State lawmakers are responding to some high profile murders in the state in separate cases involving a missing Bardstown woman and the killing of a young child.

Our Emily Sisk explains as we continue tonight's legislative update.

A bill inspired by an illegal grand jury recording connected to a high profile murder case in Kentucky is among a handful of judicial matters moving forward in Frankfort.

House Bill 305, also known as the Crystal Rogers Act, is named for a Bardstown woman who was reported missing in 2015.

Three men were found guilty in connection with her murder a decade later, although her remains were never found.

Rogers mother spoke to the Senate committee today about why this legislation matters.

My daughter was Crystal Rogers.

She was murdered and the guy that murdered her, he they recorded their grand jury hearings, him and his whole family, and and we couldn't do anything about it because the statute of limitations had ran out.

Grand jury proceedings are not open to the public and are intended to be secret.

HB 305 would extend the statute of limitations for recording grand jury testimony from one year to ten years.

It would also classify recording testimony as a class A misdemeanor unless the person is a public servant.

In that case, it would be a felony.

The legislation passed unanimously legislation inspired by another high profile murder case, this one involving six year old Logan Tipton, is also advancing.

Tipton was killed in 2015 after Ronald Antis broke into the family's sales home, stabbing Logan and other family members.

House Bill 422, or Logan's Law, would prevent juries from splitting a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict for crimes that occurred at the same time, which is what happened in Logan's case.

Santos was found guilty of assaulting other members of the Tipton family, but not guilty by reason of insanity for Logan's murder.

Logan's father is championing this measure in Frankfort.

There's nothing we can do about Logan, but this is about protecting the next family.

And, saving them from going through the heartache that we've been through over the last ten, 11 years.

No family should ever have to walk down the street in fear seeing their child's murder on the sidewalk.

If passed, Logan's law also sets tighter penalties for mandatory reentry supervision when offenders are permitted.

Early release.

The bill received strong bipartisan support, with a Pikeville Republican saying he believed the justice system made a mistake.

In Logan's case.

Maybe that's some instructions weren't given property or something, but that's clearly an injustice was done to your son's memory.

Senate Judiciary Chair Brandon Storms, Senate Bill 48, was attached to Logan's law and approved.

The addition would exclude violent crime offenders twice convicted from being released under mandatory reentry supervision.

Lawmakers also want to update Kentucky's stalking laws, which is the intent behind House Bill 521.

521 modernizes our stalking laws to include technology related contact, maintains strong safeguards and clear thresholds for harm.

And let's be clear stalking is not a single incident.

It is an extreme, persistent pattern of behavior that disrupts your sense of safety.

Under the legislation, two or more acts of intentional following communication attempts or threats, either in person or through technology, could classify as stalking and lead to law enforcement interference.

HB 521 would classify stalking as a class D felony.

This legislation also passed unanimously in a bill that drew opposition from Democrats, would provide some civil liability protections for gun manufacturers.

House Bill 78 sponsor said the legislation would prevent manufacturers from being liable for the criminal misuse of their weapons.

Violent criminals need to be held accountable and that, generally speaking, the manufacturers of the weapon are not the ones that are responsible for the bad acts.

Those who want to file a civil suit would have to prove that the gun manufacturer knowingly violated the law and directly caused harm.

The Senate Democratic Caucus chair said.

He didn't agree with shielding firearm manufacturers from liability.

What this bill does is just give a blanket immunity to gun manufacturers, regardless of whether they're poor design or whether they're subject to improper uses.

The two Democratic committee members voted no on HB 78.

Still, it passed out of committee with three days remaining for a veto proof floor vote.

These measures all move on to the full Senate.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you, Emily.

And just a few hours after the committee hearing, a House Bill 78 was taken up on the Senate floor and voted on the measure, which gives protections to gun makers passed along party lines.

Since the bill had some changes, it will have to go back to the House.

For either approval or.

Rejection.