FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 27, 2026)—Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today a Kentucky law requiring registered child sex offenders to use their full name on social media can be enforced statewide, following a unanimous ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Under the 2024 law, any registered sex offender in Kentucky who has committed a crime against a minor must use their full name if they choose to use social media. An anonymous registered sex offender in Daviess County sued County Attorney John Burlew to stop enforcement of the law. General Coleman stepped in to defend its constitutionality in federal court.
”We are working relentlessly to protect our kids from predators online,” said Attorney General Russell Coleman. “Policy makers in the General Assembly passed a common-sense law to keep Kentucky kids safe. We successfully defended that law up to the federal court that’s one level below the Supreme Court of the United States. We will continue to fight against online predators who try to use the anonymity of the internet to harm our kids.”
The Attorney General’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jack Heyburn presented the Commonwealth’s case before the Sixth Circuit, arguing the law complies with the First Amendment and is a reasonable safeguard to protect Kentucky’s children from online predators. Unless the plaintiff seeks review by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case now returns to the federal district court.
In 2024, the General Assembly unanimously passed SB 249, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, (R- Smithfield). An anonymous registered sex offender challenged the law and sued Daviess County John Burlew to prevent enforcement.
“Kentucky’s leaders came together in a bipartisan way to protect our children online. I’m grateful to Attorney General Coleman and his staff, in particular Jack Heyburn, for taking up this fight on my behalf to keep kids safe. I’m thankful this important law may now go into full effect,” said Daviess County Attorney Burlew.
“As a mother and lawmaker, my priority is keeping children safe. The purpose of SB 249 is to stop convicted sex offenders from hiding who they are online and using social media to target kids,” said Senator Tichenor. “With the court’s decision, SB 249 is now fully in effect to further protect children online and give families peace of mind. I’m grateful for the collaboration between the Attorney General’s Office and General Assembly in keeping Kentucky kids safe.”
Defending SB249 is the latest effort by Attorney General Coleman to keep child predators away from kids online. The Attorney General also launched lawsuits against TikTok for its addictive harm to youth and the online gaming website Roblox for permitting an online environment for child exploitation.
Read the opinion here.