2)(a): $10,000 per instance the covered platform failed to perform age verification to restrict a minor's access, plus actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees under 436.002(2)(b). A separate liquidated figure applies to unlawful retention of identifying information under KRS 436.004(2)(a): $1,000 for each 24-hour period the information is retained, plus actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees.
- As of
- 2 September 2026
- Currency
- USD
- Per person minimum
- 10,000
Who enforces it
Enforcement body
None; KRS 436.006 expressly prohibits enforcement by governmental entities or officers, leaving only private civil actions.
What it reaches
Age threshold
18
Covered services
Websites where a substantial portion of content is matter harmful to minors.
Obligation class
Age verification, Retention
Verification methods
Gov ID, Transactional data
When LexLint raises it
publishes_adult_content
Read the law
official Kentucky Revised Statutes chapter text
Every line above is drawn from the primary source linked here, read on the date shown. This is a research summary, not legal advice.