Kentucky lawmaker to introduce bill to protect teachers from student violence

Valarie Honeycutt Spears, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jan 8, 2026

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Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, on Friday plans to introduce a bill to “strengthen protections for Kentucky’s teachers” from student violence, a news release said.

The bill calls for:

• Expulsion from school for one year for physically injuring school staff.

• Required reporting of all attempted assaults on staff.

• Criminal penalties for failure to report these incidents.

• Giving local prosecutors the option to prosecute students 14 and older charged with felony third-degree assault as adults.

“This bill is about the classroom. It’s common sense 101,” Nunn said Thursday in the news release. “We support and protect our teachers who walk into school every day with our kids’ best interest at heart.”

Kentucky Education Association spokesperson David Patterson said any legislation that addresses the safety and health of teachers and staff is always important in KEA’s advocacy .

“Recent statistics reveal that assaults in schools have increased post-pandemic, and KEA looks forward to reviewing Sen. Nunn’s bill,” said Patterson. “KEA can provide him real-world experiences from our members working in classrooms everyday across Kentucky and offer solutions to make our schools safer.”

Nunn represents the 17th Senate District, including Grant and Scott counties, southern Kenton County, and northwestern Fayette County.

“I talk with a lot of educators, whether it’s in the community or during school visits, and there’s a growing sense that their safety is negotiable. It’s not,” Nunn said in the release. “If we want to recruit and retain great teachers, they have to be able to do their jobs without fear. Teachers and students alike deserve a learning environment free from violence.”

Kentucky Department of Education officials did not immediately comment.