Kentucky
General Assembly

This Week at the State Capitol

April 16, 2024

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, (right) receives accolades from Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, as he completes his final day on the Senate floor Monday. Thayer is not running for reelection this year. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly confirmed a new education commissioner and passed a prominent bill on maternal health Monday before the gavel fell for a final time in the 2024 legislative session.

The proceedings capped off a relatively conventional year for the legislature – one that started with a gradual pace but picked up steam in the second half amid a flood of proposed legislation.

Lawmakers filed more than 1,200 bills this year – the highest number in more than two decades – and passed around 215 before the session drew to a close. More than two dozen of those received a vote on the final day.

That included the much-discussed "momnibus" legislation, a comprehensive bill that aims to support maternal and infant health and reduce the high mortality rate for mothers in Kentucky.

The measure will require most health plans to cover pregnancy, child birth and postpartum care along with in-home treatment for substance use disorder. It also calls on most plans to cover labor and delivery costs and all services and supplies related to breastfeeding.

The bill's fate remained uncertain when lawmakers adjourned for the veto recess last month; it was still stuck on the Senate floor with several proposed amendments. However, the legislation was attached to a separate bill on maternal health – Senate Bill 74 – and cleared both chambers Monday without much opposition.

Monday also brought the first confirmation hearing on a state education commissioner. The general assembly passed a law in 2023 that requires appointments to the position to receive Senate approval before assuming the post.

Lawmakers enacted the change amid contention with the previous commissioner, but the new appointment glided through the chamber with high praise. Senators voted 36-1 to confirm Robbie Fletcher, superintendent of Lawrence County Schools, to the job.

Throughout the session, the House and Senate found plenty of issues to debate – education, housing, elections, guns and even the official state rock. Big data and artificial intelligence gained significant attention this year, as did questions over the future of nuclear energy in Kentucky.

Many in the majority party will regard the Safer Kentucky Act as the landmark bill of the session. The omnibus anti-crime bill – House Bill 5 – will ramp up penalties for repeat violent offenders and clamp down on carjacking and street camping among many other provisions.

Others will look to House Bill 2, which proposes to amend the state constitution and allow the general assembly to provide financial support for education outside Kentucky's system of public schools.

But few bills garnered more attention than House Bill 6, the $128 billion budget plan for the state executive branch. It was among several major budget bills that will also fund community projects, transportation and the judicial and legislative branches of government over the next two years.

Other issues that sparked legislation included autonomous vehicles, child protection, horse racing and elections. Here's a final look at some of the most discussed bills from the year:

• Aerospace Industry: Senate Bill 127 seeks to support Kentucky's aerospace and aviation industries by fostering public-private partnerships and enhancing workforce development across the state. The governor has signed SB 127.
• Adoption Records: House Bill 87 will allow some family members to inspect adoption records if they are related to someone who was adopted or to the birth parents who gave up a child for adoption. The records can only be inspected after both birth parents or the adoptee have passed away. The governor has signed this legislation.
• Animal Abuse: House Bill 258 seeks to strengthen state laws against torturing a dog or cat. That includes stiffer penalties for first-time offenders, who could face a class D felony rather than a misdemeanor charge under the bill. HB 258 has been signed by the governor.
• Autonomous Vehicles: House Bill 7 creates a regulatory framework for operating autonomous vehicles in Kentucky. The governor vetoed this bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
• Breast Exams: House Bill 115 will eliminate co-pays and cost-sharing requirements for high-risk individuals who need follow-up diagnostic imaging to rule out breast cancer. The governor has signed this bill.
• Cancer Detection: House Bill 52 will require health benefits plans to cover preventive cancer screenings and tests without requiring patients to pay a deductible charge for the services. This measure has been signed by the governor.
• Capitol Statues: House Bill 513 requires the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to receive approval from the Kentucky General Assembly before adding or removing any statues, monuments or art on permanent display in the Capitol rotunda. The governor vetoed this bill, but the veto was overridden.
• Child Care Subsidies: Senate Bill 240 clarifies that foster parents who work remotely can receive child care subsidies. The governor has signed this bill.
• Child Protection: House Bill 278 will ramp up the criminal penalties for offenders who sexually abuse, assault or exploit children. The bill also seeks to prevent people convicted of sex crimes or violent felonies from working in public schools. Another provision in the final bill will require age verification to access adult websites. HB 278 has been signed by the governor.
• Child Sex Dolls: House Bill 207 creates felony penalties for possessing, trafficking, importing or promoting the use of a child sex doll. It also expands laws against child pornography to include computer-generated images of an identifiable minor. The governor has signed this bill.
• Civics Education: House Bill 535 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to create academic standards for civic literacy in high schools. That includes lessons on America's founding, the U.S. Constitution, principles of government and civil liberties, among others. This legislation has been signed by the governor.
• Consumer Data Protection: House Bill 15 establishes new privacy protections for digital consumers. It will allow consumers to review and correct any data that companies collect on them. Consumers can also refuse to have their data sold and can demand that their data is deleted under the bill. The governor has signed HB 15.
• Crime Victims: Senate Bill 319 calls for the Crime Victims Compensation Board to make their application process available online, to publish the application in additional languages, and to establish a tracking process for claims. It also clarifies who is eligible to file claims and removes the five-year statute of limitations to file claims. The governor has signed this measure.
• Cursive Handwriting: Senate Bill 167 calls for elementary schools to teach cursive handwriting and ensure that students are proficient in cursive by the end of the fifth grade. This legislation has been delivered to the governor.
• Education Funding: House Bill 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the general assembly to provide financial support for education outside Kentucky's system of public schools. Proposed constitutional amendments do not go to the governor for a signature, but still need ratification by Kentucky voters in an election before taking effect.
• Emissions Standards: Senate Bill 215 forbids state agencies from adopting or enforcing California's emission standards on motor vehicles. SB 215 became law without the governor's signature.
• Firearms: House Bill 357 forbids government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also prevents credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for gun stores. HB 357 became law without the governor's signature.
• Foster Care: Senate Bill 151 allows family members who take temporary custody of a relative's child to become certified as a "child-specific foster home." That will help them to access more state resources and support. The governor has signed this measure.
• Gas Stations: House Bill 581 prevents local governments from passing or enforcing rules that treat retail gas stations differently from electric vehicle charging stations. The governor vetoed this legislation, but the veto was overridden.
• Health Care Background Checks: Senate Bill 145 will allow health care providers enrolled in the Medicaid program to conduct employee background checks through Kentucky's child and adult abuse registries. The governor has signed this bill.
• Health Care Liability: House Bill 159 protects health care providers from criminal liability when a medical error harms a patient. The bill exempts harm resulting from gross negligence or wanton, willful, malicious or intentional misconduct. The governor has signed HB 159 into law.
• Horse Racing Commission: Senate Bill 299 will revamp the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to create a fully independent agency called the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. In addition, the bill will dissolve the state Department of Charitable Gaming next year and place oversight of charitable gaming under the new corporation. The governor vetoed this bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
• Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Senate Bill 5 changes a statute on hunting and fishing licenses for landowners. Prior state law allowed Kentuckians to hunt and fish without a license on their own farmland if the property is at least five acres. However, SB 5 eliminates the acreage requirement. The governor has signed this bill.
• Juvenile Offenders: Senate Bill 20 seeks to curb youth gun violence. Among several provisions, it clears the way for juveniles to stand trial as adults if they use a firearm in the commission of certain felonies and they are at least 15 years old. SB 20 became law without the governor's signature.
• Kratom: House Bill 293 aims to regulate kratom, an herbal drug frequently sold online and in convenience stores. The bill prohibits sales to people under 21 and provides guidelines for manufacturing and labeling the product. The governor has signed this measure.
• Kindergarten Readiness: House Bill 695 will establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education. The program will offer reading, math and science instruction through an online platform. HB 695 has been signed by the governor.
• Legislative Vacancies: Under House Bill 622, vacant seats in the U.S. Senate will be filled through a special election rather than an appointment by the governor. The winner of the election will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The governor vetoed HB 622, but the veto was overridden.
• Local Housing Ordinances: House Bill 18 prevents local governments from requiring property owners to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance. The governor vetoed this legislation, but the veto was overridden.
• Loss of Income Insurance: House Bill 179 clears the way for employers to offer their workers an option to purchase paid family leave insurance. Workers who buy the insurance would receive temporary wage replacement when caring for a sick family member, a new child or other eligible needs. This bill has been signed by the governor.
• Louisville Metro Government: House Bill 388 includes multiple provisions to revamp certain aspects of Louisville Metro Government. That includes one section that changes elections for the metro council and the mayor from partisan to non-partisan. The governor vetoed HB 388, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
• Maternal Health: Senate Bill 74 aims to support maternal and infant health and reduce the high mortality rate for mothers in Kentucky. It would require most health plans to cover pregnancy, child birth and postpartum care along with in-home treatment for substance use disorder. It also calls on most plans to cover labor and delivery costs and all services and supplies related to breastfeeding. Another provision aims to provide expectant parents with more data on health care facilities and maternal outcomes across the state. SB 74 has been delivered to the governor.
• Mathematics Education: House Bill 162 seeks to improve numeracy in Kentucky. It would reform early education math standards and provide more professional development for teachers. The bill would also create multitiered support systems for struggling students. HB 162 has been delivered to the governor.
• Medicinal Cannabis: House Bill 829 seeks to update some aspects of Kentucky's upcoming medicinal cannabis program. It would allow schools to opt out and allow local governments to apply a small fee to the program, among other changes. The bill has been delivered to the governor.
• Missing Adults: Senate Bill 45 calls on Kentucky State Police and other state officials to operate a new alert system that helps find missing people over the age of 17. The governor has signed this legislation.
• Nicotine Products: House Bill 11 would align state law with FDA regulations regarding the sale of tobacco products. Specifically, it would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. It would also create penalties for retailers who violate the restrictions. The governor has signed HB 11.
• Non-Citizen Voting: Senate Bill 143 proposes changes to the state constitution that would prevent anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in Kentucky elections. Proposed amendments do not go to the governor for a signature, but still need ratification by Kentucky voters in an election before taking effect.
• Nuclear Energy: Senate Bill 198 establishes the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state. The governor vetoed this bill, but the veto was overridden.
• Official State Rock: House Bill 378 changes the official state rock from Kentucky agate to coal. It also changes the official mineral from coal to calcite and the official gemstone from the fresh-water pearl to Kentucky agate. The governor has signed HB 378.
• Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 eases purchase limits on pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain enough of the medication to meet their needs. HB 386 became law without the governor's signature.
• Recording Food Operations: Senate Bill 16 forbids people from capturing or distributing unauthorized video, audio or photos from a commercial food manufacturing facility or an animal feeding operation. Violators could face a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a subsequent offense. The governor vetoed this bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
• Research Consortiums: Senate Bill 1 creates an endowment fund to support collaborative research consortiums among public universities in Kentucky. Administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education, the program will focus on research projects that seek to improve quality of life through medicine, health and economic development. The governor has signed this legislation.
• Safer Kentucky Act: House Bill 5 would crack down on repeat, violent offenders. It would also allow prosecutors to file a manslaughter charge against anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose. Other provisions seek to curb unlawful street camping and set limits on charitable bond organizations. The governor vetoed this bill, but the veto was overridden.
• School Bus Behavior: House Bill 446 seeks to address disciplinary issues on school buses. Under the bill, every bus rider – and at least one of their parents or guardians – would need to sign a transportation agreement with the district. The agreement would outline expectations for students and parents and explain the consequences for misbehavior. HB 446 has been signed by the governor.
• School District Task Force: House Concurrent Resolution 81 will establish the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force to study the organizational structures of Jefferson County Public Schools and develop possible recommendations to ensure effectiveness. Lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of this bill.
• School Notifications: Senate Bill 11 seeks to speed up notifications to schools when a student has been charged with a crime. The governor has signed this bill.
• Sex Offenders and Social Media: Senate Bill 249 would require sex offenders who have been convicted of abusing a minor to use their legal name on social media platforms. SB 249 has been delivered to the governor.
• School Safety: Senate Bill 2 seeks to enhance school safety by allowing some veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians." It also calls on school districts to assemble trauma-informed teams to improve mental health interventions. SB 2 became law without the governor's signature.
• Speech Therapy: Senate Bill 111 eliminates some insurance coverage limits on speech therapy for stuttering. The legislation has been signed by the governor.
• Student Transportation: House Bill 447 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to update regulations so that school districts can use smaller passenger vehicles instead of buses for transporting students to school and related activities. The governor has signed this legislation.
• Truancy: House Bill 611 calls for school officials to file a complaint with the county attorney when a student misses 15 days of school without an excuse. For students in elementary school, the parent would be held responsible. This measure became law without the governor's signature.
• Vaping in Schools: House Bill 142 would ban all tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products in Kentucky public schools. It would also require school districts to adopt disciplinary procedures for students who violate the bans. The governor has signed HB 142.
• Veteran Suicide Prevention: Under House Bill 30, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs will create a suicide prevention program for service members, veterans and their families. HB 30 has been signed by the governor.
• Vintage Distilled Spirits: House Bill 439 creates a regulatory and licensing structure for the commercial sale of vintage distilled spirits in Kentucky. It will also allow some confiscated alcohol to be auctioned – instead of destroyed – with proceeds benefiting alcohol wellness efforts. The governor has signed this bill.
• Window Tinting: Senate Bill 46 allows windshield tinting on vehicles as long as at least 70% of light can still pass through the material. The governor has signed this legislation.
• Youth Employment Programs: Senate Bill 128 allows non-profit organizations to employ 12- and 13-year-olds for the purpose of learning life and employment skills. To participate, organizations would need to first receive approval from the state Department of Workplace Standards, and the work could not exceed 18 hours a week. SB 128 became law without the governor's signature.
• Youth Medical Records: House Bill 174 stipulates that parents have access to their child's medical records. Right now, children ages 13 and older must sign a waiver for parents to have access. This legislation became law without the governor's signature.

Lawmakers will return to Frankfort in June for the interim period, when they can hold committee hearings on issues and consider proposals for the 2025 legislative session.

Kentuckians can continue to track the action through the general assembly webpage, which will provide a weekly calendar of committee meetings during the interim period. Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Senate confirms new state education commissioner

April 15, 2024

Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, speaks Monday on the Senate floor prior to the confirmation of Dr. Robbie Fletcher as Kentucky's new education commissioner. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — During the last day of the 2024 Regular Session, the Senate voted 36-1 to confirm Dr. Robbie Fletcher as Kentucky's next education commissioner.

Selected by the Kentucky Board of Education, Fletcher was introduced to members of the Senate Education Committee during a hearing on his appointment last week. The Senate confirmation process is mandated under Senate Bill 107, which lawmakers passed last year.

Fletcher, superintendent of Lawrence County Schools, has also been a classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal. He was introduced on the Senate floor Monday by Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville.

"I first met Dr. Fletcher approximately five years ago when I was elected to this position and have had multiple dealings with him since that time," he said. "What I have been impressed with all during that while is his continued commitment towards the children of Kentucky schools."

Wheeler said Fletcher has performed his duties with steadfast diligence and with the guidance of his Christian faith. He said Fletcher is not someone who will "fall back" from a challenge.

"I am proud that he is both a Kentuckian as well as an Eastern Kentuckian," Wheeler said.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, also spoke in favor of the confirmation. He said Fletcher did a great job during the education committee meeting.

"We had a full Senate hearing and numerous questions. I believe he may be the Mark Pope of Kentucky education. He knows the program, and he will be returning to the program. And he's been a lifelong Kentuckian and I'm glad to see a Kentuckian as commissioner," West said.

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, who sponsored SB 107, said he was pleased with how the confirmation process advanced.

"I'm very pleased that the board members came over and met with us and talked to us and got our thoughts and ideas and continually reached out to us to work with us. I see a new day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and this process has been great," he said.

This Week at the State Capitol

April 12, 2024

Legislators gather on the House floor ahead of Friday's proceedings on day 59 of the 60-day session. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — Lawmakers overrode vetoes on two dozen measures Friday as the Kentucky General Assembly reconvened in Frankfort for the penultimate day of the 2024 legislative session.

It was the first time the House and Senate have gaveled into session since the chambers adjourned in March for a two-week veto recess. The recess provides time for the governor to sign bills, allow them to become law without his signature or issue vetoes.

Of the more than 160 measures that cleared the chambers last month, the governor vetoed 20 and issued line-item vetoes to several more related to budgeting in state government.

However, lawmakers had little trouble overriding those actions as proceedings unfolded throughout the day.

House Bill 5, known as the Safer Kentucky Act, was one of only a few that drew much debate during votes on the chamber floors.

The legislation will enhance penalties for repeat, violent offenders. It will also allow prosecutors to file a manslaughter charge against anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose.

Other provisions seek to curb unlawful street camping, set limits on charitable bond organizations and crack down on carjacking.

Lawmakers overrode the veto on HB 5 despite continued objections that it will harm homeless population s and increase incarceration costs.

Supporters have argued, however, that the bill is needed to address increasing crime in Kentucky, especially murders.

The House and Senate also defeated the governor's line-item vetoes on the budget bills. Those include a $128 billion executive branch budget and other measures related to the legislative branch, the state transportation cabinet and one-time expenditures.

Another major override focused on House Bill 7, a much-debated bill that creates a regulatory framework for operating autonomous vehicles in Kentucky.

Here's a look at some of the other bills that were subject to a veto override before lawmakers adjourned for the weekend.

• Capitol Statues: House Bill 513 requires the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to receive approval from the Kentucky General Assembly before adding or removing any statues, monuments or art on permanent display in the Capitol rotunda.
• Gas Stations: House Bill 581 prevents local governments from passing or enforcing rules that treat retail gas stations differently from electric vehicle charging stations.
• Horse Racing Commission: Senate Bill 299 revamps the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to create a fully independent agency called the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. In addition, the bill will dissolve the state Department of Charitable Gaming next year and place oversight of charitable gaming under the new corporation.
• Legislative Vacancies: Under House Bill 622, vacant seats in the U.S. Senate will be filled through a special election rather than an appointment by the governor. The winner of the election will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
• Louisville Metro Government: House Bill 388 includes multiple provisions to revamp certain aspects of Louisville Metro Government. That includes one section that changes elections for the metro council and the mayor from partisan to non-partisan.
• Nuclear Energy: Senate Bill 198 establishes the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state.
• Recording Food Operations: Senate Bill 16 forbids people from capturing or distributing unauthorized video, audio or photos from a commercial food manufacturing facility or an animal feeding operation. Violators could face a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a subsequent offense.
• School District Task Force: House Concurrent Resolution 81 will establish the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force to study the organizational structures of Jefferson County Public Schools and develop possible recommendations to ensure effectiveness.

Lawmakers as scheduled to return Monday for the final day of the 60-day legislation session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

In addition, citizens can share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

This Week at the State Capitol

March 29, 2024

Lawmakers passed more than 160 bills before gaveling out Thursday for a veto recess. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — More than 160 bills earned a final tap of the gavel this week, including a new state budget and an omnibus crime bill, as lawmakers worked late into the night to clear a trove of legislation off the House and Senate floors.

Friday marked the beginning of the 10-day veto recess, and lawmakers were keen to wrap up as many bills as possible before adjourning for the break. That led to four days of fast-paced action in committee and several marathon floor proceedings that resolved just before midnight on Thursday.

A slate of budget bills has hung heavy over the agenda this year, but the House and Senate reached a deal on a $128 billion plan for the state executive branch before gaveling out.

Supporters say it will provide historic investments in education, public safety, economic development and other key priorities over the next two years. But critics argue that the plan should have channeled more funds to public schools and to improve conditions in juvenile justice.

Along with the executive branch budget, lawmakers also reached an accord on a nearly $3 billion plan to fund one-time investments in infrastructure and community projects. That package relies on money from the state's budget reserve trust fund.

Separate budget bills for the state road plan and the legislative and judicial branches are also headed to the governor.

Another priority measure for majority lawmakers – the Safer Kentucky Act – won final passage in the House on Thursday following an impassioned debate over public safety, incarceration costs and the appropriate response to homeless camps.

The legislation, House Bill 5, would crack down on repeat, violent offenders. It would also allow prosecutors to file a manslaughter charge against anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose. Other provisions seek to curb unlawful street camping and set limits on charitable bond organizations.

The House and Senate also came together on Senate Bill 2, a much-discussed measure that seeks to enhance school safety by allowing some veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians." It also calls on school districts to assemble trauma-informed teams to improve mental health interventions.

SB 2 won a final nod in both chambers Thursday and has been delivered to the governor.

The Senate ended the week with an intense debate over House Bill 7, which stalled on the Senate calendar two weeks ago. The bill would create a regulatory framework for operating autonomous vehicles on public highways in Kentucky.

Senators voted 20-18 on final passage after opponents raised safety concerns about how driverless vehicles would perform on roadways, particularly in challenging conditions.

Proponents argued that that technology has proven safer than human drivers and will set the stage for more innovation in Kentucky. The bill was delivered to the governor on Thursday.

Among the scores of other bills that received final passage this week were key measures on medical records for minors, truancy, youth gun violence, child abuse and consumer data. Here's a look at some of the bills that cleared a final vote:

• Aerospace Industry: Senate Bill 127 seeks to support Kentucky's aerospace and aviation industries by fostering public-private partnerships and enhancing workforce development across the state.
• Adoption Records: House Bill 87 would allow some family members to inspect adoption records if they are related to someone who was adopted or to the birth parents who gave up a child for adoption. The records could only be inspected after both birth parents or the adoptee have passed away.
• Animal Abuse: House Bill 258 seeks to strengthen state laws against torturing a dog or cat. That includes stiffer penalties for first-time offenders, who would face a class D felony rather than a misdemeanor charge under the bill.
• Breast Exams: House Bill 115 seeks to eliminate co-pays and cost-sharing requirements for high-risk individuals who need follow-up diagnostic imaging to rule out breast cancer.
• Cancer Detection: House Bill 52 would require health benefits plans to cover preventive cancer screenings and tests without requiring patients to pay a deductible charge for the services.
• Child Care Subsidies: Senate Bill 240 would clarify that foster parents who work remotely can receive child care subsidies.
• Child Protection: House Bill 278 would ramp up the criminal penalties for offenders who sexually abuse, assault or exploit children. The bill also seeks to prevent people convicted of sex crimes or violent felonies from working in public schools. Another provision in the final bill would require age verification to access adult websites.
• Child Sex Dolls: House Bill 207 would create felony penalties for possessing, trafficking, importing or promoting the use of a child sex doll. It would also expand laws against child pornography to include computer-generated images of an identifiable minor.
• Civics Education: House Bill 535 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to create academic standards for civic literacy in high schools. That would include lessons on America's founding, the U.S. Constitution, principles of government and civil liberties, among others.
• Consumer Data Protection: House Bill 15 would establish new privacy protections for digital consumers. It would allow consumers to review and correct any data that companies collect on them. Consumers could also refuse to have their data sold, and they could demand that their data is deleted.
• Crime Victims: Senate Bill 319 calls for the Crime Victims Compensation Board to make their application process available online, to publish the application in additional languages, and to establish a tracking process for claims. It also clarifies that those eligible to file claims include spouses, siblings, personal representatives, and primary caregivers to the victims of crime. Among other provisions, it also would remove the five-year statute of limitations to file claims.
• Emissions Standards: Senate Bill 215 would forbid state agencies from adopting or enforcing California's emission standards on motor vehicles.
• Firearms: House Bill 357 would forbid government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also aims to prevent credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for gun stores.
• Foster Care: Senate Bill 151 would allow family members who take temporary custody of a relative's child to become certified as a "child-specific foster home." That would allow them to access more state resources and support.
• Health Care Background Checks: Senate Bill 145 would allow health care providers enrolled in the Medicaid program to conduct employee background checks through Kentucky's child and adult abuse registries.
• Health Care Liability: House Bill 159 protects health care providers from criminal liability when a medical error harms a patient. The bill exempts harm resulting from gross negligence or wanton, willful, malicious or intentional misconduct. The governor has signed HB 159 into law.
• Horse Racing Commission: Senate Bill 299 would revamp the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to create a fully independent agency called the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.
• Juvenile Offenders: Senate Bill 20 seeks to curb youth gun violence. Among several provisions, it clears the way for juveniles to stand trial as adults if they use a firearm in the commission of certain felonies and they are at least 15 years old.
• Kratom: House Bill 293 aims to regulate kratom, an herbal drug frequently sold online and in convenience stores. The bill would prohibit sales to people under 21 and provide guidelines for manufacturing and labeling the product.
• Kindergarten Readiness: House Bill 695 would establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education. The program will offer reading, math and science instruction through an online platform.
• Legislative Vacancies: Under House Bill 622, vacant seats in the U.S. Senate would be filled through a special election rather than an appointment by the governor. The winner of the election would serve for the remainder of the term.
• Loss of Income Insurance: House Bill 179 would clear the way for employers to offer their workers an option to purchase paid family leave insurance. Workers who buy the insurance would receive temporary wage replacement when caring for a sick family member, a new child or other eligible needs.
• Missing Adults: Senate Bill 45 calls on Kentucky State Police and other state officials to operate a new alert system that helps find missing people over the age of 17.
• Official State Rock: House Bill 378 changes the official state rock from Kentucky agate to coal. It also changes the official mineral from coal to calcite and the official gemstone from the fresh-water pearl to Kentucky agate.
• Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 would ease purchase limits on pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain enough of the medication to meet their needs.
• Research Consortiums: Senate Bill 1 would create an endowment fund to support collaborative research consortiums among public universities in Kentucky. Administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education, the program would focus on research projects that seek to improve quality of life through medicine, health and economic development.
• School District Task Force: House Concurrent Resolution 81 would establish the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force to study the organizational structures of Jefferson County Public Schools and develop possible recommendations to ensure effectiveness.
• School Notifications: Senate Bill 11 seeks to speed up notifications to schools when a student has been charged with a crime.
• Speech Therapy: Senate Bill 111 would eliminate some insurance coverage limits on speech therapy for stuttering.
• Student Transportation: House Bill 447 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to update regulations so that school districts can use smaller passenger vehicles instead of buses for transporting students to school and related activities.
• Truancy: House Bill 611 calls for school officials to file a complaint with the county attorney when a student misses 15 days of school without an excuse. For students in elementary school, the parent would be held responsible.
• Veteran Suicide Prevention: House Bill 30 calls on the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to create a suicide prevention program for service members, veterans and their families.
• Vintage Distilled Spirits: House Bill 439 would create a regulatory and licensing structure for the commercial sale of vintage distilled spirits in Kentucky. It would also allow some confiscated alcohol to be auctioned – instead of destroyed – with proceeds benefiting alcohol wellness efforts.
• Window Tinting: Senate Bill 46 would allow windshield tinting on vehicles as long as at least 70% of light can still pass through the material.
• Youth Employment Programs: Senate Bill 128 would allow non-profit organizations to employ 12- and 13-year-olds for the purpose of learning life and employment skills. To participate, organizations would need to first receive approval from the state Department of Workplace Standards, and the work could not exceed 18 hours a week.
• Youth Medical Records: House Bill 174 would stipulate that parents have access to their child's medical records. Right now, children ages 13 and older must sign a waiver for parents to have access.

The governor has 10 days to take action on bills that have passed the general assembly He can sign measures into law, allow them to become law without his signature, or issue vetoes. The governor also authority to veto line items in the budget.

However, lawmakers have reserved two days to reconvene in April, when they can override vetoes and continue passing bills. The chambers are scheduled to gavel back in on April 12 for day 59 of the 60-day session and adjourn sine die on April 15.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Kentucky General Assembly passes biennial budget

March 28, 2024

Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, speaks on House Bill 6 – the executive branch budget for the next biennium – on the House floor on Thursday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 28, 2024) — After many weeks of number-crunching and deliberation, the Kentucky General Assembly sent the biennial budget to the governor's desk Thursday afternoon.

House Bill 6 allocates more than $128 billion toward the operation of the executive branch for the next two fiscal years. The Kentucky Senate gave final passage to the measure Wednesday by a 36-1 vote. The House approved the measure Thursday by a 72-26 vote.

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, spoke highly of the spending plan.

"This is solid budget," he said. "It is the best budget that has been proposed or passed by the general assembly."

On the House floor, Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, said HB 6 addresses the continuing expenses of the commonwealth while making key investments in education, public safety, state pensions and more.

"I think this is a good product that will deal with the ongoing, recurring costs and services of the Commonwealth of Kentucky," Petrie said.

Among the provisions, HB 6:

• Increases the funding formula for schools, known as SEEK, to $4,326 per pupil in fiscal year 2025 and $4,586 in fiscal year 2026.
• Increases funding for school safety by allocating more than $34 million toward a school resource officer reimbursement program and $2 million in each fiscal year to the Center for School Safety.
• Fully funds and meets actuarial requirements for each state pension plan.
• Appropriates $7.3 million in each fiscal year for a new Student Teacher Stipend Program.
• Funds 45 new staff positions in the Office of Unemployment Insurance and 100 new social worker positions.
• Provides millions for child care and foster care-related programs, including $19 million over the next biennium toward kinship care reimbursement.
• Allocates an increase of $548.1 million toward Medicaid benefits
• Increases funding by $20 million in fiscal year 2026 to support medical and mental health care at all juvenile justice facilities.
• Includes $7.8 million toward alternative detention programming for juvenile offenders.
• Allocates millions toward clean water and broadband initiatives.
• Gives state employees a 3% raise in each fiscal year.

Lawmakers in both chambers debated the appropriations for schools and juvenile justice along with spending caps for when the executive branch responds to natural disasters.

On the House floor on Thursday, Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, said the budget does not invest enough in K-12 public schools, early childhood education or child care. She also said she would have liked to see a one-time bonus check for retirees, more funding for housing and more.

"This budget does have a lot of good stuff in it … it is still not good enough," Raymond said.

In explaining his "yes" vote on HB 6, Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, said he's spoken to several superintendents who had positive things to say about the provisions for education.

"They're very excited that with these significant increases that they're going to be able to maintain their staff and also give some sort of a raise," Truett said.

In the Senate on Wednesday, Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D- Louisville, said budgeting involves intense work, but it's the most important thing lawmakers do in the general assembly.

"It is not everything that we all want," he said of the bill. "But I think that we have done tremendous work and improvements. This came over to us, and piece by piece, it got better and better. I think that's from the open dialogue."

HB 6 was not the only budget-related bill that was sent to the governor's desk on Thursday.

The legislative budget, judicial branch budget and transportation cabinet budget – House Bills 263, 264, and 265 – also advanced from both chambers on Thursday.

The general assembly also passed House Bill 1, which makes historic, one-time investments in infrastructure and special projects by allocating nearly $3 billion from the budget reserve trust fund.

The governor has 10 days to sign, veto or let the legislation become law without his signature. The governor can also implement line-item vetoes in the budget.

Senate debates, advances medical records access bill

March 27, 2024

Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, speaks on House Bill 174, which relates to patient medical records. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 27, 2024) — During a busy Wednesday near the end of the legislative session, the Kentucky Senate advanced a bill to ensure that parents have access to medical records of their children who are under the age of 18.

Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, presented House Bill 174 on the chamber floor and said it's about parental rights. It passed with a 28-7 vote.

"This bill is about access to the medical records of minor children by their personal representative. I've heard the argument of HIPAA gives us all the access, but ultimately, if one reads all the HIPAA forms, they find that often these decisions are left up to the states or even sometimes these decisions are left up to the treating physician," he said.

Douglas said previous legislation has put up barriers for parents. He read a passage from current state law that grants physicians the ability to treat certain medical conditions affecting a minor patient without the consent of a parent or guardian.

Douglas said children who are at least 16 years old can receive mental health treatment without the consent of a parent, and this is "wrong."

"House Bill 174 simply says that the personal representative – that means the individual who has the authority under law to make health care decisions for that minor child. So, I have the right to access the patient's health information maintained by a health care provider in a medical record," he said.

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, spoke against the measure. She said that, under federal law, parents can already access most of their children's health records and that state law includes a few additional protections for children.

The areas Chambers Armstrong cited include reproductive health care, mental health care and cases of possible child abuse suspected by a medical provider.

"In these circumstances, a child is allowed to consent to their own medical treatment without the permission of a parent, for good reason. It would not make sense for a child who is being abused to have to seek the consent of that parent in order to get treatment for injuries related to that abuse," she said.

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, also spoke against the bill. Over the weekend, Berg said she spoke with several pediatricians in her district. She asked them how the measure would affect their practices.

"Every pediatrician I asked about this bill told me that under no circumstances would they follow it, that they felt that this was a huge break in physician-patient confidentiality around certain singular issues that growing teenagers sometimes desire and sometimes need confidentiality from their parents," she said.

Douglas countered that if medical providers suspect abuse, they are obligated to call the police.

"Our purpose in our job as a physician and as physician health care providers is to provide opinions and treatment. Not to rear our children," Douglas said. "That's not our job. We don't have that power."

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, voted for the measure, and said children are under the authority of their parents.

Another supporter, Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, said he hasn't heard from any doctors about the bill but has heard from many parents who want it.

He said he wanted to remind health care providers that he goes to them for professional advice. "I do not go to you to raise my child or to tell me what to do."

HB 174 now heads back to the House.

Senate passes COVID-19 vaccine bill

March 26, 2024

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, speaks on the Senate floor Tuesday on Senate Bill 295, which would prohibit COVID-19 vaccines from being required in many cases in Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate advanced an amended bill Tuesday that would prohibit COVID-19 vaccines from being required for employment, professional licenses, receiving medical treatment or student enrollment and activities.

Senate Bill 295's sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, said the release of the vaccine ushered in an unprecedented overreach of the government by requiring a "novel medical product to be forced on people just to participate in society."

The measure won approval with a 25-11 vote and now heads to the House. One legislator abstained from voting.

"In 2020, our world, as we all recall, was turned upside down based off projections that indeed have been proven to be grossly inflated. Out of an abundance of caution, we closed our schools, shut down businesses – many of them permanently – we changed our election processes…" Tichenor said.

She said the bill underscores individual liberties even in the face of public health challenges, and its passage would set a precedence and standard on those personal liberties.

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, voted against the measure and argued that vaccine exemptions already exist in Kentucky. She said all legislators should understand the importance behind public health measures.

"Nobody who has a serious medical contraindication or a true religious contradiction to vaccination has been forced to take a vaccine in this state. It hasn't happened, and it won't happen. We have those exemptions in our books," she said.

She said she's concerned about what the viral disease might look like in the future – from two years or even 10 years from now.

"To say under no circumstances can we require even health care professionals, it is a danger to our patients if we go in there with communicable diseases. We cannot do that to them," she said.

Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Givens, R-Greensburg, also spoke against the bill. He said his family's business doesn't require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but he has concerns about the hospital and nursing home in his community.

"When we say any COVID-19 vaccine, the literal reading of that means any known today and any known in the future," he said. "Those employees caring for my great aunt at the nursing home or one of my family members in the hospital are not going to be required to be vaccinated if they choose to not be upon passage of this legislation."

He also said he didn't see any provisions in the bill to provide any shield of liability for nursing home owners.

Speaking in favor of the bill, Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said SB 295 is "truly about personal freedom" and argued that medical professionals should be trusted to make the decision for themselves.

But Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, said the bill would prevent small business owners, with eight or more employees, from making any mandate at their local businesses.

"Now, I believe in individual freedom…If I don't want a vaccination, I'm not going to. But if I'm the employer and I want to say this is what I think is reasonable in my employment, we're saying even the employer can't do that in this bill," he said.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, voted for the measure and said time teaches a lot of lessons. He said the COVID-19 vaccine was issued through an emergency authorization and was not fully tested under normal FDA protocols.

"Each individual should be able to make their own personal decision whether or not to use the COVID vaccine," he said. "If they feel good about it, fine. If they feel that it's safe for them, that's fine. But they should not have to give up their job. They should not have to give up their mortgage payment. They should not have to give up food on their table in order to protect their privately held views on whether or not to take the vaccine."

House passes freestanding birthing center bill

March 26, 2024

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, speaks on House Bill 199 on the House floor Tuesday. The bill would remove barriers for freestanding birthing centers in Kentucky. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bipartisan bill that would pave the way for freestanding birthing centers to operate in Kentucky received House approval Tuesday.

House Bill 199 would regulate freestanding birthing centers and exempt ones with no more than four beds from the certificate of need requirement.

Primary sponsor House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said Kentucky would join 43 other states in safely regulating and permitting the operation of freestanding birthing centers.

"This is another safe alternative for a mother having a baby at a hospital or at home," he said.

A floor amendment filed by Nemes and adopted by the House addresses some of the safety concerns from healthcare stakeholders, Nemes said.

Under the amended HB 199, freestanding birthing centers would be required to be insured and have a physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse serve as a clinical director. The bill would also require the centers to be located within 30 miles of a hospital and enter into a transfer agreement with a hospital.

Additionally, the floor amendment requires the centers to obtain written, informed consent from each patient, Nemes said.

HB 199 co-sponsor Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, spoke on the legislation alongside Nemes. She said 73 out of Kentucky's 120 counties do not have an OBGYN. Allowing freestanding birthing centers should help lower Kentucky's high maternal mortality rate, she said.

"Freestanding birthing centers utilizing midwifery-led care are an important tool in improving maternal health outcomes for both mother and infant and in reducing health outcome disparities," Willner added.

Rep. Kim King, R-Harrodsburg, asked Nemes how HB 199 ensures the safety of freestanding birthing centers.

Since not every mother would be a good candidate for a freestanding birthing center, Nemes said the clinical director would be charged with making that determination. Only low-risk, healthy pregnancies would qualify. The centers would transfer a patient – whether that be a mother or a baby – to a nearby, local hospital if needed, he added.

King said she does not support HB 199 due to safety concerns.

"One-third of home births end up in emergency transport to a hospital … If we really care about the health and safety of mom – keeping her healthy and the healthy birth of a baby – I will speak against this type of situation all the time," King said.

The House approved HB 199 by a 69-25 vote.

House Minority Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson, D-Lexington, and Rep. Courtney Gilbert, R-Hodgenville, shared why they voted "yes" on the bill on the House floor.

Stevenson said "a lot of good work" has gone into HB 199.

"I do believe that (freestanding birthing centers) will be safe, and ultimately I believe women should have a choice in all their health care decisions, she said.

Gilbert said she thinks HB 199 is "a wonderful opportunity" for people in the profession and mothers.

"I am happy to give my support to this bill today. I, myself, am the product of a home birth," she added.

HB 199 now goes before the Senate for consideration.

Senate Education Committee green lights truancy bill

March 26, 2024

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, testifies Tuesday on truancy-related House Bill 611 during a meeting of the Senate Education Committee. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — In an effort to curb truancy and chronic absenteeism in Kentucky's schools, legislators on the Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 611 during a meeting on Tuesday.

The primary sponsors of the bill, Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville; and Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, testified that truancy is a huge problem now, and they had to act through legislation. They are both House Education Committee members.

"As I learned in the education committee that we all sat on over the interim, we have a significant issue in our state with truancy and chronic absenteeism in our schools," Bauman said. "The district that I represent is at 38%, and I'm sad to report that there are 40 districts in our state that have higher rates than that even, with 13 districts over 50%."

House Bill 611 would allow for cases to be referred to county attorneys after a student has missed 15 unexcused days of school.

Bauman explained that schools are budgeting based on enrollment, even though they are funded based on attendance.

"We have to take action, more so for the students though than the funding. We have to ensure that kids are in school where they need to be during the school year, setting them up for success in life and that's simply not happening today," he said.

Truett, an elementary school principal, said the bill is a start to improve the situation in the commonwealth. It calls for an extension of diversion time, and this can be helpful in some cases. Students in diversion can only miss four additional unexcused days, he said.

"We're extending that diversion time from six months to 12 months. So we're watching this student for 12 months as opposed to just six. Because what's happening, they may be good for six months, get out of the diversion, go back to normal and what's happening is they're going right back in six months later," Truett said.

Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, asked about the possible fiscal impact of the measure.

Bauman answered that he did not confer with state officials about this, but he would do this if Neal thinks it's a best practice.

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, said she learned how truancy is a critical issue in Kentucky during the interim, and she asked about the efficacy of Family Accountability, Intervention and Response Teams (FAIR).

Truett said FAIR Teams currently meet with students of all ages and their parents. They try to resolve the issues and attempt to get to the root of the problem, he said.

"Obviously, if the FAIR Team was working in every district, we would not need this bill. Some districts, the FAIR Team works well. Some districts, they do not," Truett said. "So, what this bill will do is, it does something that we don't have currently. It will allow for consistency across the state."

Truett said the bill calls for parents of students in K-5 grades to be held accountable, and for students in higher grades, FAIR Teams would work with them and their parents.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said the bill is a good one, but it's important to remember that underlying problems need to be addressed, such as poverty, unemployment and dysfunctional families.

"I think to be fair, and to do it right, we've got to acknowledge that those ills exist in the community as well and that school district as well, and that's the real driver behind such high truancy rates," he said.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, asked Bauman to speak on districts with high percentages of truant students, and called the situation, "a serious crisis." West is also chair of the committee.

"These kids are not in school with their peers, learning, socializing, where they should be as children so they can become the next generation of Kentuckians that are going to be contributing to our society," Bauman said. "They need to be in school. This helps us identify those children and get them into the classroom where they need to be."

House committee advances school guardian, mental health bill

March 26, 2024

Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, speaks on Senate Bill 2 – a sweeping school safety measure – before the House Education Committee on Tuesday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bill that would allow a public-school guardian program and seeks to improve the mental health of students is one step closer to final passage.

The House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 2 on Tuesday. Primary sponsor Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, said the legislation builds on school safety measures from previous years.

"A lot of times we talk about mental health, but we can't wrap our hands around what actually is occurring right now within our school walls," Wise said.

SB 2 would direct schools to include school psychologists, social workers, school resource officers (SROs) and other mental health service providers on trauma-informed teams. This is in addition to school administrators, counselors, family resource and youth service coordinators, school nurses and other district personnel, Wise said.

The bill would direct the trauma-informed teams to help support students impacted by trauma, identify ways to respond to mental health issues, and build resiliency and wellness in all students. These teams would also be required to compile an annual report.

SB 2 would also require two evidence-based suicide prevention lessons each school year for all students in sixth through 12th grade. Teachers would also be required to undergo suicide prevention training beginning at the fourth-grade level.

As for the safety aspect of the legislation, SB 2 would allow school districts to employ retired law enforcement and honorably discharged, retired military veterans as armed guardians at public schools.

The bill is not a mandate, and the guardians would not have arresting authority, Wise said. The guardians would also have to be within five years of retirement and undergo a vetting and training process.

Committee chair James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said he worked with Wise on strengthening the qualified immunity provision in the legislation. The guardians would have the same criminal and civil immunity as other law enforcement in the state. School boards would also be protected.

During discussion of SB 2, Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, proposed a committee amendment to allow schools to add a licensed pastoral counselor to the trauma-informed team. He said with the statewide shortage of counselors and psychologists, this would give schools another option.

Wise told the committee he has "no qualms" about the amendment. "We've got young people that need assistance and help," he said.

Abby Piper, a representative of the Kentucky School Counselors Association, testified against the amendment. But she said she supports the other mental health provisions in the legislation.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, made a motion to table the amendment. She said she finds the amendment "gravely concerning." Her motion failed.

The committee approved Calloway's committee amendment to SB 2.

Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, said she's in favor of Calloway's amendment.

"I really appreciate this and an opportunity to keep our kids safe and to get to some of the root of our issues and concerns for our kiddos," she said. "I'm a very strong ‘yes.'"

After approving Calloway's amendment, the committee continued to discuss the legislation.

Bojanowski asked Wise why schools need guardians when there are SROs. Wise said the guardians are for districts who don't have enough SROs or are in rural areas.

"The guardians are a stop-gap measure," Wise said.

The House Education Committee approved SB 2 by a 14-3 vote.

Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, said while she supports the mental health care portions of the legislation, she has concerns with the guardians and the pastoral counselor provisions of the bill.

"I'm very emotional about voting ‘no' on this because there's so much good in it," Willner said. "We've doubled up on the suicide prevention training. That's going to save lives. There's no question, so I'm happy that piece is going to pass."

SB 2 now goes before the full House for consideration.

Senate committee unanimously advances teacher misconduct bill

March 21, 2024

Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, speaks Thursday during the Senate Education Committee meeting regarding House Bill 275, which would strengthen investigations involving school district employee misconduct. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced a bill Thursday that would strengthen investigations into misconduct among school employees.

Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 275 and chair of the House Education Committee. He said the legislation focuses on a few key components.

The bill would require school districts to complete investigations into employee misconduct even if the employee resigns. It would also prevent schools from entering into a non-disclosure agreement with an employee who is subject to an investigation.

Another provision calls on school job applicants to disclose whether they were subject to an allegation or investigation for abusive conduct in the prior 12 months.

"I want to begin by saying that 99.9% of our teachers and school employees across the commonwealth – we're not talking about them," Tipton said. "But unfortunately, we have some bad actors who are in society and who are in the school system."

Tipton said the bill would allow records of investigations to be removed from an employee's personnel file if the allegations are determined to be false.

During the meeting, Kotomi Yokokura, a student at the University of Kentucky, testified in favor of the measure and shared her experiences as a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of a high school teacher.

Yokokura said she was a teenager when a teacher created a private group chat with her and her friends. It was a texting platform utilized by her high school to update assignments and other important information.

She said her teacher gained her trust and emotionally manipulated her.

"It wasn't until talking with college friends that I began to fully understand the gravity of my experience and the betrayal of an individual I trusted, my community trusted," she said. "Now I'm sitting before you just one month away from my graduation from UK, but my experience of educator sexual misconduct almost stole this from me."

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, asked about coaches, who may not always be considered employees. She asked if the bill would cover coaches who may be volunteers.

"As I've reviewed the language, I believe that it would," Tipton said.

Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Givens, R-Greensburg, asked Tipton about the bill's language. He said he wants to make sure it would apply to noncertified personnel. Tipton answered affirmatively.

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, asked if sexual misconduct and grooming could be better defined in the legislation. Tipton said an existing law references those situations, but he's always open to make legislation the best it can be.

Tichenor reiterated that "this is not directed toward the majority of our teachers. But we have to ensure that our students are safe and protected from the small number of teachers that may prey on our students."

House committee approves bill on juvenile firearm-related crimes

March 20, 2024

Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, presents Senate Bill 20 before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Juveniles accused of committing certain felonies while using a firearm could be tried as adults under Senate Bill 20.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced the measure Wednesday. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown.

Deneen said SB 20 addresses an unfortunate situation in the commonwealth: youth gun violence. Deneen cited several recent incidences of shootings involving teens, including one in Louisville from over the weekend.

"Our kids are using guns to settle their disputes," Deneen said. "In many cases, they're using guns that are illegally obtained through carjackings and sometimes even with the help of an adult."

With current statute, Deneen said many juveniles are allowed "to go into jail and walk right back out before our policemen even have time to finish the paperwork." SB 20 would change that, he said.

"It takes our most heinous crimes – A, B and C felonies involving the use of a gun – and it transfers those to circuit court," Deneen said.

The original version of SB 20 contained provisions that were included in House Bill 5, which passed off the Senate floor last week. SB 20 was amended in the House Judiciary Committee to remove those redundant provisions, Committee Chair Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, said.

The new version of SB 20 only focuses on juvenile felony offenses involving firearms.

Under SB 20, the circuit court could use a reverse waiver to send cases back to district court. The requirements for the waiver involve reviewing 10 factors already established in statute. If the offender doesn't meet at least two of those factors, the case can be sent back to district court, Elliott said.

The new version of SB 20 also ensures only children who used a firearm are implicated, Deneen and Elliott said.

Deneen said this bill would hold violent juveniles accountable and prevent them from creating more victims.

"This is not a perpetrator-centered bill. This is a victim-centered bill," Deneen said. "We owe it to those families that have been wounded that are now in wheelchairs because of gun violence committed by other juveniles."

During discussion, Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said she agrees that gun violence is a major issue that needs to be addressed. However, she does not believe SB 20 will help, and she advocated for more prevention measures.

"There has been over 100 JCPS students who have been shot – some killed, some just wounded – and we need to do something," Herron said. "However, some of you all know I think the approach is the wrong approach."

Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, thanked Deneen for the bill and said seeing the increase in youth gun violence tells her the legislature needs to do more. She asked Deneen if there is an opportunity to hold more parents accountable when they allow children to have access to or do not properly secure firearms.

Deneen said he agrees adults should be held accountable, but SB 20 only focuses on juvenile gun-related cases.

As for the fiscal impact of SB 20, Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, said she has concerns.

"My concern is the capacity and the bandwidth to actually implement this if we don't have that money being allocated in the budget for it," she said.

Deneen said there is a cost associated with the bill, but the cost of not moving forward with SB 20 is greater when lives and the well-being of Kentuckians is at stake.

Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, said she also has concerns about the fiscal impact of SB 20. She made a motion to table the bill until an updated corrections impact statement can be drafted. The motion failed.

Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, said he "proudly supports" SB 20 and believes it will keep Kentuckians safer.

"When you have serious violent offenders that are locked up, that keeps them off the streets and keeps them from doing this to our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, people that we care about or people that we may not even know," he said.

The House Judiciary Committee approved SB 20 by a 12-4 vote. It now goes before the full House for consideration.

Adult-oriented businesses regulation bill moves forward

March 19, 2024

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, speaks on Senate Bill 147 before the House Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee on Tuesday. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A bill that would set regulations for adult-oriented businesses advanced from the House Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee on Tuesday.

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 147. She said the bill seeks to protect children from sexually explicit materials and performances.

"The bill defines adult-oriented businesses to mean an adult arcade, adult bookstore or video store, adult cabaret, adult theater or any establishment that predominately hosts any performance involving sexual conduct," Tichenor said.

The commonwealth has a history of regulating all sorts of businesses, like real estate, horse racing and alcohol, Tichenor said.

"The intent of this bill is to set regulations around an unchecked industry to ensure we are protecting communities and minors within those communities from the exposure that leads to adverse, secondary effects," she added.

Under SB 147, adult-oriented businesses would not be permitted within 933 feet – the length of the average city block – of a childcare facility, a children's establishment, park, recreational area, place of worship, schools, libraries, and any area where children predominately gather. These businesses would also not be allowed to employ anyone under 18 and would be responsible for preventing obscene material from being accessed by minors.

Violators would face civil penalties, Tichenor said. Enforcement of the new regulations would fall under the attorney general's office, a commonwealth's attorney's office or a county attorney's office. A previous version of the legislation allowed citizens to bring civil action. Tichenor said that provision has been removed.

A grandfather clause was also added to the legislation for already established adult-oriented businesses that would allow them to continue to operate even if they're in violation of the bill, Tichenor added.

During discussion, House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, asked Tichenor how the bill limits drag queen appearances and performances at restaurants and libraries.

Tichenor said the bill only prohibits performances with nudity and/or sexual conduct as defined in the legislation.

Roberts said she feels the bill targets certain groups of people, and she is "incredibly disappointed" when the legislature "tries to legislate morality."

Rep. Bill Wesley, R-Ravenna, however, spoke in support of SB 147.

"The reason I'm voting ‘yes' today: it puts up guardrails for our children," he said.

Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, said she can support SB 147 due to some of the changes Tichenor made to the bill. Dietz said she trusts the county attorney and commonwealth's attorney in her diverse district to know what types of performances should and should not be permitted.

"I have to trust that my officials that are being elected by those citizens are going to enforce this the way that it's intended to be," she said.

The committee approved SB 147 by a 16-2 vote. It will now go before the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

March 15, 2024

The Kentucky House wrapped up day 52 of the 2024 legislation session on Friday, which included a four-hour debate on a bill related to college diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House and Senate are squaring up for a robust end to the 2024 legislation session, moving major bills on crime, school choice and diversity initiatives with only two weeks to go before the veto recess.

Perhaps the most watched bill of the session – the biennial state budget – is also making headway after the Senate unveiled its version of the plan this week. The $130 billion proposal breezed through committee and cleared the Senate floor on Wednesday with near unanimous support.

A conference committee is set to begin negotiating a compromise between the House and Senate in the coming days. The House passed its proposal Feb. 1, and the Senate version includes key changes, including additional money for Kentucky's school funding formula known as SEEK.

The Senate also proposes to increase performance funding for higher education and jails and provide additional funds to pay down bonds related to the KentuckyWired project.

Lawmakers will need to hammer out an accord by March 28 if they want time to override any gubernatorial vetoes before the general assembly adjourns sine die next month.

Friday marked day 52 of the 60-day session, and lawmakers have revised the legislative calendar to provide two extra days next week for committee meetings. That foreshadows a busy schedule ahead as members continue to grapple with a number of preeminent bills.

One measure moving close to final passage is House Bill 5, an omnibus anti-crime bill that would enhance penalties for some felonies – especially for repeat, violent offenders.

Called the Safer Kentucky Act, the legislation would also allow prosecutors to file a manslaughter charge against anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose. Other provisions seek to curb unlawful street camping and set limits on charitable bond organizations.

HB 5 cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and, after a long debate, won approval on the Senate floor Friday 27-9. It now goes back to the House for a vote on the Senate's changes.

Meanwhile, a measure on diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses has won support in the House and now moves back to the Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 6 calls for an end to DEI initiatives at Kentucky colleges and universities. The far-ranging bill would forbid differential treatment of individuals based on protected classes like race and sex. It would also prohibit campuses for expending resources on DEI trainings and offices, among many other provisions.

The House amended the legislation in committee Thursday, expanding significantly on the Senate's version, which focused more specifically on viewpoint discrimination. Lawmakers voted 68-18 on the House floor after a nearly four-hour debate, and the bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration.

Another major bill related to education, House Bill 2, received final passage in the Senate following several long debates throughout the week. That included a two- and half-hour exchange on the House floor Wednesday and another hour-long match in the Senate on Friday that preceded a 27-8 vote.

The legislation proposes to amend the state constitution and allow the general assembly to provide financial support for education outside Kentucky's system of public schools. That would allow the legislature to consider funding other types of educational models in future years.

Like all proposed amendments to the constitution, the changes would require ratification by Kentucky voters in an election before taking effect.

Many other bills continued to receive votes this week as they moved through the legislative process. Here's a look at some of the other measures on the move:

• School Bus Cameras: House Bill 461 would allow school districts to install cameras on the side of school buses to catch motorists who fail to stop when the stop-arm is deployed. Offenders would face a $500 fine for the first offense and a $1,000 fine for a subsequent offense. The bill won support on the House floor Monday.
• Nicotine Products: House Bill 11 would align state law with FDA regulations regarding the sale of tobacco products. Specifically, it would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. It would also create penalties for retailers who violate the restrictions. The House passed the bill Monday.
• Legislative Interference: Under House Bill 626, people who engage in disorderly conduct that prevents the Kentucky General Assembly from conducting business could be charged with a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for a subsequent offense. The legislation cleared the House on Monday.
• Civics Education: House Bill 535 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to create academic standards for civic literacy in high schools. That would include lessons on America's founding, the U.S. Constitution, principles of government and civil liberties, among others. The House advanced the measure Monday.
• Consumer Data Privacy: House Bill 15 would establish new privacy protections for digital consumers. It would allow consumers to review and correct any data that companies collect on them. Consumers could also refuse to have their data sold, and they could demand that their data is deleted. The Senate voted in favor on HB 15 on Monday.
• Kindergarten Readiness: House Bill 695 would establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education. The program will offer reading, math and science instruction through an online platform. The bill advanced out of the House Education Committee on Tuesday.
• Missing Adults: Senate Bill 45 calls on Kentucky State Police and other state officials to operate a new alert system that helps find missing people over the age of 17. The House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection passed the legislation Tuesday.
• Aerospace Industry: Senate Bill 127 seeks to support Kentucky's aerospace and aviation industries by fostering public-private partnerships and enhancing workforce development across the state. The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee advanced the bill Tuesday.
• Cancer Detection: House Bill 52 calls for health benefits plans to cover preventive cancer screenings and tests without requiring patients to pay a deductible charge for the services. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee advanced the bill on Tuesday.
• Open Records: House Bill 509 calls for public employees to use official agency email accounts when conducting official business, and it would ban the use of private email accounts for such matters. Agencies would only be required to search official email accounts in response to an open records request. The bill cleared the House floor Tuesday.
• Medicinal Cannabis: House Bill 829 seeks to update some aspects of Kentucky's upcoming medicinal cannabis program. It would allow schools to opt out and allow local governments to apply a small fee to the program, among other changes. The House passed the measure Tuesday.
• Name, Voice and Likeness: Senate Bill 317 would protect every person's name, voice and likeness from the commercial use of unauthorized deepfakes. The Senate passed the measure Tuesday.
• Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 would ease purchase limits on pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain enough of the medication to meet their needs. The measure won support in the Senate Committee on Health Services on Wednesday.
• Speech Therapy: Senate Bill 111 would eliminate some insurance coverage limits on speech therapy for stuttering. The House Banking and Insurance Committee passed the legislation Wednesday.
• Firearms: House Bill 357 would forbid government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also aims to prevent credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for purchases from gun stores. The Senate passed the legislation Wednesday, and it has been sent to the governor.
• School Bus Behavior: House Bill 446 seeks to address disciplinary issues on school buses. Under the bill, every bus rider and at least one of their parents or guardians would need to sign a transportation agreement with the district. The agreement would outline expectations for students and parents and explain the consequences for misbehavior. The bill won passage in the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the governor.
• Nuclear Energy: Senate Bill 198 would establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state. The House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy passed the legislation Thursday.
• Animal Abuse: House Bill 258 seeks to strengthen state laws against torturing a dog or cat. That includes stiffer penalties for first-time offenders, who would face a class D felony rather than a misdemeanor charge under the bill. The legislation won support in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
• Math Education: House Bill 162 seeks to improve numeracy in Kentucky. It would reform early education math standards and provide more professional development for teachers. The bill would also create multitiered support systems for struggling students. The Senate Education Committee passed the bill Thursday.
• Consent for Intimate Exams: House Bill 252 would require physicians to receive informed consent before conducting intimate exams – such as rectal, pelvic or prostate exams – on an unconscious patient. The House Health Services Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
• Non-Citizen Voting: Senate Bill 143 proposes changes to the state constitution that would prevent anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in Kentucky elections. The House passed the bill Friday.
• Fish and Wildlife: Senate Bill 3 seeks to move the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. An amendment to the bill would also move the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to the agriculture department for administrative purposes. The legislation cleared the Senate on Friday.
• Vintage Alcohol Sales: House Bill 439 would create a regulatory and licensing structure for the commercial sale of vintage distilled spirits in Kentucky. The Senate passed the bill Friday.

Lawmakers are expected to meet in committees on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. However, the chambers will not gavel back into session until Thursday for day 53. The veto recess begins on March 29.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Senate Judiciary Committee green lights Safer Kentucky Act

March 14, 2024

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, second from left, speaks Thursday about House Bill 5 during a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee. With him are, from left, House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown; Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville; and Ronnie Bowling, commonwealth's attorney for the 34th Judicial Circuit. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — After several alterations, House Bill 5 advanced Thursday out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 7-3 vote and now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.

The 78-page bill – known as the Safer Kentucky Act – seeks to curb crime in the commonwealth through a major revamp of Kentucky's criminal code.

Amid dozens of provisions, the legislation would institute stiffer penalties for repeat violent offenders. It would also place limits on charitable bond organizations and prohibit unlawful camping on streets, sidewalks and other public grounds.

Anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose could be charged with manslaughter under the bill. In addition, HB 5 would classify carjacking as a class B felony and increase the penalties for fleeing or evading police, among other changes.

The legislation has undergone debate and revisions since it was introduced in the House in January. Supporters and detractors offered another round impassioned testimony during Thursday's meeting, touching on incarceration, homelessness, public safety and other related issues.

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, the bill's primary sponsor, said he's grateful the bill is being augmented.

"I deeply appreciate you engaging with us in a constructive way so we can help sharpen this bill and make a couple small changes to improve it," he told the committee.

A cosponsor, House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said the bill's approach focuses on providing both treatment and cracking down on violence.

The annual number of murders in Louisville has soared from around 80 a decade ago to between 150 and 188 in the last four years, he said. "Violent crime in Kentucky is spiraling out of control."

Ryan Straw, vice president of the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police, testified that police officers aren't looking to go out and arrest people as easily as possible. But he said HB 5 contains many provisions that speak to the needs of law enforcement.

However, several others testified with concerns about how the bill would affect homeless Kentuckians. One of them was Elli Keeley-Fine of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Louisville. She represented her class, and said the students pray for the homeless people.

"For the past year, my class has spent over 2,000 hours serving the homeless and witnessing the trauma and hopelessness that defines the sacred spaces in which they live. We bring you the lessons of our heart and of our faith and ask you to reconsider House Bill 5," she said.

Mandi Fugate Sheffel, who owns a bookstore in Hazard, also testified against the bill, saying she used to be addicted to oxycontin and is proud to now be a business owner and someone who can meaningfully contribute to her community.

"In eastern Kentucky, our jails are already overcrowded and we don't need to be spending money on new jails," she said.

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, voted against the measure and said she's worried about gun violence involving children.

"In my experience as a physician working in the emergency room at one of the two Level 1 trauma centers that we have in this state, the prevalence of guns and the availability of guns for our children has skyrocketed," she said.

She asked if the bill would address minors' gun access.

Nemes said the bill doesn't address gun access by minors directly, but there are two provisions that are related to the issue. If an adult uses a child to commit a crime, that results in a heightened penalty, he said. Also, if a gun is used in the commission of a crime, the individual would not be eligible for parole or probation, Nemes explained.

"But we always hear we don't take gun crime seriously. House Bill 5 does," Nemes said.

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, addressed those who assist homeless individuals. He asked if they are aware of millions of dollars in the Senate budget to match a substantial investment by a group of bankers in Lexington to reduce homelessness.

He said the funding would support substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment and access to health care and housing.

Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, voted in favor of the bill and said he commends the bill's sponsors for their hard work and said Kentucky does struggle with crime.

"We do have a crime problem in Kentucky, and I think this bill will go a long way to address it by a multi-lateral approach. It gives people an option to improve their lives and get better by utilizing treatment, and at the same time it protects society from repeat violent offenders," he said.

Committee approves consent for intimate exams bill

March 14, 2024

Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, presents House Bill 252, at the House Health Services Committee on Thursday. The bill would require informed consent for intimate exams while unconscious. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A bipartisan House bill would bring transparency to an educational medical practice that patients are often unaware about.

Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 252, which would require physicians to seek informed consent for intimate exams performed on a patient who is unconscious.

Stalker told the House Health Services Committee on Thursday that it is not uncommon for some teaching hospitals to allow medical students to perform rectal, pelvic or prostate exams while a patient is under anesthesia. Most of the time the patient is unaware the exam took place and it is not noted on their medical chart.

Stalker said HB 252 will protect patients and support medical students.

"(This will) support our medical students who need to be confident and comfortable giving exams knowing that they have a patient's consent prior," Stalker added.

Under HB 252, health care providers would have to obtain informed consent from a patient before allowing anyone to do a pelvic, prostate or rectal exam to a patient while they are under anesthesia or unconscious. Separate consent would not be needed if one of those intimate exams is included in the procedure the patient has already consented to.

Stalker said the issue has come to the attention of lawmakers nationwide after medical students started speaking out against the practice.

"There really is a disconnect between a lot of people within the medical community who see this as normal and nonproblematic, and people who are patients, med students or members of the public who see this as a disturbing violation," Stalker said.

The physicians who support the practice say the consent form patients sign before any procedure is sufficient, she added.

Knowing how many of these exams are done nationwide or in Kentucky is difficult to know, Stalker said, since many patients are unaware.

"There was a recent study that estimated more than 3.5 million men and women (nationwide) may have received unconsented intimate exams within the past five years," Stalker said.

Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, asked how the bill handles penalties.

Committee chair and primary co-sponsor Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said HB 252 does not create any special penalties for violators.

Cory Meadows, directory of advocacy with the Kentucky Medical Association, testified alongside Stalker. They worked together on the legislation. Meadows told Bentley that recourse can still be sought through the medical board and medical malpractice lawsuits.

Committee vice-chair Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, said it "blows his mind" intimate exams are being performed without consent. He wanted to know if the informed consent includes letting the patient know how many medical students would be involved.

Stalker said the bill says informed consent includes notifying the patient about the identity and training status of the individuals involved with the procedure.

Dotson said he supports HB 252, but he'd like to see the informed consent be more specific.

Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, said she hopes these exams are not happening in Kentucky without consent, but not knowing does not impact her support for the legislation.

"It doesn't bother me to vote on this legislation and pass it without knowing that it's happening because I do see this as protection," she said.

The House Health Services Committee approved HB 252 by a 15-0 vote with one pass vote. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate advances budget-related bills

March 13, 2024

Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, speaks Wednesday on the Senate floor. McDaniel, chair of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, gave an overview of budget-related legislation, House Bill 1, House Bill 6 and House Bill 263. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate advanced three budget-related bills with bipartisan support Wednesday as legislators look toward the next two-year spending cycle for state government.

All three bills – House Bill 1, House Bill 6 and House Bill 263 – received unanimous approval from the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee earlier in the day. The Senate approved HB 1 with a 38-0 vote, House Bill 6 with a 37-1 vote and HB 263 with a 37-1 vote in the afternoon.

HB 6, which represents the budget for the state executive branch, cleared the House floor on Feb. 1 and has remained under review in the Senate since then. The Senate Majority Caucus unveiled some key changes to the House plan as the bill was advancing Wednesday.

Those include close to $100 million in additional money for the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky – or SEEK – funding model for public schools.

The Senate also proposes to double the amount of money to support the performance funding model for higher education, raising the total appropriation to $201 million.

Other changes include increased performance funding for jails, more money for Medicaid and $200 million to pay down bonds related to the KentuckyWired project.

Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, chairs the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. He said the budget process has been diligent and fair and provided opportunities for comment from around the state.

"I think those who have participated in the process and have seen the process will say that they've had the opportunity to do just that," he said. "Thanks to the work of every member sitting in this chamber."

Compared to the current state budget, HB 6 would provide:

• A 2.6% raise for state employees in each year of the budget.
• A 4% increase in SEEK in the first year and a 2% increase in the second year.
• More than $110 million in additional funds for school transportation
• An additional $460 million to fully fund the actuarially recommended contribution to the teacher retirement system.
• $250 million in each fiscal year to pay down unfunded liabilities in the state pension system.
• Full funding for the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program.
• Funding for an additional 100 social workers over the biennium.
• $22.5 million over the two years to enhance salaries at Kentucky State Police, along with enhanced training incentives for law enforcement.
• Millions to support the Child Care Assistance Program.

The 257-page bill includes many other appropriations, including funds to support education, public safety, workforce development, energy, constitutional offices, and other government services.

Meanwhile, the Senate version of HB 1 proposes a series of one-time appropriations aimed at improving infrastructure, economic development, health care and housing. That includes $890 million for the state road fund, $150 million for the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence, $75 million toward the development of nuclear energy and many more projects.

"House Bill 1 is about transforming Kentucky, and we start with this bill asking ourselves how do we do transformational things? How do we ensure that we are competitive in the next century," McDaniel said.

Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, voted no on HB 6 and HB 263 and explained why.

"I really think we need to be focused on what we're spending our money on, and we just voted on all these things. We have money for a lot of these projects. They don't need to be funded with debt, and we shouldn't be balancing our budget with debt," she said.

But Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, commended lawmakers for looking at HB 6 as a document that serves all of the state.

"I'm greatly appreciative of that, and I look forward to finishing out as we get down to the bottom details. But I just want to take a second to voice my gratitude," he said.

All three bills head back to the House for lawmakers to vote on whether they concur with the Senate changes.

House advances constitutional amendment on educational funding

March 13, 2024

House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro, speaks on House Bill 2 on Wednesday. The bill proposes an amendment to the state constitution regarding educational funding. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House approved a bill Wednesday that proposes a state constitutional amendment related to educational funding.

House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 2. She said the proposed amendment would give the legislature the possibility to consider other types of education funding.

"This is not a policy decision," Miles said. "There is no funding in this bill whatsoever. There is no enabling legislation. This is solely a constitutional amendment to put on the ballot."

If approved by the Kentucky General Assembly, voters will have the opportunity during the November general election to change the state constitution.

The proposed amendment under HB 2 reads: "The general assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The general assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186 and 189 of this constitution notwithstanding."

Voters would be given some context on the ballot on what the proposed amendment does.

HB 2 proposes this question be given to voters: "To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the general assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?"

The House debated HB 2 for two and a half hours on Wednesday. Some lawmakers said the general assembly needs to ensure public schools are fully funded before considering things like school choice vouchers for private or other types of schools.

Rep. Chris Fugate, R-Chavies, was one. He said his district is still looking to secure funding to rebuild a few schools and provide raises for teachers after the July 2022 floods. While personally in favor of HB 2, Fugate said he could not vote "yes" due to the needs of his district.

"All I'm doing is pleading the case of my district because my people deserve their schools to be fixed before we fund other schools," Fugate said.

Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, also spoke against HB 2. She said the amendment could lead to legislation that would reduce funding for public education in the commonwealth.

"If the people of Kentucky approved this amendment, the legislature could enact legislation that would siphon public school money from rural, low-income areas of our state," she said.

House Minority Floor Leader Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, said Kentucky parents already have a choice of where to send their child to school, and the general assembly needs to put public education first.

"(This bill) is not the right thing for us to do for our children in this commonwealth," he added.

During debate, House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, asked Miles what she would like to happen if Kentucky voters approve the amendment.

Miles said: "I would like to see every child in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to have the best access and a level playing field to succeed, to be the best of their ability, and live the American dream."

When voting "yes" on HB 2, Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, said Kentucky is behind other states when it comes to school choice initiatives and it is time to catch up.

"There's going to be bad actors… whether it's public or private, but (other states) are experimenting and looking at ways to expand kids' education, so I'm voting ‘yes,'" Bratcher said. "I think this is a great step."

Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, said he was "honored" to support HB 2.

"Today we got to have a discussion about parents and children and to give children the opportunity to have the best fit education for them as possible, regardless of their zip code," he said.

HB 2 advanced off the House floor by a 65-32 vote with one abstention and now heads to the Senate. If approved by the Senate, the bill will automatically be sent to the Secretary of State's Office. Proposed constitutional amendments do not require the governor's signature.

Senate committee advances alcohol bill

March 12, 2024

Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, testifies Tuesday on House Bill 439 during a meeting of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would create a regulatory structure for the commercial sale of vintage distilled spirits in Kentucky.

Under House Bill 439, vendors of vintage spirits would need to purchase a $300 annual license and file monthly reports with the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The reports would provide information about individuals who supplied the vendors with inventory.

Vendors could purchase no more than 24 packages of spirits from any single seller in a 12-month period. Violations could result in a $500 fine for the first offense, a $2,500 fine for a second offense and a $5,000 fine for subsequent offenses.

Another provision of the bill would allow state officials to auction off – rather than destroy – some confiscated spirits to help fund alcohol wellness and education efforts.

Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, is sponsoring HB 439. He said the alcohol industry's current three-tier system has inadvertently created an unregulated fourth tier.

"This was allowing non-licensed persons to essentially make a living off reselling spirits with little to no tracking, and it's something we need to come back and clean up," he said.

Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, also testified about two portions of the legislation. One would allow delivery drivers to carry licenses electronically or on paper inside the vehicle rather than posted on the outside.

The other portion would change the quota for retail package licenses to one per 2,000 people rather than one per 2,300. That change would impact five Kentucky counties, Timoney said.

Dana Peddicord, owner of The Blushery in Lexington, spoke in opposition to the bill. The business is a bridal, hair, and makeup studio with a boutique and wine bar.

Peddicord argued that changing the license quota would increase the market advantage of large retailers in Lexington while also saturating the market with new storefronts that undermine boutique retailers.

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, voted yes for the bill but said Peddicord raised some good points.

"She and I have talked quite a bit about some of the consequences in Lexington. We don't want a liquor store on every corner, and we still don't want them in certain areas," Mays Bledsoe said. "There is a challenge between demand and how we protect small businesses."

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, also voted for the bill and said it's vital for small businesses to be treated fairly and in the same manner.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said that lawmakers are addressing the issue because enforcement officials have treated vendors aggressively and unevenly.

"I believe some stores have been improperly selected while others doing the same business have been left alone," he said. "I hope this clarifies things and we won't have this sort of overly aggressive punishment of legal businesses in Kentucky."

HB 439 received approval with an 8-0 vote. One legislator cast a pass vote. It now heads to the full Senate.

House approves updates to medicinal cannabis program

March 12, 2024

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, speaks on House Bill 829 on the House floor. The bill would make updates to the state's upcoming medicinal cannabis program. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Last year, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation to allow Kentuckians with specific medical conditions access to medicinal cannabis in 2025.

The Kentucky House approved House Bill 829 Tuesday to make updates to the upcoming program. The bill's primary sponsor House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said the need to clean up last year's Senate Bill 47 is not unexpected.

A major provision of HB 829 would address medicinal cannabis use for K-12 students. Nemes said the bill would allow public and private schools to opt out of the program. If a school district chooses to allow students to use medicinal cannabis at school, the district would need to establish a policy.

"If they don't opt out of the program, that also requires them to have a mechanism by which they would administer the medication whether it's a school nurse, a different school employee or a parent," Nemes said.

Additionally, HB 829 would:

• Allow local governments to apply a small local fee to the program.
• Allow local governments to opt out of the program if the decision is made before a licensee is approved.
• Prioritize Kentucky hemp businesses.
• Clarify the powers of the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to inspect medicinal cannabis businesses.
• Remove provisional licenses.
• Ensure the program can begin Jan. 1, 2025, by starting the licensing application process earlier.
• Require a pharmacist consultation to ensure medicinal cannabis won't have a negative reaction with any of the patient's other prescriptions.

House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, questioned the need for a pharmacist consultation before a person could be approved to access medicinal cannabis.

"(Some studies) do state that currently, cannabis drug interactions are mostly theoretical or come from case reports due to the lack of clinical trials," she said. "… I think that this is duplicative. I think that we should trust the prescribing physicians."

Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, worked on the pharmacy provision of the bill with Nemes. He said the pharmacy consultation is needed because cannabis can have a negative interaction with certain blood thinners.

"We believe that this consultation will save lives," Bentley said.

On use of medicinal cannabis in public schools, Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, said she doesn't think public school districts should be able to opt out of allowing students to be given medicinal cannabis at school.

"This doesn't feel like we're taking care of Kentuckians," she said. "I just want to remind this body that these are very vulnerable individuals – people who are sick – and we're making it harder for them to access medicine that could ease their quality of life."

Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, said he supports a school district's decision to opt out of the program under HB 829. He said some districts have liability concerns.

"This was one of my biggest concerns last year after speaking to my schools because they didn't want to be put in the position of administering medication that didn't have instructions, didn't have dosage, that they have no clue about," Bray said.

House Minority Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson, D-Lexington, said she feels HB 829 is making access to medicinal cannabis more restrictive. She said she hopes the general assembly considers a proposed Senate bill that would expand the list of qualifying conditions.

Nemes said he understands some of his colleagues disagree with the legislation, but HB 829 is needed to clarify and "tighten things up."

"It is important we take these steps to further protect the patient," he added.

The House passed HB 829 by a 66-30 vote. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Kindergarten readiness pilot project bill advances

March 11, 2024

Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, presents House Bill 695 in the House Education Committee meeting Tuesday. The legislation would establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The House Education Committee approved a bipartisan bill Tuesday that seeks to improve early childhood education in the commonwealth.

House Bill 695 would establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education, Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, said. He is the primary sponsor of the legislation.

"Over 50% of Kentucky kids are not kindergarten ready on day one," Jackson said. "That number alarms me, and I hope it does some of you since we know how critical the early years of learning are."

Jackson said HB 695 would use curriculum that aligns with state standards and national guidelines to improve kindergarten readiness in the commonwealth.

"The project will use family engagement to deliver age-appropriate reading instruction with an online learning platform 20 minutes per day," Jackson said. "It will offer optional instruction for math and science if wanted."

The pilot project would run during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years if funds are available, according to the bill. Jackson said the KDE has funds to cover at least one year of the pilot project. He and others are working on securing funding either through the state's general fund or a grant for the second year.

The pilot project would be available to at least 400 students, ages 4 and 5, across Kentucky, with 40% of its slots reserved for children and families up to 200% of the federal poverty line, Jackson said.

The program requires families to have access to a tablet or computer and the internet. Low-income families below 400% of the federal poverty line would receive the devices and internet if needed at no cost for the duration of the project, Jackson added.

Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, is one of the co-sponsors of HB 695. She asked Jackson to describe what family engagement would be like with this bill.

"The part that excites me the most is on page two – the part that utilizes family engagement," Willner said.

Jackson said the programs are "very entertaining," which is needed to keep children engaged.

"I think it's a win-win when we can bring a family together and do something educational," Jackson said. "I think it'll make that family learn together, work together and continue to do that hopefully through elementary, middle school and high school."

The House Education Committee approved HB 695 by a 12-3 vote with two pass votes.

Rep. Felicia Rabourn, R-Pendleton, voted "no" on the legislation. During discussion of the bill, she urged her colleagues to look at a study from Vanderbilt on the long-term consequences of focusing too much on academics at an early age.

"In some studies, like the one I'll provide to members of this committee, it actually ends up kids having negative feelings toward school right around grade three level," Rabourn said, adding she wants to know if a more play-based program would be more appropriate.

Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, voted "yes" on HB 695. He said doing nothing to address kindergarten readiness is "not a solution."

"We've got a major crisis not only in our state, but in our country of having young people who are not prepared," Riley said. "In many cases, it's not their fault. Obviously, many of them are growing up in difficult situations. But if we do nothing, that's exactly what we're going to get: nothing."

HB 695 will now go before the full House for consideration.

House passes bill protecting legislative proceedings

March 11, 2024

Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, speaks on House Bill 626 on the House floor Monday. The bill would create specific criminal penalties for individuals who interfere with a legislative proceeding. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — — The Kentucky House passed a bill Monday that would create specific criminal penalties for individuals who interfere with a legislative proceeding.

Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, said he filed House Bill 626 to ensure the general assembly is not prevented from doing its work on behalf of constituents. He said there is "absolutely nothing wrong" with protesting, but some individuals take things too far.

"Protesting is as American as apple pie," Blanton said. "It is the foundation of who we are, and I'm fully supportive of that. But when you prevent a legislative body from doing its work, then you cross the line."

Under HB 626, a person would be guilty of first-degree interference of a legislative proceeding if they knowingly conspire or engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct that disrupts, impedes or prevents the general assembly from conducting business in any legislative building.

The penalties for first-degree interference of a legislative proceeding are a class A misdemeanor on the first offense and a class D felony on second or subsequent offense.

A person would be guilty of second-degree interference of a legislative proceeding if they enter or remain inside a chamber, gallery or room to disrupt, impede or prevent the general assembly from conducting its business.

This provision would also apply to individuals who obstruct the movement of a legislator, legislative officer or legislative staff member within a legislative building.

The penalties for second-degree interference of a legislative proceeding are a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A misdemeanor on second or subsequent offense.

On the House floor, Blanton reminded lawmakers of an incident that occurred during the 2023 legislative session when protestors interrupted a legislative proceeding by chanting loudly from the House gallery. He said HB 626 is needed because current statute doesn't properly address the issue.

"We all remember what happened last year in this very body, and those folks ended up being charged with criminal trespassing," Blanton said. "I would argue that that doesn't necessarily fit either. This is a public place."

Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, said he disagrees. He believes criminal trespassing is a sufficient charge.

"I just urge we keep the laws on the books and not make it such that people who come to the Capitol and are part of a protest but aren't themselves acting violently, are dragged into the courtroom and prosecuted due to their dissent," Grossberg said.

Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, said he supports Blanton's explanation of the legislation, but when he reads the bill, he has a few concerns. Before becoming a legislator, Hodgson said he participated in a few protests at the Kentucky State Capitol.

"My concern here is that as I participated in those as well as organized them, would I have been guilty of the conspiracy offense that you described here?" Hodgson asked.

Blanton said the legislation would not apply to individuals protesting outside the chamber if they are not disrupting a legislative proceeding. He said there have been many times where lawmakers could hear people protesting outside the chamber, but the sound did not disrupt the proceeding. In that instance, no one would be charged.

Hodgson asked Blanton if he would be open to tightening the language in the bill to avoid unintended consequences. Blanton said he would be open as long as it doesn't change the intent of the legislation.

The House approved HB 626 by a 62-31 vote. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

March 8, 2024

The Kentucky Senate holds proceedings on the chamber floor during the 10th week of the 2024 legislative session. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — The calendar is shrinking fast, and a whirlwind of bills is spinning at full tilt as lawmakers continue to push measures on education, maternal health and digital media closer to final passage in the 2024 legislative session.

Friday wrapped up week 10 of the 60-day session, and the general assembly is wrestling with more than 1,200 bills – the highest number in 24 years. Legislative proposals have touched on virtually every issue facing the state, including two that inspired celebrity cameos this week.

Former basketball player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist testified in favor of a bill Tuesday that would eliminate some caps in insurance coverage for speech therapy. Country artist Eddie Montgomery appeared in committee Thursday on behalf of a bill to protect people's name, voice and likeness from deepfakes.

Lawmakers also dedicated time this week to override a gubernatorial veto on House Bill 18, a measure that prohibits local governments from requiring landowners to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance.

But like last week – and like many legislative sessions in the past – educational issues continue to garner much of the attention.

Legislation on civics education, House Bill 535, cleared the House Education Committee on Tuesday.

It calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to create academic standards for civic literacy in high schools. That would include lessons on America's founding, the U.S. Constitution, principles of government and civil liberties, among others.

Later in the day, a divided Senate passed two bills off the floor related to school safety and the state education board.

Senate Bill 2 seeks to enhance campus security by allowing some veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians." It also calls on school districts to assemble trauma-informed teams to improve mental health interventions. The bill passed 28-10.

Senate Bill 8 would change the process for selecting members of the Kentucky Board of Education. Right now, the governor appoints members to the board. But SB 8 calls for members to be elected from seven districts throughout the state. It cleared the chamber on a 24-14 vote.

Both bills now head to the House, which returned to education on Thursday with a long debate over truancy.

House Bill 611 calls on school officials to file a complaint with the county attorney when a student misses 15 days of school without an excuse. For students in elementary school, the parent would be held responsible.

Lawmakers spared over the impact of the bill, with some saying it would prove too heavy-handed, particularly for vulnerable students struggling with issues at home. Supporters argued that truancy has reached crisis levels and that it demands more accountability. The bill passed 79-15.

On the maternal health front, one major bill gaining momentum this week was House Bill 10, the so-called "momnibus" bill. The measure aims to support maternal and infant health care and reduce the high mortality rate for mothers in Kentucky.

HB 10 would require health plans to cover pregnancy, child birth and postpartum care along with in-home treatment for substance use disorder. It would also require the plans to cover labor and delivery costs and all services and supplies related to breastfeeding.

The House passed the legislation 90-0 Tuesday.

Throughout the week, legislators also focused on multiple bills related to social media and artificial intelligence along with others on guns, vaping and crime. Here's a look at some of the measures gaining traction:

• Animal Abuse: House Bill 258 seeks to strengthen state laws against torturing a dog or cat. That includes stiffer penalties for first-time offenders, who would face a class D felony rather than a misdemeanor charge under the bill. The House passed the measure Monday.
• Legislative Vacancies: Under House Bill 622, vacant seats in the U.S. Senate will be filled through a special election rather than an appointment by the governor. The House approved the measure on Monday.
• School District Task Force: House Concurrent Resolution 81 would establish the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force to study the organizational structures of Kentucky's largest school districts and develop possible recommendations to ensure effectiveness. The House Education Committee passed the measure Tuesday.
• Vaping Product Regulations: Senate Bill 344 would create a regulatory framework to combat underage use of vaping products. It calls on vaping manufactures to register with the state and certify that products comply with federal regulations. The Senate Committee on Licensing and Occupations voted in support of the bill Tuesday.
• State Road Plan: House Bill 266 proposes around 1,700 road projects throughout the state, totaling $5.2 billion in appropriations. The bill cleared the House on Tuesday.
• Social Media: House Bill 463 would require social media platforms to implement multiple safeguards designed to protect minors. That includes regulating algorithms, creating parental controls and shielding minors from pornographic material, among other requirements. HB 463 won support in the House on Tuesday.
• Cursive Handwriting: Senate Bill 167 calls for elementary schools to teach cursive handwriting and ensure that students are proficient in cursive by the end of the fifth grade. The Senate passed the bill Tuesday.
• Child Support: Once a child is born, Senate Bill 110 would allow courts to order child support to cover the prior nine months leading up to that birth. The order must be entered within the first year after the child is born. The bill cleared the Senate on Tuesday.
• Freestanding Birthing Centers: House Bill 199 would exempt some freestanding birthing centers from a regulatory requirement called the "certificate of need." Supporters say that will help ease the opening of centers in Kentucky. The House Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations passed the bill Wednesday.
• Legislative Interference: Under House Bill 626, people who engage in disorderly conduct that prevents the Kentucky General Assembly from conducting business could be charged with a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for a subsequent offense. The bill received a green light from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
• Youth Medical Records: House Bill 174 seeks to ensure that parents have access to their child's medical records. Right now, children ages 13 and older must sign a waiver for parents to have access. HB 174 cleared the House on Wednesday.
• Sex Offenders and Social Media: Senate Bill 249 would require sex offenders who have been convicted of abusing a minor to use their legal name on social media platforms. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday.
• Adult-Oriented Businesses: Senate Bill 147 would prevent adult-oriented businesses from operating near areas where minors might congregate, such as schools, churches, child care facilities and parks. In addition, such businesses would be required to ensure that minors are not exposed to explicit performances. The bill cleared the Senate on Wednesday.
• Sex Crimes: House Bill 207 would create felony penalties for possessing, trafficking, importing or promoting the use of a child sex doll. Offenders who digitally alter photos of children to create child pornography would also face felony charges under the bill. The Senate advanced the bill Wednesday. It now goes back to the House for concurrence.
• Firearms: House Bill 357 would forbid government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also aims to prevent credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for purchases from gun stores. The Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection passed the bill Thursday.
• Adoption Records: House Bill 87 would allow certain adult family members to inspect adoption records after both birth parents or the adoptee have passed away. The legislation won support in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
• School Bus Behavior: House Bill 446 seeks to address disciplinary issues on school buses. Under the bill, every bus rider – and at least one of their parents or guardians – would need to sign a transportation agreement with the district. The agreement would outline expectations for students and parents and explain the consequences for misbehavior. HB 446 cleared the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.
• Autonomous Vehicles: House Bill 7 would create a regulatory framework for operating autonomous vehicles on public highways in Kentucky. The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Labor passed the bill Thursday.
• Nicotine Products: House Bill 11 would align state law with FDA regulations regarding the sale of tobacco products. Specifically, it would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. It would also create penalties for retailers who violate the restrictions. The bill cleared the House Health Services Committee on Thursday.

Looking ahead, many are anticipating more action soon on the state's two-year budget. A slate of budget bills received a second reading on the Senate floor Friday, which sets the stage for additional movement next week.

However, all the bills still need a nod from the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee before lawmakers can advance them to the chamber floor.

The chambers are set to reconvene on Monday for day 48. That leaves 11 days before the lawmakers are scheduled to gavel out for the veto recess.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

In addition, citizens can share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Autonomous vehicle bill wins approval in Senate committee

March 7, 2024

Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, speaks Thursday on behalf of House Bill 7 during a meeting of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee approved legislation Thursday that would provide the framework to allow autonomous vehicles on Kentucky roads.

House Bill 7, sponsored by Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, received approval with an 8-2 vote. Bray said the measure would give the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet the ability to monitor, review and implement the necessary regulations.

"What I can say is we've seen these deployed all across the United States. Our neighbors in Tennessee, West Virginia, states like Florida and Texas, they've not had issues," he said.

The House added a provision in the bill that requires human drivers to remain inside autonomous semitrailers for the first two years after the measure takes effect. Human drivers would monitor the vehicles and intervene if necessary.

Bray said that was one of the biggest concerns he has heard since he proposed the legislation last year.

"I can understand because I've been in that seat. When we're talking about autonomous vehicles, that's kind of a new concept," he said. "But the fact of the matter is that the data shows that we've got a report here from transportation that talks about how their usage will reduce fatalities within Kentucky. The report also talks about how this is a great opportunity for Kentucky."

Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, spoke about the downturn of the coal industry, and asked how much disruption the bill would cause to the trucking industry. He also asked how many people were expected to lose jobs due to the bill.

Bray cited a study showing a shortage of truck drivers.

"Right now, we're down 80,000 truck drivers nationwide. There are 80,000 vacancies as we speak. It's estimated by 2030, that number will double to 160,000 vacancies," he said. "As we look at bringing manufacturing back from China, and as we start shipping more goods across the country, we've noticed a significant bottleneck within the logistics and transportation aspect of things."

Bray said the bill would provide companies the opportunity to utilize autonomous vehicles in varying ways, and at times when humans might not want to be on the road.

"This will not replace the truck driver. I mean as this has been rolled out in other states, it's not replaced the truck driver. It's mainly used to get product from a distribution hub to a specific spot, or a specific retailer. And it's done during shifts that are less likely to be currently filled," he said.

Three members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters testified during the meeting and raised concerns over accident rates for autonomous vehicles. They argued for changes that would require a human driver in all commercial vehicles for safety reasons.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, voted against the bill and said the data he's seen shows many people are still uneasy about highly autonomous vehicles.

"The bill's sponsor indicated that there's still a need for truck drivers in our transportation space today. I think with the fact that this is still new, as indicated, that was unrefuted today that it has a twice higher accident rate than regular drivers in vehicles," he said.

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, asked about how the economy might be affected by autonomous vehicles.

Bray pointed to Waymo, a ride-sharing company similar to Uber. They are also being used in retirement communities to get older adults to banks, doctors' office and pharmacies.

"So, we're not just talking about trucking. This bill doesn't speak to trucking specifically. It just allows a wide breadth of technology across the state," he said.

Bray said the technology could also help those with disabilities and those in rural areas as well as urban locations.

"It will provide an increase in access to transportation to those who ordinarily wouldn't have it," he said.

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said he's grateful for the work Bray has done on the bill.

"And I appreciate the fact that you have a driver in there for two years, which would also give us the opportunity to see how it works in the state and if we need to have any further conversations or legislation on this, we can do so," he said.

House approves truancy bill

March 7, 2024

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, speaks on House Bill 611, which would establish a new procedure for handling truancy, on the House floor. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday that seeks to reduce chronic absenteeism in Kentucky schools.

Sponsor Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, said he wishes House Bill 611 were not needed, but truancy is an issue across Kentucky. He said 38% of children in his district are chronically absent from school.

"House Bill 611 will ensure we identify truancy as early as possible with a 15-day threshold and report those cases to the county attorney for determination of appropriate court action," Bauman said.

The bill would only impact students with unexcused absences, Bauman clarified.

Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, is one of the primary cosponsors of HB 611. He filed a floor amendment to specify that if a child has four or more unexcused absences while on diversion, the child will immediately be considered to have failed diversion. It would also extend the time of a diversion program from six months to 12 months.

The floor amendment also clarifies who would be held responsible for being truant. For kindergarten through fifth-grade students, the parent or guardian would be held responsible.

"Students being in the classroom is that important, and we've got to do everything we can to hold who is responsible for (the truancy) accountable," Truett said.

The House adopted the floor amendment.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, asked Truett what type of complaint a director of pupil personnel would file on the parent or guardian of a kindergarten through fifth-grade student with 15 or more absences. He said it would be educational neglect.

Bojanowski said there are many reasons why a child might be chronically absent outside of being sick or another excused absence. Some children live in homes where parents are going through a divorce and there's custody issues, she said.

"If I thought in my heart that (this bill) would change the behavior and get these kids to school, I would be all for it," she said. "But what I'm really looking for is how we can get to the root reason why our children aren't coming to school."

Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said she finds HB 611 "very concerning." She said she understands the intent of the legislation, but fears it would hurt families who are facing transportation issues, among other problems that can take a while to resolve.

"The current system we have is doing what it needs to do," Herron said, adding the diversion plan Kentucky currently uses is a "national model."

Several lawmakers spoke in favor of HB 611. Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, said the amount of allowed unexcused absences is "too lenient," but he supports HB 611 "wholeheartedly."

"An essential component of what we're trying to do with K-12 is get the child in school," Petrie said. "You cannot educate a child if they're not there to receive the services."

Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said the chronic absenteeism in Kentucky isn't a problem, but a crisis. He urged his colleagues to support HB 611 because some Kentucky school districts have more than 60% of students chronically absent.

"If these children are not at school, how are they going to have the opportunity to succeed in life?" Tipton said. "Sometimes it comes down to accountability and responsibility."

The House passed HB 611 by a 79-15 vote.

Rep. Rachel Roarx, D-Louisville, said she voted "no" on HB 611 because she wants to keep as many families as possible out of the court system.

"The court is there in extreme situations, absolutely," she said. "But we have so many families who are caught in cycles of system involvement and can't get their head above water."

House Minority Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson, D-Lexington, voted "yes" on HB 611.

"I think this is needed … I trust our school personnel to know the difference between kids who are being truant versus kids who truly need help and their families need help," she said, urging for more funding for wraparound services.

HB 611 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House bill seeks to end tobacco sales to minors

March 7, 2024

Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, speaks on House Bill 11 in the House Health Services Committee meeting on Thursday. The bill would crack down on tobacco sales to minors. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Another bill seeking to reduce tobacco use and vaping among Kentucky youth is on the move in the Kentucky House.

Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, presented House Bill 11 to the House Health Services Committee on Thursday. The bill would bring state law in line with the FDA's regulations on tobacco products and improve Kentucky's ability to enforce the law, especially when it comes sales to minors.

Raymer said she began working on the legislation after finding out most products being confiscated at Kentucky schools are flavored and disposable vapes.

"Looking further, I found out these vapes are not even supposed to be offered for sale per the FDA," Raymer added.

Additionally, Congress raised minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 in 2019.

HB 11 would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. The bill would also ban certain tobacco products and set penalties for wholesalers and retailers who violate the restrictions.

Retailers caught selling products to minors would be issued a $100 to $500 fine on the first citation, a $1,000 fine on second citation and a $5,000 fine on a third or subsequent citation. On any fourth or subsequent citation within a two-year period, the retailer would lose the ability to sell Tobacco Control Act products for one year, according to the bill.

HB 11 would not punish minors who buy or attempt to purchase these products, only the adults involved.

Mallory Jones, a high school student from Winchester, spoke in support of HB 11 alongside a few other advocates. She said vaping among Kentucky youth is a serious issue, and addressing the source is critical.

"Kentucky high school students' e-cigarette usage has surpassed that of the national adult rate of cigarette use," Mallory said. "It is an adult's responsibility to protect kids from the harmful effects of nicotine and keep these products out of the hands of me and my peers."

Troy LeBlanc, a tobacco-related retailer and manufacturer, joined a few other industry stakeholders to share their concerns about the legislation. LeBlanc said he supports keeping Kentuckians under 21 away from tobacco products and raising fines for violators, but he has concerns about the plan to ban certain tobacco products altogether.

LeBlanc said HB 11 would effectively ban lower nicotine content products and leave only high nicotine content products on the shelves, which involves only a handful of brands.

Rep. Rachel Roarx, D-Louisville, said she appreciates the bill's goal to keep Kentucky youth away from nicotine products, but she has concerns HB 11 might have unintended consequences on the tobacco and e-cigarette industry.

"I hope we can continue to make progress to make sure that we're not just giving a couple of brands a monopoly on the entire industry," Roarx said.

Raymer said since Congress gave the FDA the authority to regulate the products, it is the state's responsibility to follow the FDA's rules.

"We as a state have an obligation to offer some public protection to our citizens," Raymer said. "If we know these products are not authorized – they're not legal per the FDA – we shouldn't have them on the shelf."

Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, asked Raymer how the bill addresses enforcement. Raymer said HB 11 gives local law enforcement the power to issue citations and report the violations to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which would impose the fines.

The House Health Services Committee approved HB 11 by a 14 to 1 vote with three pass votes.

Rep. Felicia Rabourn, R-Pendleton, voted "no" on the legislation but said she agrees with some provisions in the bill.

"I do want to mention that I agree that we should penalize stores that are selling to minors," Rabourn added. "It is a major problem within our systems and our youth."

Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, said she was going to pass on voting on HB 11, but changed her mind to vote "yes."

"I do share concerns about the nicotine cap and the monopoly… but I guess I'm giving my 'yes' in good faith that these concerns are heard and we're going to address what we can going forward," she said.

HB 11 will now go before the full House for consideration.

Senate passes bill to regulate adult-oriented businesses

March 6, 2024

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, speaks on the Senate floor Wednesday on Senate Bill 147, which would establish statewide rules for operating adult-oriented businesses. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate advanced an amended bill Wednesday that would prevent adult-oriented businesses from operating near areas frequented by children.

Senate Bill 147 focuses on adult arcades, adult book and video stores, adult cabarets and theaters and other establishments that regularly host performances involving sexual conduct.

The bill would prohibit such businesses from operating within 933 feet of a child care facility, children's amusement establishment, park or recreational area, place of worship or a building used for educational purposes.

"We have recently seen performances that historically have been in the adult entertainment space but yet have now moved into the public sector and advertised for all ages, specifically for children," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield.

She said it's in the best interest of the state to create regulations that help guard against the adverse effects of such businesses. That includes increased crime, human trafficking, public indecency, and drug use, among other problems, she said.

"We all know the commonwealth regulates many of our businesses in order to ensure community safety and protection," Tichenor said.

SB 147 would also prohibit outside displays of nudity or sexual conduct, and adult-oriented businesses would be required to adopt policies and procedures to bar minors from gaining access.

The Senate adopted two amendments to the bill Wednesday, including one change that removed the word "drag" from the definition of adult cabaret.

Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, said he thinks that most senators would want to make sure that minors and children aren't exposed to sexually explicit conduct. However, he said he foresees possible constitutional challenges and voted against the measure.

"We want to make sure that minors are not going into strip clubs and those types of facilities," he said.

However, Yates cited concerns that the measure specifically targets drag performances even though the word had been removed.

The bill passed in the Senate 32-6 and now heads to the House.

Minor patient medical record bill advances off House floor

March 6, 2024

Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, speaks on House Bill 174 on the House floor Wednesday. The bill would give parents more access to their child's medical records after the child turns 13. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Currently in Kentucky, children ages 13 and older must sign a waiver for their parent or guardian to access their medical records. House Bill 174 would change that.

Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, is sponsoring the legislation, which advanced off the House floor Wednesday. Raymer said parents from her district drew her attention to the issue.

"House Bill 174 ensures that when a parent or guardian is acting as the personal representative for a minor they maintain access to the child's medical record," Raymer said.

There are exceptions in the legislation.

"The bill does allow for exceptions for times when the records of a minor would be protected under state or federal laws that already exist," Raymer said. "For example: Under HIPAA, if a minor is allowed to act as their own personal representative, the records associated with that care would be protected."

Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, attempted to amend the bill on the House floor to keep mental health and reproductive health care medical records for minors private.

Raymer said the amendment was unnecessary due to HIPAA protections that would remain in place if HB 174 becomes law. The amendment failed.

Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, said she is concerned the legislation would put vulnerable children at risk.

"There are some young kids in our state who live in violent and abusive home situations in which disclosing certain health care records could put them at further harm," Camuel said. "This bill will discourage those in these dangerous situations from seeking the help and the care that they need."

Raymer said she believes this legislation is needed for parents to do their jobs effectively. She also said HIPAA already protects and will continue to protect children in vulnerable situations.

Reading an excerpt from HIPAA on the House floor, Raymer said: "A provider may choose not to treat a parent or guardian as a personal representative when the provider reasonably believes that the child may have been subject to domestic violence, abuse or neglect, or treating the parent as the child's representative could endanger the child."

Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said she worked with Raymer to ensure HIPAA protections remain in place for minors.

"There are very important reasons, medically speaking, why a parent would need to have the right to access a child's records, so I hope everyone keeps that in mind when it's time to vote on this very important measure," Moser said.

The Kentucky House passed House Bill 174 by an 81-15 vote. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Freestanding birthing center bill receives committee approval

March 6, 2024

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, speaks on House Bill 199 before the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee on Wednesday. His legislation would remove barriers for freestanding birthing centers in Kentucky. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Kentucky moms looking to give birth outside a hospital setting would have another option under House Bill 199.

Sponsored by House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, HB 199 would exempt some freestanding birthing centers from the certificate of need requirement and set regulations for the facilities.

Nemes was joined by Mary Kathryn DeLodder with the Kentucky Birth Coalition and midwife Christy Peterson at the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee meeting Wednesday.

"We think that this (bill) is a very safe option for women," Nemes said.

Under HB 199, freestanding birthing centers would only be exempt from the certificate of need requirement if they have no more than four beds. This would remove current barriers that prevent freestanding birthing centers from opening in Kentucky, advocates say.

Another provision would require the centers to be accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birthing Centers and carry malpractice insurance. Additionally, freestanding birthing centers would be required to have a plan for safely transporting a patient to a hospital if needed.

Nemes said a floor amendment is being drafted to address some of the concerns hospitals and physicians have with HB 199.

"I will not seek for this to be moved on the floor without a floor amendment that addresses these issues," Nemes said. "One is a transfer agreement that we think will improve things. Distance from the hospital is another one."

Dr. Alanna Oak, an obstetrician at a hospital in Edgewood, shared some of her concerns with committee about the legislation.

She said in order to make freestanding birthing centers safer, they need physician oversight. Complications can arise during any birth that require hospital and physician intervention, Oak added.

Nemes said while they can agree with four out of the five changes Oak and other stakeholders have requested, he cannot agree to the physician oversight recommendation.

Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, said he has concerns about the safety of freestanding birthing centers when it comes to complications that may arise during birth.

"Time can be very critical, and those situations with the transfer agreement or location of the associated hospital or medical facility may improve those situations when time is very important," Flannery said.

Nemes said there's many "horror stories" about births in any location, but freestanding birthing centers are a safe option for many women.

"These birthing centers are safe. They're all over the country," Nemes added.

The committee approved HB 199 by a 14-0 vote with 5 pass votes.

In explaining his "yes" vote, Rep. Jonathan Dixon, R-Corydon, said he hopes Nemes and others continue to work together on the legislation.

"I do look forward to seeing you guys continue to work together and hopefully make those changes to be agreeable on the floor," Dixon said.

HB 199 now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate passes student safety bill

March 5, 2024

Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, speaks on Senate Bill 2, which would establish a guardian program to help improve school safety. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate advanced a bill Tuesday that would establish a guardian program to help improve school safety.

Senate Bill 2 would allow local education boards to hire some military veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians" starting in the 2025-26 school year. That would help schools cope with a dearth in school resource officers, according to supporters.

SB 2 also includes provisions to enhance mental health interventions in schools with trauma-informed teams. Sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, the legislation won approval with a 28-10 vote and now heads to the House.

Wise said the bill is not seeking to replace or remove any current safeguards and will instead serve as a stopgap measure to help districts that have had trouble hiring school resource officers in recent years.

"We have continued to see a rise in school violence, school disciplinary issues, and unfortunately, also a rise in mental health services in a post-COVID school environment the school administrators, educators and staff bring to us in their stories," he said.

Wise said the bill shows a commitment to both the hardening approach to school safety and the softening approach for a student's well-being to trauma and mental health needs.

Certain honorably discharged U.S. military personnel and retired local, state and federal law enforcement officers would be eligible to serve as guardians.

However, before someone can become a guardian, the candidate must pass a medical examination, a drug screening and an extensive background check. They must complete a psychological screening and weapons training.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said he voted in support of similar legislation in the past, but said he doesn't want to see schools possibly become "armed fortresses." He voted against SB 2.

"We've seen in this county, over the last several years, an increase in school violence, school shootings and mental health concerns," he said. "Yet today, what Senate Bill 2 does is address the problem by saying we want more guns in schools, not less. We want more armed camps in our schools, not less."

Thomas said the legislators need to get to the root of the problem by addressing mental health concerns.

Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, said rather that creating the guardians program, he would prefer for lawmakers to appropriate the money that districts need to hire school resource officers. He's not sure how a guardian would interact within the system that already exists.

"And it again delays our investment in the SROs the school districts need and we've said that they're supposed to have. Let's do that," he said.

However, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said lawmakers do not have perfect choices in the matter and that time is of the essence in active shooter situations. He voted in favor of the bill.

"Would I rather have a trained, armed veteran onside ready to act or would I rather have a highly trained SRO or law enforcement officer five minutes away," he said. "That's the choice we have."

Kentucky House approves 'momnibus' maternal health bill

March 5, 2024

Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, speaks on House Bill 10 – the "momnibus" maternal health legislation – on the House floor on Tuesday. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A bipartisan bill aimed at reducing Kentucky's high maternal mortality rate is one step closer to becoming law.

Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, and Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, are the primary cosponsors of House Bill 10. The Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation on Tuesday.

Also known as the "momnibus" bill – a combination of mom and omnibus – the legislation would take several steps to address maternal health issues.

"Kentucky has the unfortunate ranking as number two in the nation in maternal deaths in the year following childbirth," Moser said on the House floor. "There are several reasons for this, including our high rates of substance use and substance abuse among childbearing age women."

According to Moser, 53% of women who die in the year following childbirth die due to substance use disorder. Other factors affecting Kentucky's high maternal mortality rate include obesity, diabetes, heart disease and mental illness.

"These are all made more difficult during and after pregnancy and can cause dangerous situations," Moser said. "Deaths due to any of these factors are usually preventable. And the ways to prevent these deaths are to identify and treat these diseases early in pregnancy, if not before."

Prenatal care is "crucial" to reducing the maternal mortality rate, Moser said. One way to ensure access to that care is by making pregnancy a qualifying life event for health insurance purposes. HB 10 would do that.

A floor amendment adopted by the House would exempt small group and short-term limited duration plans from providing a special enrollment period for pregnancy. Moser said the change is needed to address concerns from insurers and small business owners.

Another provision would require a health benefit plan to cover in-home treatment for a substance use disorder, maternity care associated with pregnancy, and child birth and postpartum care. Plans would also be required to cover labor and delivery and all breastfeeding services and supplies. Telehealth would also be permitted.

As for mental health care, Moser said HB 10 would establish the Kentucky Lifeline for Moms. The hotline will operate out of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which has already received a grant to implement the program. HB 10 would codify the program.

The lifeline staffed by psychiatrists and psychologists will assist OBGYNs and primary care physicians caring for mothers experiencing a mental health crisis.

HB 10 would also expand the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program by providing mothers and families counseling and education on breastfeeding, lactation and safe sleep and allowing telehealth for those services.

Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, is a co-sponsor of HB 10. She filed legislation in 2023 to make pregnancy a qualifying event for insurance, but the bill did not advance. She thanked Moser for including her idea in HB 10.

"It is important that our women and babies have the ability to access prenatal care as early as possible," Stalker said. "And the fact that pregnancy is now being considered a qualifying life event is going to literally change the lives for so many Kentuckians as well as hopefully decrease the abysmal outcomes that we have."

Tate said she hopes to continue to work with Moser to make sure the services proposed in HB 10 are known by the public and utilized.

"One of my greatest concerns is that services will be available, yet their presence is unknown to the general public," Tate said. "While House Bill 10 will not address all the problems that are facing women and their families, it is certainly a step in the right direction for making Kentucky a better place to work, live and raise a family."

The House approved HB 10 by a 90-0 vote. It will now go before the Senate for consideration.

Bill expanding access to ID, driver's license services advances

March 5, 2024

Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, presents House Bill 434 to the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday. The bill would expand access to ID and driver's license services in the commonwealth. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Some Kentuckians may soon have a way to get a state-issued ID or driver's license closer to home.

The House Transportation Committee approved House Bill 434 on Tuesday. Primary sponsor Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, said the legislation allows a third party to partner with the Transportation Cabinet to issue and renew driver's licenses and personal ID cards.

"Currently, there are 32 regional driver's licensing centers in our state for 120 counties … and that seems wrong," Jackson said. "I know the Transportation Cabinet is doing all they can, we just want to give them another tool in their toolbox."

HB 434 defines a "third party entity" as a business or nonprofit member association. The bill would require the cabinet to establish an application procedure for third parties who wish to offer ID services.

Jackson said the legislation also includes language from Senate Bill 91, which would require the cabinet to establish at least one driver's license regional office within each of Kentucky's senatorial districts. A provision of SB 91 that would establish a driver's license skills test pilot program with Kentucky State Police in five counties has also been added.

The Kentucky Senate unanimously approved SB 91 on Feb. 20.

Several lawmakers had questions about HB 434.

House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, asked Jackson what the fiscal impact of allowing third parties to issue IDs and licenses would be if the legislation became law.

"I agree with the intent of the bill that we definitely need more places to receive their IDs in the state," she added.

Jackson said the third party would be financially responsible for the equipment, not the state.

Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said the current system is "a headache." She asked Jackson if it would be possible for IDs to go back to being issued through the county clerk offices instead of the regional centers.

Jackson and committee chair, Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, said county clerks were included in the original version of the bill, but several factors played into removing that option from the legislation. Blanton said the REAL ID program established by the federal government makes getting an ID a "difficult process."

"Now the clerk's office has to have background investigations, and they have to receive a security clearance for whatever clerk may be issuing (the REAL IDs), and it's costing thousands and thousands of dollars in order to issue these new licenses," Blanton said, adding that a bill to address the issue is forthcoming, but won't be included in HB 434.

Rep. Thomas Huff, R-Shepherdsville, said he's "all for getting more facilities," but wanted to know why a business or nonprofit would want to spend its own money to offer ID services.

Lori Weaver Hawkins, public affairs manager for AAA Clubs in Kentucky, said AAA Clubs in other states have been offering ID services for decades. She said AAA can charge a convenience fee for the service.

As for the customer, Hawkins said members are drawn to the convenience and being able to accomplish multiple things in one visit to a AAA office, like meeting with an insurance agent or travel advisor.

The House Transportation Committee approved HB 434 by a 21-1 vote with one pass vote. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate committee green lights bill to assist foster parents who work remotely

March 5, 2024

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, speaks Tuesday on Senate Bill 240, which would clarify that verified remote work can qualify foster parents to receive a child care subsidy. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Families and Children Committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced a bill to clarify that foster parents who work remotely can receive a child care subsidy.

Senate Bill 240 would decrease barriers facing families who wish to participate in foster care, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, testified. The inability to afford child care should not be the reason people can't provide a loving home, she said.

"We desperately need more foster families in Kentucky, and SB 240 can help us do just that. One of the ways that our state currently supports foster families is by providing child care support to families who participate," she said. "These subsidies help foster families so that they can both work and open their home to a child in need."

Current regulations require people to work outside the home at least 20 hours a week to qualify for the child care support, Chambers Armstrong said.

"But the interpretation of this regulation is inconsistent, and some have interpreted it to mean that families that are teleworking do not qualify for child care support because they are not physically working outside their home. This means that for these families, they cannot afford to become foster parents," she said.

She noted that the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services does not object to the bill, and that inspiration behind SB 240 is Megan Hamilton of Bullitt County, who testified during the meeting.

Hamilton said she wanted to adopt after babysitting years ago for a family with adopted children.

"When I was 22, I was driving home one day and I suddenly envisioned two children, a brother and sister waiting on the courthouse steps for me to pick them up, and that's the moment I knew I was going to be a foster mom," she said. "I began preparing to provide for my foster children by earning my master's degree, building a successful career, paying off my debts and moving to a better home."

Hamilton said she and her husband attended an informational meeting on Feb. 5, and they were told by a social worker that to qualify for a child care subsidy, they both must work outside the home.

She explained she works for a company based in Las Vegas, and as a marketing writer, she doesn't make enough money to commute by private jet. Instead, she telecommutes.

"We were told we would not receive child care assistance because the law is unclear as to whether telecommuting counts as working outside the home or not. This is a barrier for us and for other families like us," she said.

Hamilton said child care can cost several hundred dollars monthly, and many of the state's parents self-report paying $800-$1,000 per child per month.

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said the legislation changes the rules to fit the times.

"I think this could be called a workforce modernization plan because it reflects the new world that we live in," he said. "I appreciate you bringing this to our attention."

Likewise, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, spoke in favor of the measure.

"I will be in court remotely today. I will be in court remotely again tomorrow. I will be in court remotely once again later this week," he said. "I will continue to do that even when I'm not in this legislative seat anymore because it's how I end up practicing law at least a third of my time. There is no reason why this shouldn't already be there."

This Week at the State Capitol

March 1, 2024

Legislators in the Kentucky House of Representatives line up to file bills on Monday, the last day to file new legislation in the House. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — Lawmakers shifted up a gear in the ninth week of the 2024 legislative session, introducing more than 200 new bills in the chambers and advancing a wave of legislation on education and school safety.

It was one of busiest weeks yet for this year's general assembly, and it brought a more complete view of the issues that lawmakers plan to tackle in 2024. That's because Monday was the last day to file new bills in the House, and Wednesday was the last day in the Senate.

The count now totals more than 1,200 bills in the two chambers combined, including two that lawmakers sent to the governor this week – one on hunting and fishing licenses and another on local housing ordinances.

More than any other issue, education seemed to take center stage as lawmakers deliberated over math standards, cursive handwriting, truancy and school bus cameras, among many other topics.

On Wednesday, the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 8, which would change the process for selecting members for the Kentucky Board of Education. Right now, the governor appoints members to the board. But SB 8 calls for members to be elected from seven districts throughout the state.

The bill is headed to the Senate floor along with another key measure on school safety, which won approval in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.

Senate Bill 2 seeks to enhance campus security by allowing some veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians." It also calls on school districts to assemble trauma-informed teams to improve mental health interventions.

Also on Thursday, the House Health Services Committee took up legislation on teaching human development.

House Bill 346 would require school districts to adopt a curriculum on the subject beginning in the sixth grade. That includes showing students a high-definition ultrasound video that explains the growth of vital organs during early fetal stages.

During testimony, lawmakers watched a video – called "Meet Baby Olivia" – that would meet the requirements of the bill. But they disagreed on whether the information in the video is medically accurate. The legislation passed 14-4 and now heads to the House.

A fourth bill generating headlines this week was Senate Bill 147, an act related to adult-oriented businesses.

The legislation would prevent adult-oriented businesses from operating near areas where minors might congregate, such as schools, churches, child care facilities and parks. In addition, such businesses would be required to ensure that minors are not exposed to explicit performances.

The Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection passed the legislation 9-2 after debate over child protection and freedom of expression. It now heads to the Senate floor.

Other measures progressing through the legislature this week include bills on digital privacy, social media, sex crimes, firearms, energy and a host of other issues. Here's a look at some of the bills that were moving:

• Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Senate Bill 5 changes a statute on hunting and fishing licenses for landowners. Prior state law allowed Kentuckians to hunt and fish without a license on their own farmland if the property is at least five acres. However, SB 5 eliminates the acreage requirement. The bill cleared the House floor on Monday and has been signed by the governor.
• Child Abuse: House Bill 278 would ramp up the criminal penalties for offenders who sexually abuse, assault or exploit children. The bill also seeks to prevent people convicted of sex crimes or violent felonies from working in public schools. The House passed the bill Monday.
• Nuclear Energy: Senate Bill 198 would establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state. The Senate advanced the measure Monday.
• School Bus Cameras: House Bill 461 would allow school districts to install cameras on the side of school buses to catch motorists who fail to stop when the stop-arm is deployed. Offenders would face a $500 fine for the first offense and a $1,000 fine for a subsequent offense. The bill received a nod from the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
• Truancy: House Bill 611 calls on school officials to file a complaint with the county attorney when a parent allows an elementary student to miss 15 days of school without an excuse. The bill won support from the House Education Committee on Tuesday.
• Child Support: Once a child is born, Senate Bill 110 would allow courts to order child support to cover the prior nine months leading up to that birth. The order must be entered within the first year after the child is born. The Senate Committee on Families and Children passed the bill Tuesday.
• Local Housing Ordinances: House Bill 18 would prevent local governments from requiring property owners to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance. The bill won final passage in the House on Tuesday and has been sent to the governor.
• Firearms: House Bill 357 would forbid government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also aims to prevent credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for gun stores. The House passed the legislation Tuesday.
• Social Media: House Bill 463 would require social media platforms to implement multiple safeguards designed to protect minors. That includes regulating algorithms, creating parental controls and shielding minors from pornographic material, among other requirements. It passed out of the House Small Business and Information Technology Committee on Wednesday.
• Math Education: House Bill 162 seeks to improve numeracy in Kentucky. It would reform early education math standards and provide more professional development for teachers. The bill would also create multitiered support systems for struggling students. The House passed the legislation Wednesday.
• Privacy: House Bill 45 would establish privacy protections from electronic surveillance, including new rules for using drones, micro-tracking and automated license plate readers. It would also regulate the use of artificial intelligence to create "deepfakes." The House passed the measure Wednesday.
• Research Consortiums: Senate Bill 1 would create an endowment fund to support collaborative research consortiums in Kentucky. The legislation cleared the Senate on Wednesday.
• Sex Offenders and Social Media: Senate Bill 249 would require sex offenders who have been convicted of abusing a minor to use their legal name on social media platforms. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the measure Thursday.
• Sex Crimes: House Bill 207 would create felony penalties for possessing, trafficking, importing or promoting the use of a child sex doll. Offenders who digitally alter photos of children to create child pornography would also face felony charges under the bill. HB 207 cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday.
• Cursive Handwriting: Senate Bill 167 calls for elementary schools to teach cursive handwriting and ensure that students are proficient in cursive by the end of the fifth grade. The Senate Education Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
• Consumer Data Privacy: House Bill 15 would establish new privacy protections for digital consumers. It would allow consumers to review and correct any data that companies collect on them. Consumers could also refuse to have their data sold, and they could demand that their data is deleted. It cleared the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Labor on Thursday.
• School Bus Behavior: House Bill 446 seeks to address disciplinary issues on school buses. Under the bill, every bus rider – and at least one of their parents or guardians – would need to sign a transportation agreement with the district. The agreement would outline expectations for students and parents and explain the consequences for misbehavior. The House passed the bill Friday.

Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Frankfort on Monday for day 43 of the 60-day session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

In addition, citizens can share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

School guardian program bill advances

February 29, 2024

Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, speaks on Senate Bill 2, which would establish a guardian program to help improve school safety. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A bill that seeks to enhance school safety by allowing some veterans and former police officers to serve as school "guardians" received approval Thursday from the Senate Education Committee.

Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, is sponsoring the measure, Senate Bill 2. It cleared the committee with a 10-1 vote and is headed to the Senate floor for consideration. One committee member cast a pass vote.

The legislation would allow local education boards to hire school guardians to supplement school resource officers starting next year. SB 2 also includes provisions to enhance mental health interventions with trauma-informed teams.

"With this, the General Assembly can show their commitment to both the hardening approach to student safety and a softening approach to a student's well-being to trauma and their mental health needs," Wise said.

He testified that the bill is not seeking to replace or remove any current safeguards and will instead serve as a stopgap measure to help districts that have had trouble hiring resource officers in recent years.

The program would be an option, not a requirement. Those eligible to serve as guardians would include certain honorably discharged U.S. military personnel and retired local, state and federal law enforcement officers.

Before someone can become a guardian, the candidate must pass a medical examination, a drug screening and an extensive background check. They must complete a psychological screening and weapons training.

Regarding mental health, SB 2 would facilitate trauma-informed teams consisting of school administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, community-based mental health service providers, school nurses, SROs and other district personnel to assist with mental health issues affecting students.

The bill calls on districts to submit a report on their team's activities to state officials each year.

"I don't know how long I will be in my position as a state legislator," Wise said. "I will tell you this: I will always fight to protect our children in the commonwealth."

Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, said he likes the collaboration, informed approach and mental health provisions of the bill. But he cast a pass vote, saying that he didn't have enough information.

Neal also said he didn't see any provisions in the bill on acclimating guardians to school practices or interaction with children. "A school has to be a welcoming place and a place of interaction. It has to be a place where folks have connectivity."

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, said he was a police officer for 24 years and expressed concerns about certain provisions in the measure.

"I don't have any issues with the retired troopers, and I'm assuming with retired special law enforcement officers you're referring to those that have worked in the schools," he said. "So, my concerns are most specific to veterans. And not to be disrespectful to any veterans, I have the utmost respect – different training, different mission and we, as a law enforcement agency, we recruited veterans."

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, voted for the measure but said the problem in Kentucky and the United States is guns.

"We have a gun access problem. We have a gun violence problem, and the only way we're really going to resolve this is to stop it at the root and stop access to guns and make sure those people who have guns are using them responsibly," he said.

House committee approves Baby Olivia Act

February 29, 2024

Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, speaks on House Bill 346 before the House Health Services Committee on Thursday. The bill would mandate Kentucky students be shown a video on human development beginning in the sixth grade. A high-res version can be found here.

FRANKFORT — More education on human development could be coming to Kentucky schools.

House Bill 346 – also known as the Baby Olivia Act – advanced from the House Health Services Committee on Thursday. Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, is the primary sponsor of the legislation. She said the bill would require school districts to adopt curriculum on human growth and development beginning in the sixth grade.

"This act is important for children and, for that matter, adults to understand human development," Tate said.

The bill is named the Baby Olivia Act for one of the recommended animated videos on human growth and development that is available to school districts. Tate said showing the Baby Olivia video is not a requirement, but an option.

Under HB 346, the instruction on human growth and development shall include a presentation of a high-definition ultrasound video at least three minutes long showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs and other vital organs in early fetal development.

The bill also mandates an age-appropriate, high-quality computer-generated rendering or animation showing the process of human cell fertilization and every stage of human development from pregnancy to birth be included in the curriculum.

Co-sponsor Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, said parents would have the option to opt their child out of viewing the videos. Schools would have to notify parents at least two weeks in advance. Parents would need to sign a permission slip before their child could participate in the lesson.

"I want to be clear that this isn't infringing on any parental rights, and this is recommended curriculum," Callaway said.

Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, said she is passionate about human growth and development education as a former teacher on the subject. After viewing the Baby Olivia video during the committee meeting, Willner said the video isn't entirely medically accurate.

"There's so much information in there that is wrong," Willner said. "… I think we're doing our kids real harm by promoting this particular (video) and calling this bill the Baby Olivia law. It is certainly very clear what the intention is, and I'm very uncomfortable with that."

Rep. Lindsay Burke, D-Lexington, said she also found the Baby Olivia video to be inaccurate. She said she would prefer to see the bill require medically accurate curriculum on sexual health and reproduction.

"If you would like to work on trying to make Kentucky a healthier state, let's scrap this and start from the beginning," she said.

Callaway disagreed with Willner and Burke's comments about the bill's intent to spread inaccurate information.

"I'm not sure exactly how this is even controversial," Callaway said. "The intent of the bill is education."

When voting "yes" on the legislation, Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, said, "Education is key."

Committee vice-chair Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, also voted yes on HB 346. He said he "absolutely loved" the Baby Olivia video.

"When I watched it, it tugged at my heart," Dotson said. "It showed that there was not just a clump of cells inside of a woman – that it was a growing, living child. So for that reason I support it fully."

The House Health Services Committee voted 14 to 4 to approve HB 346. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Bill calls for education board to be elected rather than appointed

February 28, 2024

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, testifies Wednesday on Senate Bill 8 during a Senate State and Local Government Committee meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate State and Local Government Committee green lighted a measure Wednesday that would change the composition of the Kentucky Board of Education from gubernatorial appointees to elected members.

Sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, Senate Bill 8 received approval with a 9-2 vote and now heads to the Senate floor.

"We currently have 171 school districts where all of their boards are elected, every single one of them. This is the only board of education that is appointed by the governor," Wilson said. "This would change this board to be an elected board."

Wilson said 14 board members would be elected from Kentucky's seven Supreme Court districts – two from each district. The elections would not take place until 2026, and they would coincide with the regular elections of the General Assembly, he said.

"It would be alternating just like it is for the Senate," he said. "That way, you're replacing seven board members every two years. They would serve out 4-year terms, but the first one would only serve a 2-year term until it gets going."

The president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the secretary of the state Education and Labor Cabinet would remain on the board as ex-officio, non-voting members. The board would also include a teacher and student as non-voting members.

The commissioner of education would serve as the board secretary and could vote in the event of a tie.

Wilson said opponents of the bill have criticized it as political. But the board was created as an independent body, and every governor since has sought to influence education policy, he said.

"I think it's time that we made them accountable to the people that actually put their kids in our schools, and that is what this bill would do," Wilson said.

He added that it would give more voice to rural parents and provide more geographic diversity.

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, voted against the measure, and said party politics have no place in classrooms.

"In fact, there are only five school districts by my research that have partisan elections for their boards of education, and so for that reason, I vote no," she said.

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, voted for the bill, but said she's heard concerns about third party, independent money in those races that will have an influence on what voices get out and what message gets heard.

"And I think that does give me pause on how some of those races might be decided. But I certainly appreciate the intent of what you're trying to do with the bill," she said to Wilson.

Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, also voted for the bill and said he's old enough to remember when he had an elected school board superintendent, and "making him appointed has not changed or helped education since then. It's only gone downhill."

Bill to protect minors using social media advances

February 28, 2024

Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, speaks on House Bill 463 before the House Small Business and Information Technology Committee on Wednesday. The bill would require certain social media companies to protect minor users by regulating algorithms and protecting their private information, among additional requirements. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Social media platforms would be required to shield minors from harm under House Bill 463.

The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, presented the legislation to the House Small Business and Information Technology Committee on Wednesday. She said HB 463 would require certain social media companies to protect minors by regulating algorithms and protecting their private information, among additional requirements.

"Social media companies must ensure its internal controls are designed to prevent users under the age of 18 from being exposed to obscene matter," Dietz said. "The digital service providers (would be) required to create parental controls that allow a parent or guardian to control privacy settings and monitor and limit the amount of time their child spends on the platform."

Additionally, HB 463 would require social media companies to end targeted advertising for minors, block certain in-app purchases from minors, shield minors from pornographic and other obscene materials and cease collecting certain data on minor users.

"House Bill 463 is not a government initiative that requires age verification or parental consent to access constitutionally protected speech," Dietz said. "Instead, it gives parents and caregivers additional tools to keep their children safe online, including the ability to temporarily or permanently deactivate the child's account."

Dietz was joined by a mother named Jen who did not disclose her last name to protect her family's privacy. She told the committee that her son was targeted by an adult male on an online social gaming platform for children last year.

"Our whole family has been completely traumatized by this because my son could have disappeared," Jen said.

During discussion, several lawmakers had a few questions about certain provisions of HB 463.

Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, thanked Dietz for her work on the bill and asked her to elaborate on the age verification component of the legislation.

Under HB 463, social media companies would be required to ask the age of the individual signing up for an account. Acknowledging that minors could lie, Dietz said the bill would allow parents to notify the social media company of their child's actual age upon discovery of the account.

The bill does not require users to show proof of age upon registration. When drafting the legislation, Dietz said she looked at current litigation against social media companies and what other states are doing.

"In looking through all the litigation, we felt that this was the best way to possibly handle (age verification)," Dietz said.

Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, asked if the bill lays out any penalties for social media companies. Dietz said enforcement would lie with the attorney general's office.

Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, said she supports HB 463 and hopes the legislature can come back in the future to make the protections for minors stronger as certain court cases are decided.

"(I hope that) we are able to come back and revisit this issue to strengthen the requirements and the enforcement of some of this for these companies and not just leave it up to them," Kulkarni said.

The House Small Business and Information Technology Committee voted 14-0 to approve HB 463. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

School bus stop-arm camera bill moves forward

February 27, 2024

Cutline: Rep. David Hale, R-Wellington, speaks on House Bill 461 before the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday. The bill would legalize school bus stop-arm cameras and increase penalties for violators. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bill allowing school districts to install school bus stop-arm cameras is getting another chance.

The House Transportation Committee approved House Bill 461 on Tuesday. Rep. David Hale, R-Wellington, filed similar legislation in 2022. He said he hopes this year's bill gains approval from both chambers and becomes law.

Hale said he took the past into consideration when drafting HB 461. In addition to allowing districts to install stop-arm cameras, the bill establishes fines for violators.

"There are a couple of changes from last time … I actually increased the first penalty. If you are convicted of passing a bus and the camera showed that happening, the penalty would be $500 on the first offense," Hale said, adding the fine would be $1,000 on the second or subsequent offense.

Under HB 461, stop-arm cameras would only be allowed to be in operation while the stop-arm is in use and would not be a continuous, live feed to law enforcement. Camera footage would be required to be deleted within 31 days and would not be admissible for any other offense. Additionally, the bill would establish an appeals process.

Hale said he is passionate about HB 461 becoming law.

"We are attempting to protect the most vulnerable – children – getting on and off the school bus, and I think it's just really, really important," Hale said.

Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, said he appreciates Hale's due diligence and the changes he's made to the legislation.

"Some of the changes you've made are very good changes," Fleming said, adding he'd like to see the collected fines go back to the school districts.

Hale said he would be open to the idea.

Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, also said he appreciates Hale's work on HB 461, but he has concerns about the stop-arm camera footage not being a live feed to law enforcement.

"I think that's great to enforce safety, but handing that duty off to the computer is a grave, grave concern," Hodgson said.

Hodgson said he also has concerns about the civil penalty enforcement provision of the bill that would allow code enforcement instead of district court to handle violations.

Hale said very few counties have a code enforcement board, and the issue would go to the district court for the ones that don't.

Two lawmakers said they have firsthand experience with school bus stop safety.

Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, is a Fayette County Public Schools employee. She said if a student is hit by a car, part of her job is to notify the district's emergency team. Camuel said she thinks HB 461 is important legislation.

"Safety of our children is imperative, and I think that's something we all want," she added.

Rep. Wade Williams, R-Earlington, said as a retired police officer, he knows how difficult it can be to hold stop-arm violators accountable.

"Bus drivers deal with students trying to get kids off and trying to catch a license plate, and they might not know if it's a silver car or gray car," Williams said. "I think this does a good job of capturing that, and hopefully increasing the enforcement of that. I think it's a good bill."

The House Transportation Committee voted 23-1 on HB 461. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate Families and Children Committee passes child support bill

February 27, 2024

Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, speaks Tuesday on Senate Bill 110, which would allow retroactive child support after a child's birth. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously approved an amended bill Tuesday that would allow child support to be retroactively collected from the moment of conception.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, told the committee that child support obligations should start when life begins, "and I think we ought to be able to go after that."

Once a child is born, Senate Bill 110 would allow courts to order child support to cover the prior nine months leading up to that birth. The order must be entered within the first year after the child is born.

The original bill would have allowed child support at any time following conception. However, Westerfield said it was revised to work retroactively after discussions with the committee chairman and others.

Westerfield said he has spoken with the Kentucky County Attorneys Association about costs related to the bill. He said child support programs are entirely funded by federal dollars and that reporting requirements for reimbursement are strict.

Federal guidelines only allow child support to be collected once a child is born, and county attorneys could not use those federal resources to enforce orders before then, he explained.

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, the committee's chair, said it's unchartered waters if retroactivity would prevent them from receiving any funding. But he said he likes the bill from a moral perspective.

"That's where life starts, and that's where that obligation to take care of that child should begin. And I think it's a fundamental fairness issue that we do this," he said.

Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, told Westerfield he really likes what the bill is designed to do. However, he also cited concerns over resources for county attorneys and asked how much the change would cost.

Westerfield said he didn't know yet, but said it's worth asking prosecutors or the courts for data.

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, also voted for the bill, but said she reserves the right to vote against it later.

"I had concerns that the prior version had created an in utero cause of action that could have had some downstream consequences like what we saw in Alabama," she said. "This version addresses my concerns, and that's because the cause of action only arises after there has been a healthy birth of a child and then you can retroactively seek support."

Senate advances nuclear energy development bill

February 26, 2024

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, speaks Monday on Senate Bill 198, which would create a state agency on nuclear energy. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Legislation to create a new state agency on nuclear energy advanced unanimously off the Senate floor Monday.

Sponsored by Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, Senate Bill 198 would establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state.

A 30-member advisory board comprised of government leaders, energy experts and others would oversee the agency. It would be attached to the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research for administrative purposes.

"This bill does not take steps to bring a nuclear reactor to the commonwealth today, tomorrow, next week, next month," Carroll said. "But what it does is lay a strong foundation and gets the commonwealth prepared to be able to recruit nuclear reactors to the commonwealth and to create an every-bit-as important a nuclear ecosystem within the commonwealth that will bring other business and industry to our state."

The bill reflects work from a nuclear energy work group that brought together academics, utility and nuclear experts, and environmental advocates to study the issue in 2023.

Once created, the authority would study workforce and educational needs to support the nuclear ecosystem in Kentucky. It would also oversee a site suitability study to identify potential locations for nuclear reactors and facilities.

Among many other provisions, the bill also calls for the Cabinet for Economic Development to create and implement a financial assistance program fund for nuclear energy-related projects.

Over the next few decades, nuclear energy will become the primary baseload source of energy in the world, Carroll said.

"I don't want anyone to be misled or to think that this bill is in any way being critical of coal, natural gas, any of the renewables, any other source of energy that we utilize at this point. I believe that Kentucky needs to continue forward with an all-of-the above approach," Carroll said.

Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, voted for the measure and said it's time for Kentucky to pursue nuclear energy.

"I'm for moving into this area of nuclear. I think it's absolutely essential that we start moving this direction," he said, adding he's not voting on any specific dollar amount that would be used for its development.

Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, said she voted for the measure because Kentucky needs to diversity its energy sources. As a former coal miner, she said she never thought she'd serve on a nuclear energy working group.

"We spent a lot of time, a lot of hours along with the different people, agencies, stakeholders to formulate this bill. And hopefully, we'll continue to formulate an energy policy that I know is important…but also that Kentucky has been woefully inadequate with, as well as the federal government," she said.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, voted for the bill and also said Kentucky needs to diversify.

"Kentucky needs an all-of-the-above energy policy. We need coal. We need gas. We need solar. We need hydro. We need nuclear. And very quickly, there will be coming a time where we don't have enough for our citizenry, and we don't have enough for economic development," he said. "And that may be now. As some economic development projects maybe even went to other states because we cannot guarantee them clean, affordable energy, and that's already happening in my opinion," he said.

Child labor law bill clears House floor

February 22, 2024

Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, speaks on House Bill 255 – a bill that would align state child labor law with federal law – on the House floor Thursday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bill that would give Kentucky teens more work-hour flexibility cleared a major hurdle Thursday.

The Kentucky House of Representatives approved House Bill 255 by a 60-36 vote. Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, serves as the primary sponsor of the legislation. He said Kentucky's current child labor laws are restrictive, and his legislation would change that.

"Our legislation simply seeks to remove these barriers, aligning state regulations with federal standards, therefore allowing our teenagers the same opportunity as their peers in nearly half the states in our union," Pratt said.

Under HB 255, some restrictions on work hours for 16- and 17-year-olds would be lifted, but the bill would still prohibit them from working certain jobs with a few exceptions.

Federal occupational safety laws already prohibit teens from working many occupations, Pratt said. Those occupations include manufacturing jobs other than clerical work, coal mining, forest firefighting, logging, roofing, work in alcohol distilleries and bottling plants, and most jobs that require operating heavy machinery like a forklift.

Exceptions would be allowed for teens who are enrolled in an apprenticeship or a student-learning program, according to the bill.

The bill would also keep restrictions on work hours for workers under the age of 16, but with some exceptions. Those exceptions include being enrolled in a work-study program, being a high school graduate or having a child to support.

During an hour-long debate on the bill, Pratt said HB 255 has the potential to improve graduation rates and workforce participation rates, among other benefits.

"Studies show that providing youth with meaningful work opportunities can significantly reduce youth crime rates and contribute to a more stable and prosperous society," he said.

Some lawmakers disagreed. Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, said HB 255 is discriminatory and will lead to child exploitation.

"This bill targets low-income kids, migrants – the ones new to America, the ones who need to help their families cover living expenses and whose parents lack positional power and social capital and white privilege," Raymond said.

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, said he is also concerned about the impact of HB 255 on Kentucky's teenagers, especially when it comes to their education.

"While the intention of this bill may be to bolster the economic activity and address worker shortages, this legislation will result in a decrease in our student performance and an increase in our student dropout rates," he said. "… We need to focus on keeping kids in school, not pushing them out into the workforce prematurely."

House Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade, R-Stanford, spoke in support of HB 255. He and Pratt said the bill does not force children to get a job and does not take away a parent's right to make decisions for their child. Truancy laws would also still be in effect.

"Parents still have every right to their children how long they can work, how many hours they can work, and they don't have to exit school to go to work … I would encourage the members of the body to vote for the bill," Meade said.

Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, said he also supports HB 255. He's seen from his own child that 16- and 17-year-olds can handle the responsibility of balancing school, extra curriculars and a job.

"Let these 16- and 17-year-olds get out there and do this," Koch said. "They can manage this. We don't give them enough credit for what they're capable of doing, and I encourage everyone to support this."

HB 255 will now go before the Senate for consideration.

Senate committee approves endowed research fund bill

February 22, 2024

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, speaks Thursday on Senate Bill 1. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced a bill Thursday that would create an endowment fund for research consortiums in Kentucky.

Senate Bill 1 would set up five different consortium accounts for cutting-edge research administered by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE).

The CPE would study possibilities for research and set up an administrative process. At the end of five years, the effort will be reviewed to make sure all metrics are being met, said the bill's sponsor, Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester.

Stivers said his daughter is a master's level biomedical engineer who helped inspire the legislation. The goal, he said, is to create something similar to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership that exists between Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"They created a totally different type of research culture there and were bringing in what would be called investigators and researchers and bringing in a lot of high-dollar investments, which totally changed the region," he said.

Stivers said his daughter and others are working to see if they can get rats with severed spinal columns to walk again – one illustration of the importance of science in Kentucky.

He also mentioned states where science is put at the forefront. He said the University of Pittsburg Medical Center is the largest employer in Pennsylvania, and it's the second largest recipient in the U.S. for National Institutes of Health research funding. That allowed them to become an academic and intellectual incubator in research, he said.

The bill was well received in committee.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said the SB 1 is visionary and it has his unconditional support.

"As a lifelong Kentuckian, it's always been my observation that we talk a lot about being champions in the arena of athletics," he said "And while there's nothing wrong about that, I wish we talked more about being champions in the arena of academics. That's really what I want for Kentuckians is to be academic champions, and that's what this bill really does."

Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Givens, R-Greensburg, said he's a huge fan of the possibilities the bill could spur.

"Wonderful vision. You and I have discussed this on and off over the years, and it's a testament to you and your passion for this state as a whole that this has come to fruition," he said to Stivers.

Givens suggested Stivers think about adding language about council preference being given to unique, collaborative arrangements and that the funding would be dispersed to varying schools.

Another supporter, Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said the bill offers an "exciting concept."

"In terms of funding streams, this certainly looks like it lends itself to public-private partnerships," he said.

Stivers said such investments are needed to move Kentucky into the future on health care, economics and research. "And it will totally change the educational and economic dynamics of this state," he said.

Senate committee advances legislation on synthetic media

February 21, 2024

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, speaks Wednesday on behalf of Senate Bill 131, which relates to synthetic media A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT —The Senate State and Local Government Committee approved bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would prohibit the use of synthetic media in political communications.

Senate Bill 131 advanced with a 10-1 vote, and Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, and Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, testified in favor of the bill. Both legislators are sponsoring the measure.

SB 131 takes aim at people who try to alter the outcome of an election through deep fakes or synthetic media. A handful of states passed similar legislation last year, and over 30 have introduced bills in 2024, Mays Bledsoe said.

The bill defines synthetic media as an image, audio recording or video recording of an identifiable person that has been digitally manipulated to create a realistic, but false understanding of that person's appearance, action or speech.

Mays Bledsoe said deceptive or manipulative campaigning has been around for decades, but technology has become so fast and easy to use that it allows the truth to be altered. She pointed to a recent robocall in which a synthetic version of President Joe Biden's voice told voters to avoid the polls in New Hampshire.

"When the voter hears my voice on the radio, sees my ad, or receives a robocall, there should be some assurance that it's actually me," she said.

Thomas said it's critical for Kentucky's elections to be honest and free from distortions.

"As I've said throughout the interim session last year, the reason we have this information in elections is because of AI. They're using artificial intelligence to create these kinds of distortions on our society," he said.

Thomas said he readily cosponsors the bill.

"Really, this needs to be done at the federal level. Congress needs to act. But Congress hasn't done so thus far, so we see states acting in this space," he said.

Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, voted against the measure, citing concerns that, among other issues, it's limited only to candidates, committees or political parties.

Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, asked if the bill would be improved by having an emergency clause to avoid problems during the May primary. She asked Mays Bledsoe if she would entertain an amendment on the Senate floor, and Mays Bledsoe said she would be open to that conversation.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he wishes the federal government would act on the synthetic media issue, but it's left to the states to lead. He said the bill is a good start.

"There are enough obfuscations and manipulations that occur naturally in campaigns, and I think the fact that you're trying to get out ahead of the AI possibilities is notable," he said.

Religious freedom litigation bill receives committee approval

February 21, 2024

Rep. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, speaks to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday about his religious freedom litigation bill, House Bill 47. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT —The House Judiciary Committee voted in favor of legislation on Wednesday that would expand a person's ability to pursue civil action against the government for infringing on their religious freedoms.

Rep. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, said House Bill 47 seeks to update the state's current Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Rawlings is the primary sponsor of the legislation.

"They're commonly called RFRAs and ensure Kentuckians are free to live and work according to their faith without fear of being unjustly punished by their government," Rawlings said.

HB 47 does not create new rights, Rawlings said, adding the legislation would codify existing judicial standards.

"HB 47 ensures that Kentucky courts will use the most accommodating language to ensure that religious Kentuckians have a fair day in court," Rawlings said. "These definitions (in the bill) will ensure that Kentuckians can be heard if any part of the government burdens their religious practices."

One of the legal terms more narrowly defined in HB 47 is "substantially burden." That term would be defined as "any action that directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails or denies the exercise of religion by any person or compels any action contrary to a person's exercise of religion."

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, is a co-sponsor of HB 47. He said the legislation was inspired in part by a Muslim woman in Louisville.

Several years ago, the woman, who was in police custody, was required to take off her hijab in front of male police officers. The officers then took her booking photo, and the photo was made publicly available. The woman sued, claiming religious liberty infringement, but her case was dismissed by the courts.

While Nemes supports HB 47, he said he does have concerns the bill may weaken fairness ordinances that have been passed by some local governments across the state. The worry is someone may use the law to say their religion gives them the right to discriminate.

"We have a lot of people who are worried that it's going to go too far and infringe on their rights, so I don't know where the right equilibrium is where we can satisfy both interests and protect this Muslim woman and people like her and also not go too far and effectively obliterate fairness ordinances," Nemes said.

Rawlings said he is committed to making sure the bill does not target individuals protected by fairness ordinances.

A few lawmakers said they worry HB 47 might be used to justify abusive conduct, like animal cruelty or child abuse. Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, asked if HB 47 would undo the female genital mutilation (FGM) ban the general assembly passed in 2020 since FGM is sometimes a religious tradition.

Greg Chafuen, legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, testified alongside Rawlings. He said there's already legal precedent that says abusive conduct is not a protected religious practice.

In explaining her "no" vote on HB 47, Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, said she may change her vote later in the process, but she would like to see some changes to the bill first.

"I understand the intent. I believe Representative Rawlings and what his intent is, and I agree with Representative Nemes that we may need to tighten up some definitions," she said.

Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, also voted "no" on HB 47. She said she appreciates Rawlings's commitment to making some changes to the bill, but she still has concerns.

"We live in a society where discrimination exists, and the legislation that we're voting on in committee today is overbroad," Kulkarni said. "It's unnecessary … The freedom to exercise religion does not mean the freedom to discriminate."

Before voting "yes" on HB 47, Committee Chair Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, said he would be supporting the effort to make sure HB 47 does not have negative, unintended consequences.

"I don't think any of us here want to open a floodgate of lawsuits, or, for that matter, to invalidate what local cities have done across Kentucky," Elliott said. "I don't think any of us are here to do that."

HB 47 advanced from the committee by a 14-6 vote. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate debates, approves housing bill

February 20, 2024

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, speaks Tuesday on behalf of House Bill 18 on the Senate floor. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bill that would prevent local governments from requiring landlords to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance has cleared a key hurdle and is edging closer to final passage in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The Senate voted 25-11 Tuesday to advance the measure off the chamber floor and send it back the House of Representatives for a final vote.

The legislation – House Bill 18 – underwent changes in a Senate committee last week, which means the House must vote to concur on the latest wording before the bill can move forward. The new version of the bill reflects language from a similar measure, Senate Bill 25.

In addition to the provision about housing assistance, HB 18 would also prevent local governments from requiring landlords to pay fees related to emergency response calls to their property.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, presented the legislation on the Senate floor, explaining that it would expand on the Senate version, which focused on Section 8 housing, to include funding from any federal housing assistance program.

"We've seen the bill before on this floor, Senate Bill 25, a bill dealing with landlord-tenant law, evictions and Section 8. House Bill 18 with committee (substitute) attached is a combination of the two bills," he said.

Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, is primary sponsor of HB 18.

Lawmakers have debated both bills throughout the session. Supporters say federal housing programs often come with onerous rules that interfere with property rights and can harm property values.

Critics say the issue should be left to local communities that are struggling to solve the housing crisis and that such measures can harm low-income Kentuckians.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said Tuesday that HB 18 is "aimed directly at the people of Lexington, Kentucky and Fayette County."

"Just last week, the urban county council of Fayette County voted by an overwhelming margin of 13-2 to oppose a source of income discrimination ban in that county," he said. "And those duly elected council people did so because they were trying to address a major problem in their community, which is affordable housing."

Thomas, who voted against the bill, said affordable housing in Kentucky has historically been treated as a local issue, and that many of those who use Section 8 vouchers are African Americans. He called the legislation "back door discrimination."

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said the bill is preempting a local ordinance, and the latest version of the legislation is a more harmful bill than Senate Bill 25.

"The bill before us not only prohibits local governments from acting against discrimination against Section 8 tenants, but it also includes anyone using any sort of federal housing assistance. That means that this bill sanctions discrimination against our veterans, who are using vouchers designed to assist them," she said.

Chambers Armstrong said it's not true that participating in federal housing programs would force landlords to accept lower rent payments.

However, Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, defended the legislation as a move to uphold constitutional rights.

"I'm for local control. Always have been. But, local government, just like state and federal government, sometimes try to violate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights," he said. "And if you want to talk about discrimination, what's happening in Lexington is discrimination against the free market and the men and women who are in the business of being landlords and renting property to the citizens of Fayette County."

West said that people have to remember who owns the property at issue.

"This is not the city of Louisville's property. This is not the city of Lexington's property. This is the landlord's property. This is property that they've bought and they've paid for," he said. "And they are in the best position to know how to use that property. They are in the best position to know what types of federal programs to accept or not accept."

House committee advances bill to improve school bus behavior

February 20, 2024

Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, left, and Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, listen to a question about their bill – House Bill 446 – to improve behavior on school buses. They testified on the legislation Tuesday before the House Education Committee. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Bus drivers and school districts across the commonwealth say poor student behavior on school buses is a serious issue. The House Education Committee approved a bill Tuesday that seeks to change that.

House Bill 446 – sponsored by Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, and Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville – would require several things from school districts, students and parents in relation to school bus behavior and safety.

"The purpose of this bill is to make sure that our bus drivers are heard, protected and respected and that our children are transported in a safe environment," Callaway said.

Callaway said she and Bratcher spoke to school bus drivers in their district on the issues drivers face. Those issues were discipline, the responses from administrators to disciplinary issues and parent or guardian behavior at bus stops.

HB 446 would require districts to develop a transportation policy agreement. Students and at least one parent or guardian per student would have to sign the policy agreement within seven days, acknowledging they've read the policy and will abide by it.

"This policy also addresses parent and guardian behavior, emphasizing that they will be liable if they become aggressive or create an unsafe environment for the drivers or the riders," Callaway said.

Using Jefferson County as an example, Callaway said the district had 1,126 reported incidents of a student striking another student on a school bus last semester. She also said one principal in Bullitt County reported viewing two to six offense videos from buses per day compared to one to two videos per week a few years ago.

"We want to empower our drivers and encourage our administrators to listen to the voices of the drivers and to handle things in an expedient fashion," Callaway added.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, asked Callaway if she would consider changing the bill so that young students who are not old enough write their name or read, do not have to sign the agreement.

Callaway said she thinks requiring all students to sign the agreement is important so parents have an opportunity to explain what type of behavior is expected on school buses.

Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, said he likes the parent accountability piece of HB 446. He said as the legislature continues to have a conversation about public school transportation, he'd like to discuss bus driver training, cameras on buses and bus monitors.

"We have first time bus drivers with 40 and 50 kids on there with no management background whatsoever," Timoney said, adding that cameras are not a preventative measure, but only a way to help hold students accountable. He said bus monitors – or more adults on buses – deter bad behavior.

Committee Vice-Chair Timmy Truett, R-McKee, said he appreciates that HB 446 forces some school districts to "step up and do their job."

"We have to hold kids accountable, and then the flip side of that is we also have to hold parents accountable, so thank you for the legislation," Truett said. "I'll support it 100%."

The House Education Committee approved HB 446 by a 15-0 vote with three pass votes. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

February 16, 2024

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, gives a thumbs up during a roll call vote on the Senate floor Friday A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — The 2024 legislative session is halfway over, deadlines are looming to file new bills, and lawmakers continue to ramp up the action on the House and Senate floors.

The Kentucky General Assembly hit the midpoint of the 60-day session on Tuesday and remained busy throughout the week as crowds poured into the Capitol Annex and members labored through hours of testimony in committee.

Lawmakers have found plenty to agree on this session so far. Bills on suicide prevention, adoption records, teacher misconduct and income insurance have all won broad, bipartisan support in the House.

The Senate has likewise found bipartisan unity on bills related to death certificates, distilled spirits, foster care and the aerospace industry.

But other measures on education, housing and juvenile justice continue to drive gaps between the majority and minority caucuses.

One of the larger debates this week centered on autonomous vehicles.

House Bill 7 would create a regulatory framework for operating AVs on Kentucky roadways, and it sparked a long exchange over safety and jobs before clearing a House vote Thursday. The legislation now heads to the Senate.

For its part, a divided Senate voted Tuesday to support Senate Bill 6, which would prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against people who refuse to support certain viewpoints on political or social issues.

On Wednesday, the chamber also deliberated on a juvenile crime bill – Senate Bill 20 – for more than an hour before passing the measure off the floor. Among several provisions, the bill calls for juveniles who use a firearm in the commission of a felony to stand trial as adults if they are at least 15 years old.

Both Senate Bill 6 and Senate Bill 20 now head to the House.

Meanwhile, a House measure related to tenants and landlords has made a breakthrough in the Senate, moving it closer to final passage.

House Bill 18 would prevent local governments from requiring property owners to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance. It cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday and is posted for passage in the Senate next week.

Many other bills continue to make progress in this year's session. Here's a look at what's moving:

Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 would ease limits on the purchase of pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain enough of the medication to meet their needs. The bill passed off the House floor Monday.

Non-Citizen Voting: Senate Bill 143 proposes changes to the state constitution that would prevent anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in Kentucky elections. The Senate advanced the measure Monday.

Homestead Exemption: Senate Bill 23 proposes to amend the state constitution regarding the homestead exemption. Under the amendment, resident homeowners who are 65 or older would avoid tax increases that result from rising property valuations. SB 23 cleared the Senate floor Monday.

Vaping: House Bill 142 would ban all tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products in Kentucky public schools. It would also require school districts to adopt disciplinary procedures for students who violate the bans. The House Education Committee approved the bill Tuesday.

Pet Shops: Senate Bill 157 would forbid local governments from passing regulations or ordinances that prohibit retail pet shops from operating. The shops would still need to follow certain rules for selling dogs and cats. The bill received a green light in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday.

School Notifications: Senate Bill 11 seeks to speed up notifications to schools when a student has been charged with a crime. The Senate voted in favor of the bill Tuesday.

Child Abuse: House Bill 278 would increase penalties against offenders who sexually abuse, assault or exploit children. The bill also seeks to prevent people convicted of sex crimes or violent felonies from working in public schools. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill Wednesday.

Gubernatorial Pardons: Senate Bill 126 proposes to amend the state constitution and limit the governor's powers to issue pardons at the end of a term in office. The measure won approval from the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Substitute Teachers: House Bill 387 seeks to ease the shortage of substitute teachers in Kentucky by allowing officials to issue emergency substitute teacher certificates. The House advanced the measure Wednesday.

Teacher Pensions: Senate Bill 4 would limit the number of sick days that teachers could use to enhance their pensions – a practice known as "spiking." After June 2024, teachers could only save 10 sick days a year to apply to the formula for calculating their retirement benefits. The Senate voted to advance the bill Wednesday.

Child Labor: House Bill 255 seeks to align Kentucky's child labor laws with federal law and lift some restrictions on work hours for 16 and 17-year-olds. The House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee approved the bill Thursday.

Kratom: House Bill 293 aims to regulate kratom, an herbal drug frequently sold online and in convenience stores. The bill would prohibit sales to people under 21 and provide guidelines for labeling and advertising. It cleared the House Health Services Committee on Thursday.

Lawmakers have until Feb. 26 to file new bills in the House and until Feb. 28 to file new bills in the Senate. That means many will be working next week to meet with stakeholders and add some final polish on legislative proposals.

The General Assembly will not gavel in on Monday in observance of Presidents' Day but will return Tuesday for day 34 of the session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

In addition, citizens can share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Autonomous vehicle bill cruises off House floor

February 15, 2024

Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, speaks on House Bill 7, a bill that would establish a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, on the House floor on Thursday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Self-driving – or autonomous – vehicles are the future, according to many lawmakers. House Bill 7 would regulate the technology in the commonwealth.

Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, said autonomous vehicles in Kentucky would be required to meet federal safety standards under the legislation.

"House Bill 7 would seek to establish the regulatory framework for the safe development and deployment of autonomous vehicles on Kentucky's roadways," Bray, who is also the bill's primary sponsor, said. "House Bill 7 provides the very prescriptive circumstances on when an AV may be deployed in Kentucky."

Additionally, a person utilizing an autonomous vehicle would be required to submit a law enforcement interaction plan to the Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky State Police. That plan would detail how to communicate with fleet support, how to safely remove the vehicle from the roadway and other key information.

HB 7 would also require autonomous vehicles be properly titled and registered with the state and for the owner to have a minimum $1 million liability insurance policy, Bray said.

There are two major concerns when it comes to autonomous vehicles: safety and job loss. On safety, Bray said the Transportation Cabinet believes autonomous vehicles will help prevent crashes and stimulate economic activity.

On job loss, the trucking industry is already facing a workforce shortage crisis, he said.

"Multiple studies show that the deployment of autonomous vehicles will in fact not eliminate jobs because those jobs are currently vacant," Bray added. "… It is important within Kentucky that we try to be at the forefront of innovation."

During debate, Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, said he is concerned autonomous vehicles are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and argued that a human needs to be in the vehicle for safety.

"I appreciate the sponsor's intention of this legislation and desire to put Kentucky at the forefront of technology, but it hasn't been thoroughly vetted," Aull said. "We're not ready, and I think we must prioritize safety for everyone. And I don't think we've done that yet."

House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, said she agrees humans might be needed on a trial basis in autonomous vehicles. She called for a floor amendment to be added to the bill.

"What this (amendment) would do is just basically say that for this two-year period any commercial vehicle on the roads operating as a private carriage would be required to have a credentialed human driver," Roberts said. But the amendment failed.

Overall, Roberts said she looks forward to the day she has an autonomous vehicle, but feels like Kentucky is not ready for commercial AVs.

Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, said he understands why others are wary of autonomous vehicles, but he knows they will be beneficial to people who cannot drive due to certain medical conditions, like epilepsy.

"This gives them a chance to be a human being and to live like the rest of us do – to give them an opportunity to do things the rest of us take for granted every day," he said.

HB 7 advanced off the House floor on Thursday by a 61-31 vote. Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, said he voted "yes" on the legislation because he believes it's been properly vetted to ensure safety.

"I stand here to vote 'yes' for Kentucky moving forward," Dotson said. "And I do believe that this could very well be something that really puts Kentucky in a good place."

HB 7 now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Child labor law bill earns House committee approval

February 15, 2024

Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, speaks on House Bill 255 and why Kentucky needs to make its child labor laws align more with federal law before the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee on Thursday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Kentucky teens looking for more work-hour flexibility would receive it under House Bill 255.

Primary sponsor Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, told the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee on Thursday the legislation would make Kentucky child labor laws align with federal law.

"(This) will expand opportunities for 16 and 17-year-olds to gain valuable experience in the workplace, which will set them up for success in adulthood," Pratt said. "Which is the same approach that exists in federal law."

Pratt said HB 255 would lift some restrictions on work hours for 16 and 17-year-olds, but would still prohibit them from working certain jobs with a few exceptions. That is in alignment with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) law, he said.

The prohibited occupations for teens include manufacturing jobs other than clerical work, coal mining, forest firefighting, logging, roofing, work in alcohol distilleries and bottling plants, and most jobs that require operating heavy machinery like a forklift.

Exceptions would be allowed for teens who are enrolled in an apprenticeship or a student-learning program.

The bill would also keep restrictions on work hours for workers under the age of 16, but with some exceptions. Those exceptions include being enrolled in a work-study program, being a high-school graduate or having a child to support.

Rep. Scott Sharp, R-Ashland, asked Pratt if the bill would impact farmers and their families. Pratt said the bill includes exceptions for agriculture.

Pratt said HB 255 should help the workforce participation rate for 17 to 25-year-olds. He said students can dedicate unlimited time to sports and clubs, so students who want to work should be able to do the same.

"We encourage students to want to experience the workplace and earn some money in the process," Pratt said.

Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, and Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, both explained why they are against HB 255. Camuel said she is concerned the bill would impact academic performance.

"They're not full adults," she said. "I think that puts them at-risk of encouraging them to drop out of school or puts them at risk of losing any type of academic advantage or athletic advantage that they may have if they want to pursue a college career or any furthering of their education at all."

Kulkarni said she worries the bill would open up teenage workers to exploitation.

"That's why the child labor laws exist: to protect these kids," Kulkarni said. "It's not for the kids that have good family support. These are for the kids that are already at-risk … They're vulnerable, and we need to be protecting them."

Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, asked Pratt to consider amending the bill to keep the hours restrictions during the school year for 16 and 17-year-olds.

"I would just ask that you take a look at that and see if that's something you could live with, if possible," Jackson said. "I would appreciate it."

Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, said he supports HB 255.

"I support this 100%," he said. "I think it's a great bill. I think that when we can get people working, then it's always a good thing."

Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, also spoke in favor of HB 255. He said teenagers and young adults are entering the workforce later in life. This is leaving people "underdeveloped," he said.

"Anything that we can do as a society that promotes this cultural growing up and taking on responsibility is something I think we definitely need to consider," Calloway said.

HB 255 advanced from the committee by a 14-3 vote with one pass vote. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Lawmakers advance bill regarding crimes involving juveniles and firearms

February 14, 2024

Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, speaks Wednesday on the Senate floor regarding Senate Bill 20, which calls for older juveniles who use a firearm during certain felonies to stand trial as adults. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A much-debated bill calling for older juveniles who use a firearm during certain felonies to stand trial as adults received approval Wednesday from the Senate with a 25-9 vote. One senator cast a pass vote.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, said the bill would put victims before perpetrators and hold the state's most violent criminals accountable for the crimes they commit through gun violence.

"When you hold a gun to someone's head, whether that gun is fired or not, the trauma of that victim needs to be considered," he said.

Deneen said SB 20 would automatically transfer juvenile offenders to circuit court if they are at least 15 years old and have been charged with committing a gun-related felony, Class C or above.

Additionally, the bill would require offenders to serve at least 50% of their sentence before they are eligible for parole if they are convicted of a Class C felony involving the discharge of a weapon, Deneen said. That's up from the current 20%.

The senator said he worked closely with commonwealth's attorneys, county attorneys and former police chiefs to craft the measure, and that the bill will ensure the time served fits the crime committed.

"It incentivizes community involvement. Right now, our police officers report to me it's hard to get someone to be a witness to testify about a crime – gun crime – in their neighborhood because they are fearful," Deneen said.

Senate Bill 20 would allow cases that are transferred to adult court to receive a reverse waiver after commonwealth's attorneys and county attorneys review facts and find cases don't meet specific standards, he said.

The Senate adopted an amendment to the bill on the chamber floor Wednesday. Deneen said it ensures that county attorneys and commonwealth's attorneys use their discretion to determine whether the case should remain as a transfer case to adult court. It clarifies prosecutorial discretion in advance, he said.

Lawmakers debated the measure for more than an hour.

Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, said SB 20 would undo legislation adopted three years ago that called on courts to consider 10 factors when adjudicating a juvenile offender – factors such as the maturity of the child, the child's prior record and the best interest of the child and the community, among others.

"We're robbing the judges and the prosecutors of the discretion we were allowing them to use every single day," he said.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, also voted against the measure and said the idea of "lock 'em up and throw away the key" mentality is unsuccessful. He pointed to statistics that illustrate that crime has actually gone down.

"Despite all the progress we've made through learning from our mistakes in the 80s and 90s, we've decided to go back and embrace that," he said. "That just makes no sense to me in light of all the progress and data that's out there from over the last 20 years."

However, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, said that while it's not a perfect bill, SB 20 doesn't go far enough.

"We talk about root problems, but we all know in our hearts is the real problem is our families in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and a fatherhood situation. We all know that. But today, we're dealing with an immediate crisis," he said.

House advances bill to ease substitute teacher shortage

February 14, 2024

Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, speaks on House Bill 387 – a bill that would help ease the substitute teacher shortage – on the House floor on Wednesday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that seeks to address the state's substitute teacher shortage.

Primary sponsor Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, said House Bill 387 is a necessity.

"I know most districts may not need this bill, but I know one close to my heart that does," he said.

Truett, who is a principal, said his elementary school needed nine substitute teachers one day a couple of weeks ago, but there were none available.

"Teachers do not want to miss (school)," Truett said. "Sometimes they come in on days they shouldn't be there. Some days I've had teachers roll in with the flu because there's no substitute to take their spot, so this would just ease their minds a little bit."

Currently in Kentucky, substitute teachers must have at least 64 hours of a college credit to become certified. Under HB 387, the Educational Professional Standards Board would be permitted to issue a one-year emergency substitute teaching certificate to individuals who have a high school diploma or an equivalent.

Truett said he thought about lowering the amount of college credit hours to 32 or 20, but ultimately decided on zero.

"What about allowing anybody who a superintendent deems fit to be a substitute teacher be hired to be a substitute teacher in emergency situations?" Truett said of the decision.

HB 387 would also allow the board to issue a five-year substitute teaching certificate to anyone who has a bachelor's degree. Ten-year substitute teaching certificates would be permitted for individuals who are eligible for a Kentucky teaching certificate, previously held one, or were a certified teacher in another state.

The House approved HB 387 by an 88-4 vote.

In explaining his "no" vote, Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, said he would prefer if the bill exempted 18 and 19-year-olds from being substitute teachers to other teenagers.

"If we do our jobs here, we will ultimately not have a long-term substitute teacher shortage, and there's no sunset provision clause in this bill, so I am compelled to vote no," he added.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, said she does not normally support lower qualifications, but HB 387 is needed. She also said that the bill would not require schools to hire substitutes with an emergency certification.

"If you have a high school, you may not choose to have someone who is in this age range if it is someone who is newly out of high school," Bojanowski said. "I do know from (Truett's) conversation is that there are people in our communities who could be really good subs who don't meet that qualification, and for that reason I support the bill."

HB 387 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House committee approves bill to protect children from sexual abuse

February 14, 2024

Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, testifies on House Bill 278 before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The bill would create harsher penalties for child sex crimes in the commonwealth. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bill that would strengthen penalties against individuals who sexually abuse, assault or exploit children advanced from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 278. He said the main goal of the legislation is to protect children.

"(The intent) is to have zero tolerance for child sexual assault, child sexual abuse, child pornography or human trafficking," Lockett said. "We have got to protect our most vulnerable people in our communities and show others that we absolutely mean business when it comes to protecting our children."

HB 278 does several things, Lockett said. One section of the bill would prohibit anyone convicted of a violent offense or a felony or misdemeanor sex crime from working in a public school. Another provision would eliminate the statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases.

Lockett said that change is important because, under statute, victims must report the crime within 10 years after turning 18. Studies show most adults do not report being sexually abused as a child until they are close to 40-years-old, he said.

"It's important to note that this provision is not retroactive and does not include anyone whose statute has already expired," Lockett added.

Penalties for adult offenders who are in a position of authority or special trust with the victim would be increased under HB 278. Second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy would be upgraded to a Class B felony under that provision.

There would also be increased penalties for certain offenses depending on the age of the victim. Human trafficking would become a Class B felony under HB 278. The charges would be upgraded to a Class A felony if the victim is under the age of 18.

HB 278 would also require individuals convicted of possessing or distributing child pornography to serve at least 85% of their sentence.

During discussion of the legislation, several committee members expressed concern over the language "any persons" used in the child pornography section of the bill.

Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, said he supports HB 278, but is concerned juveniles who send sexually explicit photos of themselves to others would face the same criminal penalties as adults.

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said he shares the same concerns. He said teens who engage in that behavior should be held accountable but not to the same degree as adults.

Lockett said the "any persons" language in the bill is no different than current statute.

"I think maybe we should clarify that it doesn't apply to that situation," Nemes responded, adding he'd like to see a floor amendment to address the issue.

Lockett said he supports Nemes's idea for a floor amendment.

The House Judiciary Committee approved HB 278 by a 15-0 vote with two pass votes.

In explaining her "pass" vote on HB 278, Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, said she is a "pass" until the language issue is resolved.

"I think what you said was very important – that we must protect children," she added.

Nemes thanked Lockett for the legislation as a whole before voting "yes" on HB 278.

"I think it's a very important issue, and I'm glad we're addressing it," he said.

HB 278 now goes before the full House for consideration.

Senate committee advances pet store bill

February 13, 2024

Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, speaks Tuesday on behalf of Senate Bill 157. Next to her is Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Agriculture Committee approved legislation Tuesday that would limit the jurisdiction of local governments over retail pet stores.

Senate Bill 157 would prevent counties and municipalities in Kentucky from adopting or enforcing regulations, codes or ordinances that prohibit retail pet shops from operating. However, the shops would still need to follow certain rules outlined in the legislation.

First, pet shops could not sell dogs or cats unless those animals were obtained from a shelter or a qualified breeder. Also, shops could not sell a dog or cat that is younger than eight weeks old or sell a dog or cat to anyone under the age of 18.

Sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, the legislation passed out of committee with an 8-2 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

One supporter, Elizabeth Kunzelman, vice president of legislative and public affairs for Petland, testified that the business has operated in Kentucky for 36 years. However, a ban in Louisville recently prevented a franchisee from opening a puppy store there, and a similar proposal in Lexington has raised concerns, she said.

"Our store has been there for less than two years," Kunzelman said. "We have financial investment. We have resources. We have employees. We have made a considerable investment there."

Testifying against the measure was Councilwoman Marilyn Parker from the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Council. She said the bill would circumvent legislation passed by council.

A federal audit from 2021 "determined that they do not have the manpower or the resources to be able to monitor the humane treatment of animals in these types of breeding situations and selling situations," she said.

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, voted against the bill and said Louisville voters have already spoken on this issue through their locally elected leaders.

"It makes me nervous when this body starts passing sweeping laws that undo things done by local government, and for that reason, I'm a no today," she said.

However, Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, said there are bad actors in every industry, and she voted for the measure.

"The answer to this issue is a well-regulated free market, and certainly, these bans don't work. Four percent of the animals in this country come from retail pet stores. Four percent," she said.

Webb said some people are for doing away with legitimate breeds and the legitimate use of sporting animals and police animals.

"Don't buy in to the propaganda because that's what it is. A ban will not solve anything. Do your research. Don't rely on a story. Just do your research," she said.

Committee unanimously approves anti-vaping bill

February 13, 2024

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, speaks on House Bill 142 during the House Education Committee on Tuesday. The bill would require Kentucky public schools to adopt disciplinary procedures for vaping and using tobacco products in school. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Vaping among teens is a serious public health concern for many in Kentucky, but House Bill 142 is seeking to combat the trend.

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, is the primary sponsor of the bill. The House Education Committee unanimously approved the legislation Tuesday.

HB 142 would ban all tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products in Kentucky public schools and require school districts to adopt disciplinary procedures for violators. Hart said the bill also has a data collection component.

"It outlines a mechanism for reporting to the Kentucky Department of Education on a yearly basis so that we can track the progress and see how effective this is in the future," Hart said.

Hart said the goal of HB 142 is to give school districts "some teeth" to enforce anti-vaping policies. The measure would require school districts to confiscate any tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products in a student's possession.

On a student's second or subsequent offense, the bill would require students be disciplined either through in-school or out-of-school suspension.

Hart was joined by Master Sgt. Brian Melton – a Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor at Pendleton County High School. Melton testified on the severity of the vaping issue in public schools.

"It is speculated that more than 5.6 million youth will face premature death because of vaping, according to the CDC," he said. "It's something that we obviously need to take a firm stance on here in our great state of Kentucky."

Committee chair Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said he appreciates Hart's work on HB 142.

"I hear many comments from teachers and people in the education world on how serious an issue this is," Tipton said on vaping in schools.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, said she supports HB 142, but she is concerned that suspension won't deter behavior. She asked Hart if he's considered adding a treatment referral or other type of program option to the bill.

Hart said a floor amendment to the bill is forthcoming to address the question of alternative schools and other program options.

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, asked what is being done to punish retailers who sell these products to children.

Hart said another representative is working on a bill to address that issue. Penalties for retailers who sell vaping and other nicotine or tobacco products to minors was originally included in HB 142, but Hart said he felt it was best to keep his bill limited to the school issue.

"We didn't want to create a bill that seemed like we were trying to punish kids when we're trying to deter kids," Hart added.

Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, said he's talked to educators who have told him vaping is an epidemic. He said he thinks HB 142 is a "good first step" at tackling the problem.

"I think it's something we owe our students," Riley said.

HB 142 now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate green lights homestead exemption bill

February 12, 2024

Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, speaks Monday on behalf of Senate Bill 23. A high-resolution photo can be here.

FRANKFORT — A measure that would amend the state constitution to expand the homestead exemption for older Kentuckians received Senate approval on Monday.

Under the proposed amendment, resident homeowners who are older than 65 would continue to pay property taxes, but they would not face tax increases based on rising property valuations.

Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, is sponsoring the legislation, Senate Bill 23. He said, if the amendment passes, property tax assessments would be frozen for qualifying homeowners.

"So, he'll still pay the property taxes when he turns 65 or when he purchases the house, but not additional on the assessment," Nemes said.

The Senate voted 32-2, with one pass vote, to advance the bill to the House. If the measure wins passage in the General Assembly, it would still need approval from Kentucky voters on a statewide ballot before taking effect.

Several lawmakers weighed in on the bill during discussion on the Senate floor, including Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, who said he voted for the measure after hearing from constituents who were begging for tax relief.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, voted against the measure citing concerns that some millionaire homeowners could get a tax break while young people would still have to pay.

"A lot of these local taxes go to support our schools and libraries, and so for that reason, although I respect the sponsor's intent, I personally vote no today," he said.

However, Sen. Johnnie Turner, R-Harlan, said the bill would benefit all of society, and he doesn't think it's wrong to vote for it.

"Just to clarify something as I understood the bill to say, that you're going to pay the taxes that are owed on that home when you turn 65 years old. So, I don't think anybody will get by without paying any taxes if they own a home whether they're a millionaire or a poor person," he said.

Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, also voted for the bill, but said if it doesn't advance as a constitutional amendment, she filed a resolution that would establish a task force to study how the homestead exemption can be increased.

"I couldn't vote against helping seniors, but there will be ramifications, and it will be felt within our school system, our local and our county governments, our fire districts." she said.

Harper Angel said a task force could possibly come up with something that wouldn't be as drastic, but would be fair and reflect the original intent of the homestead exemption.

This Week at the State Capitol

February 9, 2024

The Marion County High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) presents the colors on the Senate floor Thursday. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — Two major bills on maternal health and college politics began their journey through the Kentucky General Assembly this week while other measures on voting, teacher misconduct and criminal justice continued to inch forward.

Lawmakers have met for six straight weeks in the 2024 legislative session, and close to 100 bills have passed at least one chamber so far. Another three dozen were heard in committee this week before lawmakers gaveled out on Friday – day 28 of the 60-day session.

Among them was House Bill 10, an omnibus measure aimed at supporting maternal and infant health care and reducing the high mortality rate for mothers in Kentucky.

The legislation would require health plans to cover pregnancy, child birth and postpartum care along with in-home treatment for substance use disorder. It would also require plans to cover labor and delivery costs and all services and supplies related to breastfeeding.

Dubbed the "momnibus" bill, the bipartisan measure cleared the House Health Services Committee on Thursday with a 15-0 vote and two "pass" votes. It now heads to the full chamber for consideration.

Another bill drawing attention this week was Senate Bill 6, which would prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against people who refuse to support certain viewpoints on political or social issues.

The legislation includes a list of 16 "discriminatory concepts." They range from theories about meritocracy and the United States to beliefs about privilege or guilt based on a person's race or sex.

Campuses could not require faculty, students, or staff to endorse such concepts as a condition of employment or to obtain academic benefits. In addition, campuses could not use discriminatory concepts in training or require students to take courses on such concepts as an academic prerequisite.

SB 6 also calls on colleges and universities to offer resources on free speech and viewpoint diversity during student orientation.

The legislation precipitated a long debate in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday. Supporters said the bill would protect free speech and promote viewpoint diversity while critics said it would harm academic freedom and undo crucial work to improve inclusion on campus.

SB 6 passed out of committee 10-2 and now heads to the full Senate.

Also in the Senate, lawmakers continue to work on the state's two-year budget, which advanced out of the House last week.

Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights and chair of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, said Friday that lawmakers in that chamber have given the House proposal a high-level review and will spend the next few weeks digging deeper and crafting a Senate version of the plan.

Here's a look at some other bills moving this week:

Breast Exams: House Bill 115 seeks to eliminate co-pays and cost-sharing requirements for high-risk individuals who need follow-up diagnostic imaging to rule out breast cancer. The measure cleared the House floor Monday.

Divorces and Property: House Bill 155 would allow courts to consider a violent felony conviction of a spouse when it comes to dividing marital property during a divorce. Only convictions that occurred within the prior five years of the divorce filing could be considered. The House passed the bill Monday.

Sex Crimes: House Bill 207 would create felony penalties for possessing, trafficking, importing or promoting the use of a child sex doll. Offenders who digitally alter photos of children to create child pornography would also face felony charges under the bill. HB 207 advanced off the House floor Monday.

Cell Phones in Schools: House Bill 383 calls on school districts to develop a policy that forbids students from using cell phones during instructional time. The bill includes some exceptions for emergencies and learning experiences. The House Education Committee passed the bill Tuesday.

Border Security: Senate Resolution 123 calls on the governor to support efforts underway in Texas to secure the southern border. The Senate adopted the resolution on Tuesday. A similar measure was adopted in the House last week.

Vintage Alcohol Sales: House Bill 439 would create a licensing and regulatory structure for the commercial sale of vintage distilled spirits. It would also allow the state to auction off – rather than destroy – confiscated containers of alcohol. Proceeds would support alcohol wellness and responsibility efforts. HB 439 won approval Wednesday in the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee.

Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 would ease limits on the purchase of pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain an appropriate amount of the medication. The House Committee on Small Business and Information Technology passed the bill Wednesday.

Teacher Sick Leave: Senate Bill 4 would limit the number of sick days that teachers could use to enhance their pensions – a practice known as "spiking." After June 2024, teachers could only save 10 sick days a year to apply to the formula for calculating their retirement benefits. The legislation cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Non-Citizen Voting: Senate Bill 143 proposes changes to the state constitution that would prevent anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in Kentucky elections. The Senate State and Local Government Committee passed the measure Wednesday. A similar bill has already cleared the House.

Aerospace Industry: Senate Bill 127 seeks to support Kentucky's aerospace and aviation industries by fostering public-private partnerships and enhancing workforce development across the state. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday.

Autonomous Vehicles: House Bill 7 would create a regulatory framework for operating autonomous vehicles on public highways in Kentucky. The House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee advanced the legislation Thursday.

School Notifications: Senate Bill 11 seeks to speed up notifications to schools when a student has been charged with a crime. The bill won support in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.

Juvenile Offenders: Under Senate Bill 20, juveniles who use a firearm in the commission of a felony would stand trial as adults if they are at least 15 years old. The bill cleared the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection on Thursday.

Fluoride Water Treatment: House Bill 141 would allow municipal water systems in Kentucky to discontinue the use of fluoride in tap water. The House State Government Committee advanced the measure Thursday.

Foster Care: Senate Bill 151 would allow family members who take temporary custody of a relative's child to become certified as a "child-specific foster home." That would allow them to access more state resources and support. The bill cleared the Senate floor on Thursday.

Teacher Misconduct: House Bill 275 would require school districts to fully investigate teacher misconduct – even if the teacher resigns before the investigation is complete. It would also require teacher applicants to undergo in-depth background checks and disclose recent disciplinary issues when applying for a new job. The House approved the bill Thursday.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gavel back into session on Monday for day 29.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

In addition, citizens can share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Bill to prevent viewpoint discrimination at colleges moves forward

February 8, 2024

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, testifies on Senate Bill 6 during Thursday's Senate Education Committee meeting. A high-resolution photo can be here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Education Committee advanced legislation Thursday that would prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against people who refuse to support certain political or social beliefs.

Senate Bill 6 aims to protect students and employees against viewpoint discrimination on campus, according to the bill's sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green. He said lawmakers have a constitutional role in overseeing how taxpayer money is spent in education.

"We need to ensure that those funds are promoting educational excellence and rigor to help our students – all students – succeed in this 21st century with intellectual autonomy and not trendy, divisive, ivory tower theories," he said. "I filed this bill on behalf of students and faculty because First Amendment rights are being violated."

The bill provides a list of what it calls "discriminatory concepts," which includes certain political and social theories and ideas about privilege or guilt based on race or sex, among other beliefs.

It would prohibit colleges and universities from requiring faculty, students or staff to adopt certain positions on such concepts as condition of employment or to obtain academic benefits. Campuses could not use divisive concepts in training and hiring or require students to take courses on such concepts as an academic prerequisite.

Among other provisions, SB 6 also calls for colleges to provide resources on free speech and viewpoint diversity during student orientation. The state attorney general would have certain powers to enforce the bill.

"Currently, in our law, we protect K-12 teachers and school employees from discrimination in hirings and promotions based on political or religious opinions or affiliations," Wilson said. "(The) same protections need to be extended to our public university faculty as well and made more explicit for students."

The committee voted 10-2 to advance the bill to the Senate for consideration. However, the meeting sparked nearly two hours of debate as lawmakers and education professionals clashed over speech, academic freedom and the nature of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Critics of the bill said DEI initiatives are being misrepresented and charged that SB 6 would undermine crucial academic work and support systems that are key to student success. They also said the legislation would create an atmosphere of intimidation on campus and limit critical thinking.

Supporters disagreed, however, including one who recounted how she missed out on a campus job because of her response to an interview question about social justice. Another said a lack of viewpoint diversity on campus is driving down public trust in higher education.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, was one lawmaker to vote against the measure. He said DEI programs have helped ensure students, teachers and administrators are varied.

"There is a fundamental misunderstanding about DEI programs. Diversity, equity, inclusion programs were adopted and created...to make sure that we got more variety of people – all kinds of people – in schools, to provide learning supports for those students, to provide them graduation opportunities, to ensure that they got good jobs and they became part of the American social fabric in our society," he said.

Another opponent, Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, said the bill isn't necessary and that racism affects people in different ways.

"I'm confused because when I look at the language of this bill, it does not address the issues that you're talking about. There are already mechanisms in place to address actions that are taken within these institutions that someone may disagree with. There are processes that are in place," he said.

But Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, voted for the bill and recounted her experience when she attended the University of Kentucky in 1991.

"No one knew how great my need was because I'm white," she said, referencing her large family and the lack of plumbing while growing up on her family farm. "When my niece who's now a student at UK has to determine and declare constantly whether she's Black or white, how is that helping serve her actual needs?"

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, also voted for the measure. He said everyone seems to want the same thing, but each side accuses the other of being wrong.

"It's amazing how similar the arguments are on both sides of this issue, and to me it seems obvious that we all want the same thing, and maybe it's bad actors at each level that are garnering all this attention and all these accusations," he said. "The argument's the same. The language in this bill protects the exact same thing that the opposition is wanting to protect."

House committee approves 'momnibus' maternal health bill

February 8, 2024

House Health Services Committee Chair Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, (left) testifies on House Bill 10, which would address maternal health issues in Kentucky, before the committee on Thursday. She and Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, (right) are primary co-sponsors of the legislation. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Bipartisan legislation geared toward reducing Kentucky's high maternal mortality rate advanced from the House Health Services Committee on Thursday.

House Bill 10 is primarily co-sponsored by Committee Chair Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, and Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg. Nicknamed the "momnibus" bill – a combination of mom and omnibus – the legislation would take several steps to support maternal health, infant health and families.

"According to the CDC, Kentucky has the second highest maternal mortality for rate of death in the first year following childbirth in the nation," Moser said. "The initiatives in this legislation address areas of high concern."

Lack of access to prenatal care, mental health care and treatment for substance use disorder are just three of the main areas of high concern. Moser said substance use disorders are the number one reason Kentucky women die within the first year of childbirth. Tate said 89% of Kentucky's maternal deaths are preventable.

"One of the things we discovered as we were going through this investigation is there's actually a lot of things that we can do (to prevent maternal death)," Tate added.

One way is by making pregnancy a qualifying life event for health insurance purposes, Moser said.

Under HB 10, a health benefit plan would be required to cover in-home treatment for a substance use disorder, maternity care associated with pregnancy, and child birth and postpartum care. Plans would also be required to cover labor and delivery and all breastfeeding services and supplies. Telehealth would also be permitted.

As for mental health care, Moser said HB 10 would establish the Kentucky Lifeline for Moms. The hotline will operate out of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which has already received a grant to implement the program. HB 10 would codify the program.

"A psychiatrist and a psychologist will be hired to answer calls from an OBGYN or primary care physician, someone who is caring for a pregnant mother who might have a mental health need," Moser said. "This extends through postpartum care as well."

HB 10 would also expand the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program by providing mothers and families counseling and education on breastfeeding, lactation and safe sleep and allowing telehealth for those services.

Tate said HB 10 will improve women's health care.

"I'm really excited about this and to assist women to make sure that they have good quality health care and good outcomes," she said.

Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, asked the sponsors if the Kentucky Department of Insurance flagged the bill for defrayal.

Moser said she has not seen the bill marked as a cost defrayal to the state. However, there are some questions about the insurance provisions and a floor amendment may be in the works to address any issues, she added.

HB 10 was approved by the House Health Services Committee by a 15-0 vote with two pass votes. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Co-sponsor Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, said HB 10 is an "excellent bill."

"I'm so eager for this to become law," she said.

Lawmakers move forward with non-citizen voting legislation

February 7, 2024

Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, testifies Wednesday on behalf of Senate Bill 143 during a meeting of the Senate State and Local Government Committee. A high-resolution photo may be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate State and Local Government Committee approved a measure Wednesday that seeks to prevent anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in Kentucky elections.

The legislation – sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray – proposes to amend two sections of the state constitution related to voting. It cleared the committee on a 9-2 vote and now heads to the Senate.

"Senate Bill 143 is a simple bill to set up a constitutional amendment to add some clarity to our voter election integrity," Howell said.

He explained that local ordinances in other states have allowed non-citizens to vote in some local elections. Those ordinances have survived court challenges because the constitutions in those states do not expressly preclude non-citizens from voting, he said.

In Kentucky, "this would close that window down the line to where only U.S. citizens would be allowed to vote in state and local elections," he said.

One critic of the bill, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said Section 154 of the Kentucky Constitution already states that only a U.S. citizen is allowed to vote in an election. She questioned why courts wouldn't immediately strike down the bill given the existing language.

Howell replied that the current wording in the state constitution affirms the voting rights of U.S. citizens but doesn't preclude noncitizens. That opens the door for different legal arguments in the statutory realm, he said.

Chambers Armstrong voted against the measure, and said she disagrees with Howell's interpretation of the state constitution.

"I believe this is already covered, and I worry that we are passing a lot of legislation this session focused on hypothetical problems that might spring up when we have real problems in our communities right now," she said.

If SB 143 receives final passage in the General Assembly, Kentucky voters would still need to ratify the constitutional amendment before it would take effect.

House bill regulating vintage distilled spirits sales advances

February 7, 2024

Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, chair of the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee, presents House Bill 439 before the committee on Wednesday. The bill would regulate vintage distilled spirits sales. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Allowing the state to auction off confiscated alcohol is one of several provisions laid out in House Bill 439.

The bill received unanimous approval from the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee on Wednesday. Committee chair and bill sponsor Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, said HB 439 would also establish regulations for sales of vintage distilled spirits in the commonwealth.

He said the bill is a cleanup of previous legislation that created unintended consequences. The regulations are needed due to vintage spirit retailers buying thousands of bottles from sellers without any oversight.

"We're not saying they can't sell it. We are saying how much they can sell," Koch said. "We are preventing the seller from being able to turn this into an entire livelihood because that's not what was intended at all from this."

Under HB 439, vintage distilled spirit licensee holders would not be able to purchase more than 24 packages from any single seller in a 12-month period.

"First thing we did was we created a vintage spirit license, which the retailer can get for $300," Koch said. "That'll allow the ABC, who's a regulatory agency, to identify who is actually doing this so they can now police the work."

Sellers who violate the new vintage distilled spirit regulations proposed in the bill could face a Class A misdemeanor on first offense and a Class D felony on second or subsequent offense.

Another provision of HB 439 would allow the state to auction off unopened, confiscated alcohol contained in its original packaging. Koch said current state law mandates all confiscated alcohol be destroyed.

The proceeds from confiscated alcohol auctions would go to the alcohol wellness and responsibility education fund, which supports underage drinking and binge drinking prevention programs for high school and college students.

Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, asked if HB 439 would prevent retailers from purchasing additional limited release bourbon bottles from sellers other than the wholesaler. Koch said no.

Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, said she likes the auction provision.

"I thank you for bringing a bill where the bourbon will be auctioned instead of destroyed," she said.

Koch said he thinks "that's something we can all get behind."

HB 439 now heads to the full House for consideration.

Senate committee unanimously advances caregivers' bill

February 6, 2024

Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, speaks Tuesday on behalf of Senate Bill 151, which would allow caregivers the opportunity to change their placement status from temporary custody to a child-specific foster home as necessary. A high-resolution photo can be found D here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that would provide more long-term flexibility for family members who care for a relative's child.

Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, is sponsoring Senate Bill 151 in this year's legislation session.

Under the measure, relative or fictive kin who are serving as temporary caregivers could apply with the state to become certified as a "child-specific foster home." That would provide much more access to state resources.

Relative caregivers have a biological relationship to the child in custody. Fictive kin caregivers are those who have an emotionally significant relationship with the child or the child's parent.

Adams said the change is needed because the current "policy is very restrictive, and it is putting a financial and resource strain on many of our relative and fictive kin caregivers."

Right now, such caregivers are asked to make a one-time decision on how to care for a child in need.

They can accept temporary custody of a child with minimal support and resources from the state, or they can choose to have the child placed in the traditional foster care system.

Or, they can accept a relative placement option, which comes with additional support such as daily per diem, stipends for clothing, training and respite care.

Adams said caregivers can be faced with making these quick decisions when children are in dangerous or unhealthy situations and they need somewhere else to live.

"Remember that you are making this one-time only decision on the spot with no ability to reassess or fully understand the impact that your decision will have on your personal finances," Adams said.

The bill would also require courts to consider potential relative or fictive kin caregivers from a list that is provided by the child.

Adams said that, according to the bill's fiscal note, there will be no additional impact to the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet or the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Norma Hatfield, president of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky and a grandmother who has been raising two grandchildren for the past 9 ½ years, asked the legislators for their support, citing the number of children who are not placed with relatives.

"There are a lot of reasons a lot of families that have issues with the way that this program is implemented right now. If you look at a (Department for Community Based Services) report that they issued in September 2023, more than half of the children are in temporary custody instead of relative foster care," she said.

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, who chairs the committee, asked about the timeframe for caregivers to become designated as a child-specific foster home because it's an in-depth process for foster parents.

Adams said some of the details are still being worked out.

"I think that some of that will be worked out on the regulatory side, but from what I understand, our ultimate goal is to keep these kids with someone that's in their family," she said. "I believe that it allows them to keep the child in the home and then go through the processes that are required to be qualified as a foster parent."

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said the legislation would elevate the state, and it's a good step forward. He complimented Hatfield for her dedication.

"It's a sad commentary on society when we've got to take these kind of measures, and certainly family members deserve the same kind of support that the foster parents do," he said.

Committee approves bill to curb classroom cell phone usage

February 6, 2024

Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, testifies on House Bill 383 before the House Education Committee on Tuesday. The bill would prohibit most cell phone usage in classrooms. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, was at a middle school basketball game in his district when a teacher approached him and said, "Man, y'all gotta do something about cell phones."

Bray said the teacher told him that cell phone usage in the classroom is hard to manage, and school administrators weren't supportive. The teacher was considering retiring over the issue. That conversation inspired Bray to sponsor House Bill 383. He presented the bill to the House Education Committee on Tuesday.

"It just says each school district has to have a policy that forbids its usage within the classroom during instructional time except during an emergency or if directed by a teacher," Bray said on the legislation.

HB 383 says cell phone usage could be permitted if needed for a learning experience or an individualized education plan.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, is an educator. She said she heard from middle school and high school teachers who support the bill, but they had a few questions.

"Why in the world do we have to do a law to this? And how much of a burden would it then put on teachers to enforce that decision?" Bojanowski said, adding earbuds are also a concern. Many students use wireless earbuds to listen to music or videos in class.

Bray said while most school districts have cell phone policies, this bill would provide extra support.

"When I talked with my superintendents, they were overwhelmingly in support," Bray said. "And it may not be this way across the state, but the ones I've spoken with said most of these decisions are made at the site-based level. They felt like it was important to give them the authority to kind of lay out the policy."

Enforcement, Bray said, would likely follow current disciplinary policies at the local level. As for the earbud issue, Bray said, "I would be happy to address that."

Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, said she is also in support of adding something to the bill to address earbud usage in the classroom. She said HB 383 gives teachers more support to enforce a no-cell phone policy.

"While I don't like removing power from teachers in the classroom, this also does give them an out to say, 'Don't even ask me. This is the way it is, so don't even ask. There's not going to be exceptions. This is the law,'" Callaway said.

Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, thanked Bray for the bill. She asked if the Kentucky School Board Association has an opinion on the legislation.

Committee Chair Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said he hasn't heard any negative concerns or pushback from KSBA on HB 383. Tipton said curbing cell phone usage in the classroom should have a positive impact on learning and the social and emotional well-being of students.

Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, said he supports HB 383 and agrees there is a mental health aspect to cell phone usage in teenagers.

"The mental health issue is definitely something that's on my mind," Calloway said. "The second leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds is suicide. And there are so many things that happen through technology and devices, so I greatly appreciate this legislation."

The House Education Committee unanimously approved HB 383. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

February 2, 2024

House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, speaks about budget proposals on the House floor Thursday A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers hit the one-third mark on the 2024 legislative session this week just before passing a $130 billion budget proposal in the House and sending it to the Senate for another round of revision and debate.

House Bill 6, one of the highest priorities this session, would create a blueprint for spending in the state executive branch for the next two fiscal years.

Lawmakers voted 77-19 to advance the bill off the House floor Thursday after clashing for nearly four hours over spending decisions and how best to use the state's historic reserves.

Majority leaders have praised the plan for committing record funds to public schools and for investing in public safety, infrastructure and health services, including substance abuse recovery programs.

But critics say it doesn't go far enough to improve teacher salaries, recondition juvenile justice facilities or address shortages in housing and child care, among other concerns.

HB 6 cleared the chamber along with two other bills that propose budgets for the judicial and legislative branches. A fourth bill that would appropriate one-time funds to key areas like infrastructure and public pensions also won support.

The bills now await action in the Senate, where they are almost certain to undergo significant changes in the coming weeks. But lawmakers have 37 days left in the 60-day session to hash out a compromise between the two chambers before they are scheduled to adjourn for the year.

In addition to the budget debate, lawmakers spent time this week sparring over voting and elections.

Under Senate Bill 80, student IDs would no longer count as a primary source of voter identification at the polls, although voters could still use those IDs as a secondary source. SB 80 would also eliminate credit cards as a secondary source of ID for voting.

The Senate passed the measure Tuesday.

On the same day, the House took up House Bill 341, which proposes amendments to the state constitution to prohibit anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in the commonwealth.

The two bills stirred disagreement among lawmakers along similar lines. Supporters argued for the integrity of elections while opponents said such efforts would unfairly disenfranchise voters. The bills now head to the opposite chambers for consideration.

Amid the debates, lawmakers also found time for unity this week at the 2024 Black History Celebration, which was marking its 20th anniversary this year.

Government and community leaders came together for two hours of speeches, prayer and music that focused on celebrating the civil rights movement. The Kentucky Legislative Black Caucus hosts the event in the state Capitol Rotunda each year.

At other times throughout the week, measures on loss of income insurance, highway cameras and moments of silence all gained ground. Here's a look at what was moving:

Adoption: House Bill 87 would allow certain adult family members to inspect adoption records after both birth parents or the adoptee has passed away. The bill cleared the House floor on Monday.

Loss of Income: House Bill 179 would clear the way for employers to offer their workers an option to purchase paid family leave insurance. Workers who buy the insurance would receive temporary wage replacement when caring for a sick family member or new child. The House passed the measure Monday.

Capitol Traffic: Senate Bill 75 seeks to reopen the road between the Kentucky Capitol and the Capitol Annex in Frankfort. That portion of the Capitol campus was closed to traffic a few years ago. The bill advanced off the Senate floor Monday.

Maternal Health: Senate Bill 74 aims to provide expectant parents with more data on health care facilities and maternal outcomes across the state. It would also make the Kentucky Maternal Mortality Review Committee a permanent entity under the state Department for Public Health. The Senate Families and Children Committee passed the bill Tuesday.

Highway Cameras: House Bill 192 would create a pilot program that uses automated cameras to identify speeding vehicles in certain highway work zones and issue traffic tickets to the drivers. The cameras would focus on vehicles traveling 10 or more miles over the speed limit. The House Transportation Committee advanced the measure Tuesday.

Border Security: House Resolution 57 urges the governor to express support for efforts in Texas to secure the southern border. The resolution was adopted on the House floor on Tuesday.

Veteran Suicide Prevention: House Bill 30 calls for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to create a suicide prevention program for service members, veterans and their families. The program would raise awareness and help connect at-risk individuals with mental health resources. The bill won approval on the House floor Wednesday.

Moments of Silence: House Bill 96 calls for a moment of silence at the start of each day in public schools. It passed on the House floor Wednesday.

Lawmakers will return to Frankfort on Monday for day 24 of the session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

In addition, citizens can share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Budget bills receive House approval

February 1, 2024

House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, explains House Bill 1 would appropriate "one-time money to one-time expenses" on the House floor Thursday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Four bills related to Kentucky's spending plan for the next biennium have taken another step toward passage and are headed to the Senate.

House Bill 6 would appropriate billions each fiscal year to the state executive branch. Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, serves as the committee chair for the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. He and the chairs for the House Budget Review Subcommittees presented HB 6 on the House floor on Thursday.

Petrie said they tried to "exercise better practices" when it came to drafting HB 6 by not just looking at the next two years, but to the future. One way is by building the budget from the agency budget requests, he said.

"The way this document comes together fundamentally starts with those agency budget requests," Petrie added. "And that sets our pensions, our payroll, and what needs to be increased, decreased, added in new, and all for consideration."

HB 6 would increase funding for SEEK, fully fund transportation for public schools, meet the actuarial requirements for every state pension plan, appropriate millions toward clean drinking water initiatives, invest in public safety and more.

Lawmakers discussed HB 6 for nearly four hours on Thursday. House Minority Floor Leader Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, said the budget is the "guiding document that educates our kids, keeps us safe, promotes our most vulnerable, paves our roads and does a thousand other things ... that helps this Commonwealth grow."

Graham focused most of his comments on public education funding and state employee pension payments. He said the teacher retention rate in Kentucky is in a "crisis," and the budget should include funding for higher starting salaries and raises.

As for state retirees, Graham said they have not received a cost-of-living increase since 2012. He said he and others are calling for $100 million to provide state retirees a one-time "13th retirement check."

"We know the need, and we have the money," Graham said. "Now, let's just come together and find a way to appropriate this money to help the people who help us each and every day."

Petrie said the budget is not final.

"I don't take anything off the table," Petrie said, adding there is still work to be done with the Senate before the budget will be in its final form.

In response to Graham's request for cost-of-living increases for state retirees, Petrie said it is complicated. The health of the state pensions has been in a precarious place for many years with the Kentucky retirement plan for non-hazardous employees being in the worst spot.

Petrie said in the past there were cost-of-living increases passed by the general assembly that were not properly funded.

"We need to take very, very cautious steps about doing something that we may not be able to fund in the long run and may really affect our ability to put extra money into that system to make it healthy," he said.

In addition to pension issues, Kentucky's juvenile justice system has also been a concern of the general assembly. Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said she was happy to see sizable, multi-million-dollar appropriations in the budget toward transportation, mental health and alternative detention options for incarcerated juveniles.

Herron said she would like to see funds dedicated to juvenile justice facilities as well.

"I think that right now it is very practical for us to put money in to figure out what we're going to do with those facilities as it relates to juvenile justice," she said.

HB 6 cleared the House floor by a 77-19 vote.

In explaining his "yes" vote, Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, said HB 6 is a "responsible" budget.

"Responsible government means that you have to prepare for the bad days, not just spend it on what feels good today, and who cares about tomorrow," he said.

In addition to HB 6, the House also approved House Bill 1 unanimously. The bill would give-one time budget reserve trust fund monies toward infrastructure improvements, state employee and teacher's pensions, economic development projects and public safety.

"House Bill 1 is a one-time money spending of one-time expenses with one-time money," House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, said, adding it is "key to ensuring this commonwealth will remain in order."

The state legislative branch and judicial branch budgets – House Bill 263 and House Bill 264 – also advanced off the House floor Thursday. HB 263 was approved by a 90-2 vote, and HB 264 was approved by a 92-0 vote with two abstentions.

HB 6, HB 1, HB 263 and HB 264 will now head to the Senate for its consideration.

Senate committee advances Ashanti Alert bill

February 1, 2024

Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, speaks on Senate Bill 45, which would create the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System. A high-resolution photo from Thursday's Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection meeting can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Members of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee unanimously advanced a bill Thursday that would require Kentucky State Police to operate a new alert system that helps find missing people over the age of 17.

Under Senate Bill 45, the program would be called the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System – named after Ashanti Billie, a 19-year-old woman who was abducted in 2017 in Virginia.

Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, is sponsoring the bill. He said the proposed alert system could help locate victims more quickly and would add Kentucky to the list of states where the system already exists.

Billie's case "put the nation on alert of how often this is happening, and that we could have done something different," Yates said. "We knew there was a huge problem that fell outside of the other alert programs.."

The Ashanti Alert Act was adopted on a federal level in 2018 to help establish a national communications network to aid in the search and recovery of missing people over the age of 17. But Kentucky is one of 20 states without an Ashanti Alert System, Yates said.

When implemented, the Kentucky system would quickly disseminate information to law enforcement, the media and then the public about missing people and abductors, Yates said.

It calls for Kentucky State Police to work in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Division of Emergency Management and media providers to create the system.

Megan Moseley, a domestic violence detective with the Louisville Metro Police Department, told the committee that she supports the alert system because it can save investigators valuable time.

"This first came to me probably two years ago when I was lead investigator on a domestic violence kidnapping. Through that course, my victim was missing about eight hours before I was even notified of it," she said. "And at that time, I got informed that we had no alert system in place that could assist with my search and my department's search and recovery of my victim. Thankfully, my victim was found safe, probably about 24 hours later."

Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, asked about possible funding for the system.

"I'm not sure how you can create this without some costs being incurred," he said.

Yates replied that it only requires the use of existing resources within the existing budget.

"The infrastructure, the technology is already in place because of our other alert systems. What's happened is obviously if the individual was under the age of majority, or if it was a Golden Alert of something else, you would be able to use it," he said. "But because of the way that we've defined that, if a young person turns 18, then automatically we cannot use our system for alerts."

Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, spoke in favor of the bill.

"I was proud to, I think back in 2004, pass the Golden Alert," she said. "So this is another really good step to protect our young people, and I appreciate the effort."

The bill now heads to the Senate.

The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8 at 9 a.m.

House committee approves biennial budget bills

January 31, 2024

House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, speaks on the state spending plan for the next biennium. A high-res version is available here here.

FRANKFORT — Four state budget-related bills were approved by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on Wednesday afternoon.

The Kentucky General Assembly is tasked with approving the state's spending plan every two years. House Bill 6 would appropriate billions per fiscal year to the state executive branch, House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, said.

The chairs of the House Budget Review Subcommittees testified on the key investments in education, health care, public safety, infrastructure and more proposed in HB 6.

They shared that among the many appropriations, the bill would:

• Increase funding per-K-12 student by appropriating $117 million to the SEEK formula in 2024-25 and $164 million to SEEK in 2025-26.
• Appropriate $7.3 million in each fiscal year to establish the Student Teacher Stipend Program.
• Fully fund public school transportation by fiscal year 2025-26.
• Allocate $4.8 million per fiscal year for a Pilot Teacher Recruitment Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Fund 100 new social worker positions.
• Increase foster care per diem rates.
• Allocate an increase of $548.1 million toward Medicaid in the 2024 fiscal year.
• Allocate $24 million over two years to maintain the Child Care Assistance provider reimbursement increase.
• Appropriate millions toward clean drinking water initiatives.
• Meet the actuarial requirements for every state pension plan.
• Increase funding by $20 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year for primary and mental health care at juvenile justice facilities.
• Provide $7.8 million each fiscal year in additional funding for alternative detention programming for juveniles.
• Give a 4% inflationary salary increase for state employees in the 2024-25 fiscal year and an additional 2% the following fiscal year.

Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville said there is "a lot to like" about HB 6, but she had some questions about some of the appropriations in the bill. On education, Raymond noted there is a debate on whether the general assembly should fund teacher raises outright.

"I know superintendents support your idea to put more money into SEEK and have raises flow from that," she said. "But we've had superintendents here at the Capitol this week. With the small SEEK increases in this budget, they either can't give raises or maybe it'd be 1%."

Petrie said the budget process is ongoing, and he and others are still talking with stakeholders on certain issues, such as SEEK funding.

"This is the House version," Petrie said on HB 6. "There will be a Senate version that I suspect will be different. And then there will be a conference committee that will be entirely different, most likely. We continue to listen for input."

Rep. Myron Dossett, R-Pembroke, said this is the seventh budget he's voted on as a state representative. He reminded his colleagues that Wednesday's committee hearing is the first step in a long process.

"This is where we do our jobs as members of the general assembly, and now we start doing the work to make sure that we take care of our constituents at home in the best way possible," Dossett said.

The committee approved HB 6 by a 17-1 vote with four pass votes.

In addition to HB 6, the committee approved House Bill 264, the proposed judicial branch budget, unanimously. House Bill 263, the proposed legislative branch budget, was approved by a 20-2 vote.

House Bill 1 was approved by a 21-0 vote with one pass vote. The bill would give-one time budget reserve trust fund monies toward infrastructure improvements, state employee and teacher's pensions, economic development projects and public safety.

HB 1, HB 6, HB 263 and HB 264 will now go before the full House for consideration.

Voter ID bill wins Senate approval

January 30, 2024

Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, speaks on behalf of Senate Bill 80, which would remove non-governmental issued ID cards from the list of primary sources of identification to vote. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — Voters could no longer use student IDs as a primary source of identification at the polls under a bill that cleared the Kentucky Senate on Tuesday. However, voters could still use those IDs as a secondary source.

Senate Bill 80 would remove non-government issued IDs from the list of primary sources that are accepted as forms of identification during elections. It would also eliminate credit cards as a secondary source of ID.

Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, is sponsoring the measure, which passed on the Senate floor 27-7. She said Kentucky uses a three-pronged approach to authenticate voter identities at polling locations.

"A credit card only has a name. There is no other information to be able to tell us whether they live here, whether they are even qualified, eligible to vote. I mean there's lots of reasons to not have that published as an automatically approved secondary ID," she said.

Lawmakers debated the effect of the bill before voting Tuesday.

One critic, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said SB 80 would make it harder for young people to vote in Kentucky. She also argued that there's no evidence implicating college IDs in voter fraud.

"Removing college IDs from the list of acceptable identification will certainly create a barrier to our young people participating in democracy. It concerns me even more that we're taking this step when no one has asked us to," she said.

Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, echoed those concerns and predicted that the legislation, if adopted, would face challenges in court.

"Do we have that extra money to throw away taxpayers' money?" he asked.

But proponents argued that SB 80 would help protect the integrity of elections and that voters who do not have a primary source of ID can still vote by signing an affidavit and providing a combination of secondary IDs.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said opponents were making a mountain out of a molehill. He called the bill a "well thought-out approach" and a simple improvement on a previous voter identification measure that passed in 2020.

Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, called the measure a "bill of responsibility."

"Voting in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and across our great nation, it is a right," he said. "But it is also supported by a privilege, which is a higher level of responsibility, and I think the people in this great country and especially in this commonwealth are looking for more guardrails."

Proposed constitutional amendment on voting advances

January 30, 2024

Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, speaks on the House floor Tuesday on a measure to amend the state constitution to say only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in Kentucky. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A proposed state constitutional amendment on who can vote in Kentucky advanced off the House floor on Tuesday.

House Bill 341 proposes amending sections 145 and 155 of the state constitution to prohibit individuals who are not U.S. citizens from voting in the commonwealth.

The primary sponsor of HB 341, Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, said the general assembly is seeking to be proactive and ensure election integrity. He said there have been instances in other states where local governments have allowed non-U.S. citizens to vote in local elections. This proposed amendment would close a possible loophole.

"We seek to get ahead of this before this does happen, potentially, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky," Meredith said.

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, spoke on the House floor in favor of HB 341. He said the bill ensures state sovereignty.

"The purpose of state sovereignty is to allow the residents of the state to determine their fate and the destiny of their state," Hart said. "This bill, in my opinion, is a necessity to ensure that the destiny of Kentucky is driven by Kentuckians, no one else."

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, said he does not believe this change in the state constitution is needed. Other voting-related legislation being proposed this year is more important, he added.

"If we really want to improve our local election laws and voting practices in Kentucky, it's essential we prioritize legislation that addresses the current, pressing concerns we have today rather than focusing on issues that do not pose a current threat," Aull said.

Aull suggested the general assembly pass legislation on bills to extend voting hours, eliminate straight-party ticket voting and establish an independent, citizen redistricting commission instead.

Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, said the purpose of HB 341 is to limit local control.

"I don't think this is problem that yet needs to be solved," she added.

But Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, said he supports HB 341 for personal reasons. Killian is a first-generation American and said his parents gave up their Irish citizenship to become American citizens in order to participate in elections.

"We've done so much to make sure our elections are true and pure ... This is the next step there," Killian said.

The House approved HB 341 by an 81-15 vote. It will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Amendments to the state constitution in Kentucky are ultimately decided by a ballot measure. For a proposed amendment to be put on the ballot, the legislation must be approved by both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Senate committee approves bill to enhance access to data on maternal care

January 30, 2024

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, speaks Tuesday on Senate Bill 74 during the Senate Families and Children Committee meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously advanced a measure on Tuesday that's designed to improve access to health facility information for expectant parents and data regarding maternal deaths, among other things.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, said it's sometimes a struggle for expectant parents to find information about costs for care. The measure also would require a panel to glean maternal death information and make it easily accessible to the public.

"There is a panel currently that will gather and review how a death occurs, but it's not a requirement," she said. "This bill is actually taking it to that very important step – making it a requirement so that we actually do dig in, understand, tackle the issue and improve our health outcomes."

SB 74 would make the Kentucky Maternal Mortality Review Committee a permanent entity under the state Department for Public Health and expand its role in gathering and reporting on child delivery procedures.

The committee has operated for years and produces an annual report, which has been presented to various legislative committees and used to inform policy decisions and priorities.

Robin Elise Weiss, a professor of public health and a birth doula, testified that parents-to-be face many decisions but often lack access to good data when it comes to making those decisions. Weiss said finding safe health care while meeting preferences is critical, and provisions in the bill would help.

"Right now, if someone wants to know a hospital's cesarean birth rate or induction rate, they may actually have to call the hospital. Who knows that information? Certainly not the person who answers the phone. Maybe they make it to the labor and delivery unit. That nurse that answers the phone may not know that information, either," she said.

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, shared concerns about that data going unused.

"Who's involved on those local teams and where's this initiated? Is it the local health departments or is it in concert with local hospitals?" he asked.

Funke Frommeyer said the Cabinet for Health and Family Services would manage it in conjunction with local stakeholders.

"I think that's the ultimate goal, to be able to find the information, find the issue, report on what issue may have occurred and then get the results back into a commonly available place," she said.

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, who is also the committee's chair, said the goal is to put things into a package that's going to be usable.

"That's the structure that I feel like you need to build around the data to make sure that it's not just something that's there, but it's accessible to those who need it in a format, and it's accurate data that is valid throughout the entire state," he said.

Committee approves highway work zone safety legislation

January 30, 2024

Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, testifies before the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday about a bill that seeks to make highway work zones safer. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A bill to improve highway work zone safety is headed to the House floor.

House Transportation Committee Chair John Blanton, R-Salyersville, presented House Bill 192 to the committee Tuesday. The bill would create a pilot program for automated speed enforcement in select highway work zones, he said.

The legislation was inspired by an increase in highway work zone accidents due to speeding – many of which have caused major injuries and death.

For Blanton, the legislation is also personal. HB 192 is known as the Jared Lee Helton Act of 2024. Blanton named the legislation after his 22-year-old neighbor who was hit and killed by a vehicle while working as a highway contractor.

Under HB 192, automated speed enforcement cameras would issue a fine to violators going 10 or more miles over the speed limit.

The pilot program would run for three years, and Kentucky would join 26 other states who successfully use automated speed enforcement cameras in work zones, Blanton said. To him, safety is the main goal of the legislation.

"Let me be clear, I'm not interested in issuing citations," Blanton said. "I'm interested in slowing people down in work zones to protect not just the workers, but, quite frankly, to protect other people traveling through these work zones."

HB 192 would mandate signage be installed to notify drivers of the cameras and the proper speed limit, and the cameras would only be in use while workers are present.

On a first violation, the civil penalty would be $75. On a second or subsequent violation within a three-year period, the penalty would be $125 per violation. Drivers would have an opportunity to appeal a citation.

Bill Bell, executive director of the state Office of Highway Safety, said there have been 49 deaths in work zones in Kentucky in the last five years, with seven of those workers being Transportation Cabinet employees or contract workers.

Bell, along with Deputy State Highway Engineer Jason Siwula and Transportation Secretary Jim Gray testified alongside Blanton in support of HB 192.

"These crashes are happening more frequently," Gray said. "That's why we're urging this action so strongly."

Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, said he supports the effort to reduce fatalities in work zones, but he has concerns with computers issuing the tickets instead of police officers. He worries that someone who drives through a work zone multiple times a day may accrue thousands in fines before their first citation arrives in the mail.

Bell said drivers cannot get another citation during the 14-day appeal period.

Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, said she supports HB 192.

"I do support this bill regardless of the outcome because I've gotten probably 200 emails from people supporting it as well," she said.

Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, said highway work zone safety has been important to her since she was elected in 2019.

"I don't want us to forget that we're having this conversation because people are being killed," she said. "This isn't just us trying to be 'big brother,' and driving is a privilege."

The committee approved HB 192 by a 23-2 vote. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

Bills on crime and housing continue to advance amid debate

January 26, 2024

Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, speaks about the Safer Kentucky Act on the House floor Thursday. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Three high-profile bills on crime and housing sparked more rounds of debate this week, while several others on education, voting and hunting edged closer to passage in the Kentucky General Assembly.

Friday concluded week four of the 60-day legislative session, and throughout the week, lawmakers found common ground when they welcomed the return of a Lexington senator and remembered a departed colleague in the House.

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe was caring for a horse when she was kicked in the face and had to undergo emergency surgery in mid-December. She returned to applause on the Senate floor Thursday.

Meanwhile, House members paused this week to honor and remember Rep. Lamin Swann, also from Lexington, who suddenly passed away last summer at the age of 45.

Legislators in both chambers also coalesced around resolutions to honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day this weekend.

On other issues, however, stark disagreements seemed to characterize much of the week.

House members sparred for more than two and half hours Thursday over an omnibus crime bill that seeks to ramp up the penalties for repeat violent offenders and other crimes.

Under the latest version of House Bill 5 – known as the Safer Kentucky Act – offenders could face a life sentence in prison if convicted of three violent felonies. Individuals could also face a manslaughter charge if they distribute fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose.

The 74-page bill would also create a felony carjacking law and call for violent felony offenders to serve at least 85% of their criminal sentences before release. Other provisions aim to curb shoplifting and street camping.

Supporters say the legislation will strengthen Kentucky's approach to crime and reassert basic principles of safety and civility in response to years of growing disorder.

Critics counter that the bill would apply antiquated policies to complex problems and drive up incarceration costs in a state with an already high rate of imprisonment.

HB 5 cleared the House floor 74-22 and now heads to the Senate.

The other bills spurring debate in the chambers were House Bill 18 and Senate Bill 25, both of which affirm the rights of landlords to decline tenants who use federal housing assistance.

The bills would prevent local governments from enacting any ordinances that require landlords to accept such rental agreements. HB 18 includes all federal housing assistance while SB 25 focuses on the Section 8 housing program.

Proponents say the legislation would protect foundational property rights, but others say the bills would slash housing options for low-income Kentuckians.

HB 18 won approval on the House floor Tuesday, and SB 25 passed off the Senate floor Wednesday.

Other legislation advancing this week ranged from a bill to require moments of silence in schools to a measure on voter identification. Here's a look at some of the bills moving forward:

Hunting and Fishing Licenses: House Bill 217 would change a statute on hunting and fishing licenses for landowners. State law allows Kentuckians to hunt and fish without a license on their own farmland if the property is at least five acres. HB 217 would eliminate the acreage requirement. It won approval on the House floor Monday.

Artificial Intelligence: House Concurrent Resolution 38 calls for the creation of a new task force that would review the use of artificial intelligence in government and recommend possible legislation to protect consumers. The House passed the resolution on Monday.

Moments of Silence: House Bill 96 would require public schools to have a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. The House Education Committee approved the bill Tuesday.

Teacher Misconduct: : House Bill 275 would require school districts to fully investigate teacher misconduct – even if the teacher resigns before the investigation is complete. It would also require teacher applicants to undergo in-depth background checks and disclose recent disciplinary issues when applying for a new job. The House Education Committee advanced the legislation Tuesday.

Veteran Suicide Prevention: House Bill 30 calls for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to create a suicide prevention program for service members, veterans and their families. The program would raise awareness and help connect at-risk individuals with mental health resources. HB 30 cleared the House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection on Tuesday.

KEES for Homeschoolers: Senate Bill 7 would expand the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship program to provide funds for homeschooled students based on certain academic metrics. A score on the Classic Learning Test would be one option for students. The Senate advanced the measure Tuesday.

Voter ID: Senate Bill 80 would disqualify certain forms of identification – such as credit cards and student IDs – as acceptable forms of identification for voting. The bill moved out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Citizen Voting: House Bill 341 proposes an amendment to the state constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens may vote in Kentucky elections. The House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee advanced the measure Thursday.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gavel back in on Monday for day 19 of the session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Safer Kentucky Act clears House hurdle

January 25, 2024

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, speaks on House Bill 5, a comprehensive public safety measure known as the Safer Kentucky Act, on the House floor on Thursday. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A comprehensive House bill on public safety is gaining momentum in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The House approved an amended version of House Bill 5, also known as the Safer Kentucky Act, on Thursday. The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, said the legislation was more than nine months in the making.

Bauman said he and other stakeholders worked with attorneys, law enforcement, community leaders, constituents, and crime victims and their families on the 72-page bill.

"House Bill 5 includes provisions to address criminals and crime in our state that, on a daily basis, attacks the Kentucky economy, Kentucky families, education performance, and generally the quality of life in our great commonwealth," Bauman said. "The foundation for civilized society in Kentucky is public safety, security and protection, and our foundation is broken."

The Safer Kentucky Act would bring widespread change to criminal law in the commonwealth by instituting harsher penalties for repeat, violent felony offenders and other crimes.

On Thursday, Bauman introduced House Floor Amendment 27. The amendment makes many changes to the version of the bill that was approved by the House Judiciary Committee last week. The 11-page amendment is the result of continuing conversations with stakeholders, he said. The House adopted the amendment.

Individuals who sell or distribute fentanyl and cause a fatal overdose could be charged with manslaughter under the amended version of HB 5 instead of capital murder.

The amendment also further clarifies Kentucky's Good Samaritan law, Bauman said. This ensures individuals who seek aid for someone experiencing an overdose would not be criminally charged in relation to the overdose.

HB 5 would criminalize unlawful camping in Kentucky, making it a misdemeanor on second offense or subsequent offense. The amended bill, however, would permit houseless individuals to sleep in a vehicle parked lawfully on a public road, street or parking lot for a period of less than 12 hours.

Shopkeeper's privilege would be protected under HB 5. The bill would allow store owners to use reasonable force to stop shoplifters. The amended provision would not exempt shopkeepers from facing civil liability, but would continue to protect them from criminal liability.

HB 5 would also establish a felony carjacking statute. The amendment would make it a violent offense.

Individuals convicted of a violent felony would have to serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for early release, Bauman said about the amendment. Under HB 5, a person would be sentenced to life in prison without parole upon a third violent felony conviction, unless it is a capital offense. Capital offenders could also face the death penalty.

Lawmakers debated the bill for more than two and a half hours on the House floor.

Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, spoke about several concerns she has with the bill, including the financial burden it could place on Kentucky prisons and taxpayers.

"I'm personally interested in investing in Kentuckians, not prisons," Stalker said. "... Let's instead invest in our communities, prioritize rehabilitation over punishment, and strive for a future where opportunity, not incarceration, defines the lives of our most vulnerable citizens."

Bauman said the cost of crime in Kentucky is higher than the potential fiscal impact of HB 5. Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, said the legislature will ensure prisons are properly funded.

"Public safety is important enough that we will make sure that there is funding and capacity if people make horribly bad choices and continue to break the laws of this commonwealth," Petrie said.

House Minority Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson, D-Lexington, said her heart "bleeds" for the victims, but she struggles with the size of the legislation. Stevenson attempted a parliamentary move to divide the bill into multiple parts, but the motion failed, and she voted against the measure as a whole.

"If this bill had been 10 different bills, I would have voted for a lot of them," Stevenson said, adding she could not vote "yes" because of the unlawful camping provision.

In explaining his "yes" vote the legislation, Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, said he supports the three-strikes provision for violent felony offenders.

"When you violate the trust of this free society, you've got to pay a price ... and if you can't participate in a free society, then you need to be removed from that society," he said.

The House approved the Safer Kentucky Act by a 74-22 vote. The measure now moves on to the Senate for consideration.

Committee advances elections ID bill

January 24, 2024

Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, testifies on Senate Bill 80 during Wednesday's meeting of the Senate State and Local Government Committee. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday advanced a measure that would disqualify certain identification cards as acceptable forms of voter ID.

Sponsored by Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, Senate Bill 80 would omit student or employee identification cards and credit or debit cards from a list of acceptable documents voters can use at polls to verify their identities.

Southworth is the primary sponsor of the bill, which received approval from the committee with a 9-2 vote. In her testimony, she called current election laws convoluted and disorganized.

"Currently, every other document on this particular list is a government-issued document, or it includes at least more than a name, for example a photograph," she said. "And the credit card only has a name."

Southworth said it's vital that voters confirm their addresses so poll workers can ensure they are on the voter rolls.

She said student IDs are not appropriate as a primary source of identification for voting purposes because students often live elsewhere and have a right to absentee voting. However, with government-issued identification cards, holders generally have to swear an oath or adhere to an ethics code, for example, she said.

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said the measure could make it more difficult for some people to vote and that she hasn't seen any evidence that such forms of ID are more likely to result in fraud. She voted against the measure.

"My understanding is that the board of elections is not asking for this. I haven't heard the secretary of state asking for this. I'm a little worried this is a solution in search of a problem," she said.

Southworth said it's the legislature's duty to decide what its members do.

"We decide what we want, and it's their job to do this. It's not their job to tell us how we need to do our job. And I feel like that's a big, important thing that people usually lose," she said.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, voted in favor of the bill. He noted that voter ID cards are available without charge at local county clerks' offices.

"I've always thought that these other forms of ID shouldn't be acceptable at the polls, and I think it's a good bill, very straightforward," he said.

The bill now advances to the Senate for consideration.

Senate OKs bill on local Section 8 rules

January 24, 2024

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, speaks Wednesday on Senate Bill 25, legislation related to landlords and tenants. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate moved forward Wednesday on a measure that would prohibit local governments from requiring landlords to accept tenants who participate in Section 8 housing.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said Senate Bill 25 deals with the protection of property rights – rights that have a long history in the United States and around the world.

"The bottom line is that property owners own their property. It's not the city's property. It's not the state's property," he said. "We have a housing crisis, granted. If cities and counties want to help solve that crisis, they are free to do so. But they probably need to do it with some of their money and not other people's money."

In addition to the provisions on Section 8, the bill also states that no local ordinance can be enacted that conflicts with Kentucky law on eviction statutes.

West called the bill a preemptive measure and said such protections allow individuals to gauge risks and procure loans to invest in property. Local laws that abridge those rights could throw the system into a tailspin, he said.

"This is a simple protection of the status quo – rights that landlords currently have under statute, under our current eviction statutes, rights that they currently enjoy under the federal Section 8 housing program," he said.

SB 25 received approval with a 30-6 vote and now heads to the House. However, several critics spoke against the bill before it advanced off the floor.

One of them, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said the bill would invalidate other local laws in the area of housing and that tenants should not face discrimination based on their source of income.

Louisville enacted a law to prevent such discrimination in 2020, and "property owners were and still are committed to implementing it. Renters benefitted from it. It was no longer OK for a landlord to post an ad saying no Section 8 need to apply," she said. "It gave people dignity, and it gave people housing. This bill we are considering today would undo those important protections."

Chambers Armstrong said the Section 8 program doesn't require landlords to set a particular rent or prohibit them from charging a fair market rate, and it doesn't stop them from charging security deposits.

"It is designed to support renters, not to restrict property owners," she said.

But Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said if a landlord is forced by the government to take Section 8 payments, it's an insult to the rights enshrined in the constitution.

"When government starts forcing landlords to accept less than what the market value is for their property, that's where we have the problem. It's happening here in Lexington," he said.

Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, said he's a landlord, and agreed that the measure would undermine the local rules adopted in Louisville.

"I set what the value of the property is. If Section 8 can pay that amount, then they can apply. If that amount is set above what Section 8 would pay for, then that person can't use that property. As a landlord, I set that," he said.

Another property owner, Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said the measure would impact "a class of people like myself," and rent control is not the issue. He also opposed the bill.

"In Lexington, 75%, 3 out of 4 Section 8 vouchers, are given to Blacks in Lexington. The overwhelming numbers of Section 8 vouchers in Lexington are Black Americans," he said.

But others, like Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, spoke in favor of the legislation.

"This bill is about property rights. Rules and regulations kill new housing developments. Rules and regulations kill the remodeling of existing houses," he said. "Yes, there is a housing crisis, but overburdensome rules hurt housing."

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, also voted for SB 25.

"This bill is a solid bill to keep local individuals from creating and exacerbating bad policies, which will negatively impact access to housing," he said.

Senate forges ahead to expand KEES funds for homeschooled students

January 23, 2024

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, speaks on behalf of Senate Bill 7, which would allow homeschooled students to receive Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship awards. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that would allow homeschooled students to receive Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship awards to attend college.

Senate Bill 7, which received approval with a 33-4 vote, would permit homeschooled students to earn the scholarship funds based on their scores stemming from certain academic measures, including a score on the Classic Learning Test.

The bill's primary sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said students don't have to take the CLT, but it would be an option.

"This is a bill I think we have passed for the last five years. And it is to allow for KEES money to be given to homeschool students equally as it is to public school students," he said. "Currently, homeschool students only qualify for the ACT award, which can be up to $500."

Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, voted for the measure, but said he's not yet convinced the CLT is academically rigorous.

"I do worry about the apples and apples comparison between the ACT and the SAT and now the CLT, the Classic Learning Test," he said, adding that the CLT doesn't appear to measure up.

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said she unequivocally supports expanding KEES money to homeschooled students. However, she doesn't favor a test that possibly has religious bias in it. She voted no on the bill.

"Our goal as a state and our goal as elected leaders of the state is to educate as many of our children to the absolute highest level that is possible," she said. "I do have my own personal problem with the CLT exam in that, on their own website, they acknowledge that 25% of their questions have a religious or philosophical basis to them."

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, said there are many fans of the CLT test, and it's based on the history of western civilization.

"The Classic Learning Test has been an interesting debate over the years," he said, adding that the ACT and SAT are being deemphasized, and CLT is gaining in popularity. He said the CLT includes Plato, Socrates and Jewish figures.

Another supporter, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, voted in favor of the measure and said expanding testing options is a "wonderful idea."

"I think this is a great bill. It's past time for us to reward our homeschool families and smaller private institutions with the KEES funding," she said.

The Senate will reconvene Wednesday at 2 p.m.

House approves property owner rights bill

January 23, 2024

Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, speaks on property rights bill House Bill 18 on the House floor on Tuesday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House of Representatives voted in favor of legislation to protect the rights of landlords on Tuesday.

House Bill 18 would prohibit local governments from requiring landlords to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance, like Section 8 vouchers.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester. He said HB 18 would "stop the blatant overreach" of local governments who have already adopted ordinances to that effect or are considering it.

"Property ownership is a basic tenet of capitalism, and protecting those rights are vital to every one of us," Dotson said. "I'm all about local control. My voting record reflects that ... This is where we, as a body, should draw a line in the sand, because this is not truly a local control issue. It is a property rights issue."

Another provision of HB 18 would prohibit local governments from requiring property owners to pay fees that result from a first responder being called to a property, regardless of who made the call.

Rep. Rachel Roarx, D-Louisville, said the legislation is a "housing discrimination bill."

"Let's be clear who these vouchers help and who anti-discrimination laws help," she said. "It helps our veterans, our seniors or individuals with disabilities. It helps our immigrants, their families and children, and the housing insecure, (and) our chronically homeless."

Dotson said that local governments who have ordinances prohibiting landlords from declining to accept federal assistance are hurting the rental market and access to housing for everyone.

"I think this is just a basic property rights bill," Dotson said. "It doesn't discriminate against anybody. It protects Black landlords, Hispanic landlords, Pakistani landlords, and even white landlords."

The House approved HB 18 by a 74-20 vote. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Teacher misconduct bill on the move

January 23, 2024

Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, presents House Bill 275, a bill to curb teacher misconduct, before the House Education Committee on Tuesday. A high-res version is available here.

FRANKFORT — A House bill requiring school districts to fully investigate teacher misconduct advanced from the House Education Committee on Tuesday.

Committee chair Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 275. He sponsored similar legislation in 2023.

Tipton said the legislation is inspired by unfortunate incidents across the state where teachers engaged in abusive misconduct with a student. In many cases, the school was not able to complete an investigation once the teacher resigned. That teacher was then able to get a new job in a new district and repeat the behavior.

"This is a sad reality," Tipton said. "And the intent of House Bill 275 is to try to prevent this from happening."

HB 275 would require teacher applicants to disclose any allegation, investigation or disciplinary action within the past 12 months related to abusive conduct while employed by a school district. It would also require schools to do an in-depth reference check on the applicant.

School districts would also be required to complete an abusive misconduct investigation – even if that teacher resigns – before the investigation is complete. Under HB 275, abusive conduct is defined as misconduct involving a minor or a student, including sexual misconduct and conduct subject to mandatory reporting under current state law.

The legislation would also require the Kentucky Department of Education to provide training to teachers by 2025 on what is appropriate and inappropriate conduct with students and how to spot warning signs of grooming and sexual abuse.

Kentucky student Kotomi Yokokura testified before the committee in support of HB 275 and shared her experience of being sexually abused by a teacher in high school. Yokokura said she was not the only student that teacher engaged with in sexual misconduct.

"I was not the first person to experience educator sexual misconduct in Kentucky, and I'm not the last," Yokokura said. "This bill is important because it can prevent these teachers from being able to continue abusing students."

One provision of HB 275 would prohibit nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct involving a minor or a student. Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, and Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, asked Tipton if that provision would impact the privacy of the student.

Tipton said no, and he believes the existing Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) would still apply.

"It is certainly not the intent to allow private information of a minor child to become public," he added.

The House Education Committee approved HB 275 unanimously.

In explaining his "yes" vote, Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, said teachers who abuse children should be punished, but there are many great teachers as well.

"I do want the public to understand that people that are involved in this in schools need to be severely punished," Riley said. "It is morally wrong as anything can be to abuse young people. But I also want them to realize that the vast majority of teachers are good people who do good things every day."

HB 275 will now go before the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

Lawmakers shrug off the winter weather to move bills on crime and housing

January 18, 2024

The Capitol campus remained under repair and under a blanket of snow Friday as lawmakers wrapped up the third week of the 2024 legislative session. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly found it's rhythm in the third week of the 2024 legislative session as lawmakers brushed off the snow and began plowing through bills on crime, housing and other key issues.

The House Majority Caucus kicked off the short, four-day week Tuesday by ending months of anticipation and unveiling a $125 billion budget proposal for the state's next biennium.

House leaders said the spending plan, House Bill 6, places a heavy focus on education, public safety, infrastructure and health services.

The legislation is now awaiting assignment to committee and will likely be one of the most watched and most debated measures before the legislature this year.

Meanwhile, an omnibus crime bill – another priority for the House Majority – began moving through the process this week when it passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Known as the Safer Kentucky Act, the 72-page bill would ramp up the penalties for repeat violent offenders and for a variety of offenses, including carjacking, killing a first responder, fleeing arrest and for selling fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose.

The measure, House Bill 5, would also regulate charitable bail organizations and crack down on unlawful camping.

Supporters say the changes are needed to improve public safety and hold criminals accountable, but opponents argue that it would increase incarceration costs while failing to address the root causes of crime.

HB 5 is now headed to the full House for consideration.

Throughout the busy week, lawmakers also turned their attention to local housing ordinances that forbid landlords from refusing tenants based on their source of rental income.

On Wednesday, the Senate State and Local Government Committee voted in favor of Senate Bill 25, which would prohibit local governments from requiring landlords to accept renters in the Section 8 housing program.

A similar measure, House Bill 18, would likewise forbid local governments from requiring landlords to accept tenants that participate in federal housing assistance. It won approval from the House State Government Committee on Thursday.

Proponents say such bills help protect the rights of property owners, but critics have raised concerns that they will only exacerbate the housing crisis. Both bills now head their respective chambers.

Thursday ended on a solemn note when both the House and Senate adopted resolutions pledging support for Israel, and lawmakers struggled to hold back emotion on the chamber floors as they condemned the violence of Oct. 7.

The resolutions express hope that "the state of Israel and its neighbors can live in freedom and peace with mutual recognition of each other's dignity and autonomy."

Other bills on the move this week included measures on Medicaid, elections and college scholarships. Here's a look at some of the legislation:

Medicaid Managed Care: Senate Bill 24 aims to streamline administrative procedures related to Medicaid managed care by limiting the number of managed care organizations to no more than three. The bill cleared the Senate floor on Tuesday.

Lottery Winners: House Bill 80 seeks to protect the anonymity of lottery winners by allowing them to withhold their name and likeness from certain public records. The House Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations advanced the measure Wednesday.

Smoke Alarms: House Bill 23 would require existing residences to have at least one working smoke alarm before the residence is sold, leased or rented to a new tenant. The bill passed out of the House Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations on Wednesday.

Adoption Records: House Bill 87 would allow certain adult family members to inspect adoption records after a birth parent or adoptee has passed away. The House Judiciary Committee passed the legislation Wednesday.

Wrongful Convictions: House Bill 178 would allow people who are wrongfully convicted of a crime to sue the state for monetary damages based on the length of their incarceration and several other factors. The bill moved out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Election Cycles: Senate Bill 10 proposes to amend the state constitution and move elections for constitutional officers – such as the governor and attorney general – from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. The Senate approved the measure on Wednesday.

Artificial Intelligence: House Concurrent Resolution 38 calls for the creation of a new task force that would review the use of artificial intelligence in government and recommend possible legislation to protect consumers. The measure cleared the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee on Thursday.

Hunting and Fishing: House Bill 217 would change a statute on hunting and fishing licenses for landowners. State law allows Kentuckians to hunt and fish without a license on their own farmland if the property is at least five acres in size. HB 217 would eliminate the acreage requirement. The bill passed out of the House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee on Thursday. A similar measure – Senate Bill 5 – advanced off the Senate floor last week.

KEES Scholarships: Senate Bill 7 would allow homeschooled students to receive Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship funds based on their score on the Classic Learning Test. The Senate Education Committee advanced the bill Thursday.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gavel back in on Monday for day 14 of the 60-day session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

House Judiciary Committee advances Safer Kentucky Act

January 18, 2024

Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, speaks on the Safer Kentucky Act before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Harsher penalties for repeat violent felony offenders and individuals guilty of carjacking or harming a first responder are among the many proposed updates to criminal law in Kentucky.

House Bill 5, also known as the Safer Kentucky Act, advanced from the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, is the primary sponsor. He said the bill focuses on holding criminals accountable for their actions.

"With this bill, House Bill 5, we are reasserting some basic and simple truths," Bauman said. "And that is criminals, not society, are accountable for their actions. And society has the right to protect itself from the criminal element. That criminal element an all too normal part of our world today."

Bauman testified on HB 5 alongside cosponsors House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, and Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville. A few Kentucky families of crime victims and other stakeholders also testified in favor of the legislation.

The families were there to advocate for provisions of the bill that would regulate charitable bail organizations and create harsher penalties for fleeing and eluding arrest and for killing a first responder. Under HB 5, murder of a first responder would be considered a capital offense. Guilty individuals would face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The 72-page, comprehensive legislation would also create harsher penalties and felony charges for a variety of offenses, including carjacking. Individuals who sell fentanyl and cause a fatal overdose would be charged with capital murder under HB 5.

Misdemeanor penalties for unlawful camping would also be established in the bill.

Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, said he supports HB 5, even though he thinks some of the drug-related death penalties should be harsher.

"We, as a government, have a responsibility to protect the citizens of this commonwealth, and that's what we've done with House Bill 5," Blanton said. "Quite frankly, I don't think you go far enough. I think that if someone traffics drugs of any sort and someone overdoses and dies, they ought to be charged with murder."

Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, said he has several concerns about the legislation, including the provisions on unlawful camping.

"If we're going to criminalize on-street camping, if we're going to put these people in jail, let's at least make sure that the government is providing a place for people to go," Doan said. "We do it for animals, let's do it for humans too."

Doan also said he has a concern about text messages in relation to violations of orders of protection. Bauman said he would commit to addressing his concerns.

The House Judiciary Committee approved HB 5 by a 13-5 vote with one pass vote.

In explaining her "no" vote, Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, said HB 5 does not address the root causes of crime in Kentucky, and the bill would make the issue worse.

"There is a mountain of evidence over the decades that has been spoken to and testified to here today that greater incarceration, increased penalties do not result in a deterrence of actual crime," she said. "It does not actually result in safer communities. I am hopeful that maybe we can agree on some legislation in the future that would result in safer communities."

In explaining his "yes" vote, Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, said he thinks the bill does a "great job" of addressing the problems discussed during the meeting. Wilson specifically mentioned a newer version of the bill that makes a distinction in the fleeing and eluding arrest provision.

"I think it shows the thoughtfulness in the bill, the hard work you've put in, and that you're not just looking to throw the book at everyone," he said.

HB 5 will now go before the full House for consideration.

Education committee advances bill to expand KEES funds for homeschooled students

January 18, 2024

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, testifies Thursday on Senate Bill 7, which would allow homeschooled students to receive Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship awards. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate Education Committee advanced a measure Thursday that would allow homeschooled students to receive Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship funds for attending college.

Senate Bill 7 would permit homeschooled students to earn KEES scholarships based on their score from taking the Classic Learning Test, which the bill counts as equivalent to the ACT.

Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, who is sponsoring the legislation, said members of his family were homeschooled and performed well academically, and he would like to see KEES expanded for others learning at home.

"This levels the playing field," he said. "We have about 60,000 kids that are in homeschool, and about 20,000 of them are in grades 9-12 currently. This would allow them a level playing field to be able to achieve what other students are able to achieve in KEES money."

Committee members approved the measure on a 12-0 vote after some discussion over the Classic Learning Test.

Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, asked if there is evidence or research by a "credible source" concerning the Classic Learning Test for college preparedness.

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, a cosponsor of SB 7, said the committee heard extensive testimony on the Classic Learning Test during the interim. He said the test has generated discussion in the past and has been removed in past versions of the bill.

"Then we found out people really did support the Classic Learning Test, and the evidence was there that it was a compatible test that was gaining momentum and respectability in the education establishment so we decided to put it back in," he said.

Neal responded that he's seeking definitive information on the test's efficacy.

"It was my understanding that the only place that this has been dealt with broadly is in Florida," he said. "In other words, there are institutions and entities, small ones that are done here and there. I'm sure there's value in it because the classics, I have an affinity for that myself. But I'm just looking for a basis, and maybe there's a specific site."

Schickel said he'll provide additional information to Neal about the test.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said the ACT might not hold the stature it once had among colleges and universities to determine a potential students' college readiness level. West is chair of the committee.

"In some situations, maybe the ACT's out of vogue. It's not as prestigious or used as much as it once was, so was that a factor in maybe adding the Classic Learning Test to the list? Is that a possible factor?" he said.

Schickel said he thinks the committee received testimony on that issue during the interim, and that the Classic Learning Test was gaining momentum.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said he has been supportive of homeschooled students, but he also has concerns about the Classic Learning Test and agrees with Neal.

"And again, his point is, it's not so much the classics that he expressed concern about and I expressed concern about, it's whether the CLT is on the same par as the SAT and ACT," he said. "We all accept those as acceptable standardized tests to determine college readiness,"

Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Givens, R-Greensburg, suggested bill drafters should look at language in the bill to avoid any unintended consequences involving accredited out-of-state high schools and Department of Defense Education Activity schools. He said this could be rectified with a floor amendment.

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, praised the legislation.

"It will be so beneficial to private school and homeschool students and so beneficial to the state of Kentucky to keep them and retain them here with the KEES scholarship money," she said.

Senate committee passes bill on local Section 8 rules

January 17, 2024

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, testifies on Senate Bill 25, a measure that would prohibit local governments from requiring landlords to participate in a Section 8 housing program. A high-res photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted 8-1 Wednesday to advance a measure that would prohibit local governments from requiring landlords to participate in a Section 8 housing program.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said Senate Bill 25 also states that no city ordinance will conflict with existing landlord-tenant state laws. He described the bill as being two bills in one.

"We want to protect property owners. We want to protect landlords and make sure... the value of their property is maintained, and they are able to offer housing to their tenants in a reasonable fashion," he said.

West, a real estate attorney, said that if a landlord accepts Section 8 vouchers, they must also accept all of the Section 8 requirements, including the price that can be charged for renting properties. He also said Section 8 requirements could mean extensive costs to landlords.

The bill states "that no city or county government can mandate that a landlord accept Section 8," he said. "There are some moves afoot in different cities to do that, and in my opinion, that's very dangerous for property, for banks, for landlords and really for housing in general."

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, voted against the bill, arguing that it would prevent officials in Louisville from enforcing a source of income discrimination law, which was passed there with bipartisan support in 2020.

"I didn't hear any opposition from groups about the law. In fact, a lot of property owners in Louisville were really focused on making sure that landlords understood how to comply," she said.

West said the Louisville ordinance may not conflict with the proposed legislation, but added that a landlord can't be mandated to accept a potential tenant with Section 8. He said SB 25 would help make sure that cities know state law overrides local law when they conflict.

Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, who voted in favor of the bill, said most people don't understand Section 8, and many landlords like it because it is guaranteed income.

"They think Section 8 is a building that accepts tenants that are on Section 8. That is not true," he said. "Section 8 is an assistance to tenants. When a Section 8 person comes to a landlord, they ask if they will accept Section 8. That means the landlord accepts that program, which has certain things that you have to abide by."

Several people spoke against the measure during the meeting's public comment period Wednesday.

Bryanna Carroll, director of public affairs for the Kentucky League of Cities, said the organization's board has voted to oppose the legislation over concerns that it would erode the local decision-making process.

One critic, Lexington Councilmember Shayla D. Lynch, said the legislation would exasperate the housing crisis in Lexington and that some landlords will evict tenants.

West said it's important for the legislature to recognize that the housing crisis is a real challenge. However, he argued that the two main causes are inflation and planning and zoning laws that prevent the building of new apartments and houses.

West added that he would anticipate litigation if cities force property owners to accept Section 8.

"If you force a property owner to accept Section 8, I would say that is unconstitutional," he said. "So yes, some of this is preemptive, but as legislators, we swore an oath to uphold the United States Constitution."

SB 25 now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Wrongfully convicted compensation bill advances from committee

January 17, 2024

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, testifies on House Bill 178 before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The bill would allow wrongfully convicted Kentuckians the ability to seek compensation A high-res photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — Kentuckians who were wrongfully convicted of a crime may soon be eligible to receive monetary compensation from the state.

House Bill 178 received unanimous approval from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, is the primary sponsor of the legislation.

Financial compensation under HB 178 would be limited to individuals whose charges were reversed or vacated, who were found not guilty on retrial, or who were issued a full pardon by the governor.

"These people have to prove under this bill actual innocence to get any, any recovery," Nemes said.

HB 178 would grant $65,000 in damages for each year a claimant was falsely imprisoned. If that person was on death row, the damages would increase to $75,000 per year of imprisonment. Damages of $25,000 would also be awarded for each year a claimant spent on parole, in post incarceration supervision or on the sex offender registry, whichever is greater.

Claimants would also be entitled to attorney's fees compensation and restitution reimbursement, among other compensation if it applies, such as housing assistance.

Suzanne Hopf, supervisor of the Kentucky Innocence Project, testified in favor of the legislation alongside a few exonerees.

"Our exonerees face a tremendous amount of problems when they reenter society, and this kind of bill would allow them to get that toehold back," Hopf said. "It wouldn't completely make up for all the years that they've lost, but would at least put them in a situation where they can provide transportation for themselves. They can get an education, and they can also provide housing."

Advocate and exoneree Johnetta Carr was wrongfully convicted in 2008. She spent four years incarcerated and more than eight years on parole. Carr said she supports HB 178.

"Today we have a chance to right the wrongs of history and start a new thing in Kentucky to compensate people that's been wrongfully convicted," Carr said. "No amount of money will make up for the 214 years collectively exonerees in Kentucky spent innocently behind bars, but I do believe it is a step in the right direction."

Committee chair Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, is a co-sponsor of HB 178.

"I want to say I support this too," he said.

Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, said she also supports the bill.

"It's about time that we get around to taking care of the people that we have wrongfully convicted," she said.

Burke asked Nemes if he would support a floor amendment that would require the Administrative Office of the Courts to gather information on exonerees and report the findings to the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee.

Nemes said he would.

HB 178 will now go before the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

January 12, 2024

Rep. Brandon Reed, R-Hodgenville, (right) hugs Rep. Shawn McPherson, R-Scottsville, during a farewell on the House floor Friday. Reed is resigning to serve as a policy director for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. A high-res photo is available here.

FRANKFORT — Two bills related to elections – including one that seeks to amend the state constitution – were on the move this week as lawmakers began to pick up steam in the 2024 legislative session.

Friday marked day nine of the 60-day session, and eight measures have received at least one vote in committee so far. Only one, however, has been sent to governor's desk.

House Bill 161 was the first measure to pass out of both chambers after it received a final nod on the Senate floor Thursday. The legislation, passed with bipartisan support, seeks to address concerns over candidate filings for the next election.

Kentucky counties recently redrew the boundaries for their local voting precincts, and HB 161 would ensure that candidates are not disqualified for using outdated precinct names or numbers on their nomination forms if the changes occurred after Nov. 8.

The other election bill, Senate Bill 10, proposes an amendment the Kentucky constitution related to election cycles.

Right now, elections for governor, treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, secretary of state, and agriculture commissioner all occur in odd-numbered years. SB 10 aims to move those elections to even-numbered years starting in 2032.

Lawmakers have debated the change for years with supporters saying that it would save millions in state and local dollars and improve voter participation by aligning state and national elections. Critics, however, say the change would conflate state and national issues at election time.

The legislation advanced out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday and is posted for action on the Senate floor next week. If the bill becomes law, the proposed constitutional amendment would still need approval from Kentucky voters before taking effect.

Another measure making progress this week was House Bill 179, which would clear the way for employers to offer their workers an option to purchase paid family leave insurance. Workers who purchase the insurance would receive temporary wage replacement when caring for a sick family member or new child.

HB 179 won approval from the House Banking and Insurance Committee and now heads to the House floor.

The week closed out with some parting words in the House on Friday as lawmakers said farewell to one of their own – Rep. Brandon Reed, R-Hodgenville – who is resigning to take on a role as policy director for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

The chambers will not convene on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but will gavel back in on Tuesday for the 10th day of the session.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Bill on election cycles wins approval in Senate committee

January 10, 2024

Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, speaks Wednesday on Senate Bill 10, a measure proposing to amend the state's constitution regarding the election of state officers. A high-resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — The Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday advanced a measure that seeks to amend the state constitution and change the election cycle for state officers.

Senate Bill 10 would move elections for the governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, secretary of state, and agriculture commissioner to even-numbered years, every four years, starting in 2032. Right now, those elections occur on odd-numbered years.

If the bill becomes law, the proposed constitutional amendment within the bill would still need approval from Kentucky voters before taking effect.

"What this will do is dramatically increase the number of voters who participate in a constitutional election year," said the bill's primary sponsor, Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights.

The changes would also save the state nearly $2 million and counties more than $15 million, he said.

"At a time of tough budgets and when every level of government continues to look for ways to find funding, this is a significant way to be able to help those counties and also to ensure we have more people participate in our democracy," McDaniel said.

He also noted that voters would appreciate a year free from political ads.

The sole committee member to cast a no vote was Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville. She said she researched the history around Kentucky's election cycles ahead of the meeting.

"The first year that we had our constitutional elections in a nonpresidential year was 1851. And when the framers of the 1851 constitution made that change, they spoke particularly about the need for us to have an election focused on Kentucky issues in Kentucky and about the need to get rid of some of the confusion about allowing national issues to infiltrate our Kentucky election," she said.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he takes the opposite approach to elections than Chambers Armstrong, and said he feels confident the measure would pass if put before voters for consideration.

"People are getting less and less interested in our statewide races. Turnout was down over 8% this year in 2023 than it was in 2019," he said. "There was more money spent on the campaign for governor this year than any statewide campaign for constitutional office in Kentucky history. I think the people are voting with their feet by staying home."

Like Thayer, Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, said he supports the measure.

"I'm confident that the voters of Kentucky will see the efficacy of this amendment to the constitution," he said.

The bill next moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Paid Family Leave Insurance Act clears committee

January 10, 2024

Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, presents House Bill 179 before the House Banking and Insurance Committee on Wednesday. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — Kentucky employers may soon have a new way to offer employees paid family leave.

House Bill 179 would give private and public employers the option to allow employees to purchase paid family leave insurance.

Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, is the primary sponsor of HB 179. She presented the legislation to the House Banking and Insurance Committee alongside other stakeholders on Wednesday. She said the legislation would not be a mandate, and paid family leave insurance would be considered a type of health insurance.

"This is a market-driven policy proposal that includes no mandates on employers, workers or families," Heavrin said.

Under HB 179, paid family leave insurance would allow for temporary wage replacement for workers who take leave to care for a sick family member or bond with a child after a birth, adoption or foster care placement. It could also be used when caring for a family member who is a first responder or member of the military and who was injured in the line of duty, she added.

Charles Aull, executive director for the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research, said the legislation would benefit Kentucky employers as well as employees.

"This is something that can be helpful for attracting and retaining talent for employers that are already offering some form of paid family leave insurance primarily through a self-insurance model," Aull said. "This could be an opportunity for them to potentially reduce their total cost. It could also allow them to expand benefits... This is, of course, something that's also really good though for children and families."

Rep. Shawn McPherson, R-Scottsville, asked if HB 179 creates a waiting period for how long a person must be employed before receiving benefits. Aull said the legislation makes that the employer's choice.

Rep. Rachel Roarx, D-Louisville, said HB 179 is a "great first-step."

"I would just say that family planning is increasingly important for folks and particularly retaining our women in the workforce," she said. "So, I think that this is great in providing that opportunity to make us more competitive with our surrounding states, and it makes our businesses able to attract more diverse folks."

Heavrin said Kentucky would join at least six other states in allowing for paid family leave insurance if HB 179 passes.

Rep. Tom Smith, R-Corbin, also spoke in favor of HB 179. He said he appreciates that the legislation is not a mandate and would not place a burden on small employers.

"I support the endeavor, and I think it's great that we're doing these things," Smith said. "But I just like to keep those in mind, the ones who that don't have the checkbooks that the big corporations have to offer these things all the time, so I appreciate it."

The House Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously approved HB 179. It now moves to the full House for consideration.

This Week at the State Capitol

January 5, 2024

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, (left) and House Speaker David W. Osborne, R-Prospect, speak to reporters at a press conference Wednesday. A high-resolution photo is available here.

FRANKFORT —Lawmakers filed more than 200 bills this week on issues ranging from milk safety to the death penalty as the Kentucky General Assembly rolled through the first four days of the 2024 legislative session.

The House and Senate convened the 60-day regular session on Tuesday and maintained a lean schedule throughout the week with a heavy focus on introducing bills in the chambers and assigning them to committees.

The chamber rules, specifically the process for hearing and adopting bills, was the only issue to draw much debate during the four days, and a Senate measure related to hunting and fishing licenses was the first and only bill to receive a hearing in committee.

Under state law, Kentuckians may hunt and fish without a license on their own farmland – if the property is at least five acres in size. Senate Bill 5 would eliminate the language on acreage, which supporters said has caused concern among some landowners.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said on the Senate floor that SB 5 is on track to receive a floor vote on Tuesday and will likely be the first bill advanced out of the chamber.

One highly-anticipated measure this year is the state's biennial budget. The spending plan will guide state appropriations through the end of fiscal year 2026 and is expected to generate as much or more discussion than any other issue this session.

On Wednesday, House Minority Floor Leader Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, filed House Bill 114 and 110, two measures that reflect Gov. Andy Beshear's budget proposals for the state executive branch.

House Speaker David W. Osborne, R-Prospect, told reporters at a press conference later that day that he expects the House majority to unveil a budget plan within the next week or two.

"Obviously this is a budget session. That will dominate much of our focus, certainly in the early part of the session," he said, adding that bills on crime and maternal health are also garnering an early focus.

The Senate wrapped up the week on Friday with a solemn resolution and a moment of silence in memory of the late Kentucky governor and legislator Julian Carroll, who passed away in December.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gavel back in on Monday for day five of the session. They have until Feb. 26 to introduce new bills in the House and until Feb. 28 to introduce new bills in the Senate. The chambers are scheduled to adjourn sine die on April 15.

Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Hunting and fishing bill receives first hearing of the 2024 session

January 4, 2024

Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, testifies on Senate Bill 5 during Thursday's meeting of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee. He is primary sponsor of SB 5 related to hunting and fishing licenses for landowners. A high resolution photo can be found here.

FRANKFORT — A measure on hunting and fishing licenses for landowners – the first bill to receive a hearing in the 2024 legislative session – advanced out of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Thursday.

State law allows Kentuckians to hunt and fish without a license on their own farmland if the property is at least five acres in size. However, Senate Bill 5 would eliminate the language on acreage, which supporters said has caused concern among landowners.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, said SB 5 provides a technical correction to a law that added the wording about acres to statute last year.

"It's just six words – very clear," he said. "There's some discussion we might have later on on some of these areas."

The measure generated some debate in committee over the statutory definition of farmland.

Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, sponsored the change in 2023 and said Thursday that there had been a "campaign of misinformation" regarding the requirement.

She noted that state and national definitions of farmland call for at least 10 acres of property and said the earlier legislation was crafted as an accommodation and at the request of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

However, she voted for SB 5 "because if we go back to the original law that's been that way for many, many years."

Williams said the issue may have created a gap between the strict legal understanding and the popular understanding of how the law works. But he said he expects to close that gap as the session proceeds.

Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, also voted in favor of the measure.

"I am for this language because I voted against last year to change it, so I have no problem reverting back," she said. "I know everybody is talking about this now that everyone's started realizing what it was."

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, also voted for the measure, and said it's an important issue that's been mired in confusion, but will be addressed through small changes.

"This has been a huge, huge issue up in my district, and I thank Senator Williams ...for addressing it in the first week of the session," he said.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said on the Senate floor Thursday that the bill is on track to receive a floor vote next week.

"That is likely to be the first bill that we take action on this floor on Monday or Tuesday of next week," he said.

Stay connected to the General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session

December 20, 2023

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly will begin its 60-day legislative session on Jan. 2, and Kentuckians have many ways to follow along with the action.

Kentuckians can use online resources to:
-- See the General Assembly’s daily schedule
-- Tune in to live coverage of legislative meetings
-- Find information on their legislators
-- Contact lawmakers and offer feedback
-- Read bills and resolutions
-- Receive a notice when a bill advances
-- See how lawmakers voted on bills and resolutions
-- View materials on committee topics and testimony
-- Learn about the legislative process

All that and much more is available on the General Assembly Home Page: https://legislature.ky.gov/pages/index.aspx.

Following the General Assembly’s work often begins with a daily look at the Legislative Calendar: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar. The calendar shows which committees are meeting and when the Senate and House will convene.

The full 2024 session calendar and the 2024 schedules for standing committees, which are subject to change, are available on the Schedules and Calendars webpage: https://legislature.ky.gov/Schedules-Calendars/Pages/default.aspx

Livestreams of legislative action can be viewed through feeds provided by Kentucky Educational Television (KET) and the Legislative Research Commission (LRC).

KET livestreams all chamber proceedings and many committee meetings. LRC provides full coverage of all committee meetings on YouTube. For links to the livestreams, go to https://legislature.ky.gov/Public%20Services/PIO/Pages/Live-Streams.aspx.

You can find each lawmakers’ contact info, biographical info, committee assignments and sponsored legislation by clicking on the “Legislators” tab near the top of the General Assembly Home Page: https://legislature.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx. You can also look up who represents your district.

The online Legislative Record ( https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislation/Pages/default.aspx) has information on every piece of legislation introduced in the Senate and House. You can read summaries, the full text of bills, resolutions, amendments and see exactly how far each piece of legislation has advanced in the process. Bills can be looked up according to bill number, sponsor or topic. If a bill has been voted on in a chamber, you can see how each lawmaker voted by clicking “Vote History” on a bill’s summary page.

Bill Watch, a bill tracking service provided through a partnership of Kentucky.gov and LRC, sends users email notifications each time the bills they are interested in take a step forward. To sign up for Bill Watch, go to https://kentucky.gov/services/pages/billwatch.aspx.

Information about legislative committees is available at https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/default.aspx. To view materials such as info sheets, handouts and PowerPoint presentations that are compiled for lawmakers to review at committee meetings, click on the “Meeting Materials” tab on the left side of each committee’s page.

To share feedback on an issue with lawmakers, call the General Assembly’s Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. Kentuckians with hearing loss can use Kentucky Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

A Spanish language line for legislative information will be available throughout the General Assembly’s 2023 session by calling 1-866-840-6574.

To directly reach a lawmaker’s office, call 502-564-8100. An operator will transfer the call to the office of the lawmaker you want to reach.

If you have a question about the lawmaking process or legislative resources, the LRC Public Information can be reached by calling 502-564-8100 ext. 59105.

Stay connected to the General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session

December 20, 2023

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly will begin its 60-day legislative session on Jan. 2, and Kentuckians have many ways to follow along with the action.

Kentuckians can use online resources to:
-- See the General Assembly’s daily schedule
-- Tune in to live coverage of legislative meetings
-- Find information on their legislators
-- Contact lawmakers and offer feedback
-- Read bills and resolutions
-- Receive a notice when a bill advances
-- See how lawmakers voted on bills and resolutions
-- View materials on committee topics and testimony
-- Learn about the legislative process

All that and much more is available on the General Assembly Home Page: https://legislature.ky.gov/pages/index.aspx.

Following the General Assembly’s work often begins with a daily look at the Legislative Calendar: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar. The calendar shows which committees are meeting and when the Senate and House will convene.

The full 2024 session calendar and the 2024 schedules for standing committees, which are subject to change, are available on the Schedules and Calendars webpage: https://legislature.ky.gov/Schedules-Calendars/Pages/default.aspx

Livestreams of legislative action can be viewed through feeds provided by Kentucky Educational Television (KET) and the Legislative Research Commission (LRC).

KET livestreams all chamber proceedings and many committee meetings. LRC provides full coverage of all committee meetings on YouTube. For links to the livestreams, go to https://legislature.ky.gov/Public%20Services/PIO/Pages/Live-Streams.aspx.

You can find each lawmakers’ contact info, biographical info, committee assignments and sponsored legislation by clicking on the “Legislators” tab near the top of the General Assembly Home Page: https://legislature.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx. You can also look up who represents your district.

The online Legislative Record ( https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislation/Pages/default.aspx) has information on every piece of legislation introduced in the Senate and House. You can read summaries, the full text of bills, resolutions, amendments and see exactly how far each piece of legislation has advanced in the process. Bills can be looked up according to bill number, sponsor or topic. If a bill has been voted on in a chamber, you can see how each lawmaker voted by clicking “Vote History” on a bill’s summary page.

Bill Watch, a bill tracking service provided through a partnership of Kentucky.gov and LRC, sends users email notifications each time the bills they are interested in take a step forward. To sign up for Bill Watch, go to https://kentucky.gov/services/pages/billwatch.aspx.

Information about legislative committees is available at https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/default.aspx. To view materials such as info sheets, handouts and PowerPoint presentations that are compiled for lawmakers to review at committee meetings, click on the “Meeting Materials” tab on the left side of each committee’s page.

To share feedback on an issue with lawmakers, call the General Assembly’s Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. Kentuckians with hearing loss can use Kentucky Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

A Spanish language line for legislative information will be available throughout the General Assembly’s 2023 session by calling 1-866-840-6574.

To directly reach a lawmaker’s office, call 502-564-8100. An operator will transfer the call to the office of the lawmaker you want to reach.

If you have a question about the lawmaking process or legislative resources, the LRC Public Information can be reached by calling 502-564-8100 ext. 59105.