Kansas governor signs laws targeting sexual extortion, increasing incentives for rural attorneys
El Dorado residents Marcus, Morgan and Joshua Moore, from left to right, shown here speaking to Leawood Sen. Kellie Warren, far left, testified in support of a bill honoring the late Caleb Moore, who died after being a victim of sexual extortion. Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bill into law April 6, 2026. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA — A new Kansas law signed by Gov. Laura Kelly strengthens penalties and expands victim protection in cases of sexual extortion.
Kelly signed House Bill 2537 on Monday, called Caleb’s Law after Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old from El Dorado who died by suicide after being targeted by an online sextortion scheme.
Sextortion refers to a crime in which someone requests sexual images from minors, then, once they have the images, threatens to put the images online unless the minor does something for them.
The bill enhances criminal penalties for extortion to include threats involving explicit images, and increases penalties when an offender is 18 years of age or older and the victim is younger than 18 or a dependent adult.
It also requires statewide education to help Kansans recognize and prevent exploitation.
“Protecting Kansas children means staying ahead of the evolving threats they face, especially in an increasingly digital world where exploitation can happen in an instant,” Kelly said in a news release.
“By prioritizing education and awareness, Caleb’s Law ensures that young people, families, and educators have the tools to recognize sexual extortion and seek help before it’s too late,” Kelly added. “By signing this bill, we’re honoring Caleb’s life by shining a light on this growing danger and taking meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.”
The law requires the attorney general, the Kansas State Board of Education and law enforcement to work together to educate students, parents and educators about sexual extortion.
Rep. Bob Lewis, a Garden City Republican, introduced the legislation, which passed both chambers unanimously.
“Our kids are our future and protecting them from online predators, who are increasingly dangerous and sophisticated, must be a top legislative priority,” he said in the release. “What happened to Caleb is tragic and must be stopped.”
Rural attorneys
Kelly also signed a bill creating the Attorney Training Program for Rural Kansas Act, designed to encourage licensed attorneys or Kansas law students to practice in rural areas.
House Bill 2595 sets up an attorney loan repayment program and creates a stipend for law students contingent upon their willingness to work in rural Kansas counties.
Kelly said in a release that all Kansans need access to well-qualified representation.
“By signing this commonsense bill, we are supporting law students and addressing our current shortage of attorneys in rural areas to build stronger, thriving Kansas communities,” she said.
The law also provides loan repayment of $20,000 per year for attorneys who live and practice in a qualifying area for up to five years.
A law student training and stipend program, to be administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce in collaboration with Washburn University and the University of Kansas, offers a stipend up to $3,000 per school year for up to three years. Students agree to practice law in a rural area for at least one year for each year they receive the stipend.
“Access to legal representation is a fundamental pillar of our justice system. Now more than ever, it is critical that we have qualified legal representation to preserve the economic and civic health of rural Kansas,” said Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra.
Additional bills
Kelly also signed the following bills relating to criminal justice:
House Bill 2747 defines certain factors courts will consider in deciding whether a prior violation of law is comparable to any act described in certain driving under the influence crimes when calculating a person’s criminal history score.
House Bill 2444 changes how courts impose jail time on consecutive sentences and limits who will be released on bond. It also limits judicial discretion in determining whether a person can be released on their own recognizance and requires bonds of specific dollar amounts based on the crime the person allegedly committed.
House Bill 2467 prohibits past convictions or sanctions for failure to comply with a traffic citation that are more than five years old from being considered by courts and the division of vehicles in determining suspended or restricted driving privileges.
House Bill 2552 requires criminal presentence investigation reports and journal entries to be completed and submitted in ways approved by the Kansas Sentencing Commission.
House Bill 2416 creates immunity for motorsport venues from civil actions for nuisance lawsuits if the track was built before housing around it.
House Bill 2323 establishes procedures for a civil action instituted by the commissioner of insurance related to fraudulent insurance acts, as well providing that expunged criminal records will be disclosed in certain situations for licensure as an insurance producer or public adjustor.
House Bill 2378 establishes the removal of squatters act, providing a procedure to remove a squatter from a dwelling unit, and altering protocol for law enforcement to squatting.