KansasBill would treat threats involving intimate recordings as blackmail
People threatened with the sharing of certain intimate recordings could face blackmail protections under this proposal, including when a recording was digitally altered.
What it does
The proposed text describes threats to share unlawfully obtained recordings or recordings showing an identifiable nude person or sexual activity as blackmail. It includes digitally altered recordings, even if the person shown did not help make the original.
Argument forPeople shown in altered intimate recordings could have a way to seek blackmail charges when someone threatens to share them for money or control.
Argument againstIncluding digitally altered recordings could expose people to serious criminal charges even when the person shown never took part in making the original.
More detail
The proposed text describes blackmail to include threats to share certain recordings. The recording must show an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity, or must have been obtained in violation of the cited privacy law. Blackmail requires intentionally seeking something of value or trying to make someone act against their will; sexual contact and sexual conduct are excluded. The text covers recordings obtained in violation of the cited privacy law, and recordings showing an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity, including recordings altered by artificial intelligence or other digital means. The bill died on the calendar; these provisions did not take effect. If enacted, the act would take effect when published in the statute book.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 10Died on CalendarDied
- Mar 27Conference committee report now available
- Vote recorded Adopt CCR. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 36, Nay 4
- Mar 24Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
- Mar 23Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman
- Mar 19Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0Major
- Vote recorded Final Action Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adoptedMajor
- Mar 18Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amendedMajor
- Mar 13Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 25Referred to Senate Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 24Received and IntroducedMinor
- Feb 19Engrossed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
- Feb 18Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1Major
- Vote recorded Final Action - Passed as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adoptedMajor
- Feb 17Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Bradley Barrett
- Feb 17Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Bradley Barrett was adoptedPassed Senate
- Feb 17Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amendedPassed House
- Feb 16Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 29IntroducedMinor
- Jan 29Referred to House Committee on JudiciaryIntroduced
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