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FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Legislation that would make the crime of sexual extortion, commonly referred to as “Sextortion,” a Class D felony punishable by one to five years in prison, won approval from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 73 is sponsored by Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville. She told the committee that sexual extortion is a form of exploitation that occurs when a person obtains sexually explicit images of an individual and threats to release them, unless their demands for money, sex or other sexual content are met.

“We all know that being a kid today is very different than when we grew up,” she testified. “Social media and technology have changed the way young people connect. But it’s also opened the door to new dangers we never had to face. Sexual extortion is one of the most dangerous and rapidly growing crimes targeting our young people today. “The FBI reports that sextortion is the fastest growing crime against children. It is calculated, it is cruel, and it thrives on fear and silence.”

She explained why the bill is so important. “Too many kids are being manipulated unto situations they don’t know how to escape from, and too many families are left devastated, wondering how this happened to them.”

Raque Adams said the bill accomplishes three critical things:

–It strengthens state law by making the crime a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

–It empowers victims, by giving them clear legal remedies to seek justice and recover civil damages from those who harm them.

–It prioritizes prevention by requiring schools to educate students and parents about the warning signs, and ensuring resources are visible and accessible.

The bill won approval from the committee on a 15-0 vote, and now heads to the House floor, where if I passes, will then head to the governor.