LRC News Releases
House committee says ‘action’ to film office bill
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, explains the economic benefits of Senate Bill 1 to the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee on Tuesday. The bill would create the Kentucky Film Office. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Horse racing, bourbon and film? With Senate Bill 1, filmmaking could become another one of Kentucky’s signature industries.
The House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee advanced the legislation on Tuesday. SB 1 is sponsored by Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, and Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester.
Wheeler said Kentucky has had some of the most generous tax credits on the books for television and filmmakers for years, but they’re being underutilized.
“Here in Kentucky, with our natural landscape, our friendly people and endless potential, I think that we can take Kentucky film production to the next level,” Wheeler said.
SB 1 would create the Kentucky Film Office within the state Cabinet for Economic Development. Wheeler said Kentucky has the potential to produce a blockbuster hit, and the office would set up the proper infrastructure to support that type of filmmaking.
“The film office will have certain duties. Most importantly, it will basically create a website and the infrastructure necessary to attract these types of feature films to the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Wheeler said. “In addition, there will be a Kentucky Film Leadership Council made up of people in the industry, folks from the economic development cabinet, people that know how to bring the film industry and make it successful in this commonwealth.”
In Georgia, filmmakers have access to a state-ran website where they can look at all the potential filming locations and access information on permitting, among other things. Wheeler said Kentucky is currently missing that key component, but SB 1 would fix that.
There are some critics who feel SB 1 would only help bigger Kentucky cities like Lexington and Louisville. Wheeler said he disagrees, using an upcoming Netflix film that was produced in Louisa as an example.
“There are places that this bill will have an application way beyond Louisville and Lexington, but if it helps Louisville and Lexington, great,” Wheeler said. “If one area of the commonwealth succeeds, we all succeed.”
Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, asked why there is a need for a separate board to get this initiative running.
Stivers said he’s worked on SB 1 for a few years, and through his research and conversations with the cabinet, he’s learned filmmaking is an industry where networking and having certain connections are valuable.
“Secretary (Jeff) Noel said we really don’t have that type of mindset and network within our cabinet, but give us a tool, then we will be able to go to a different level, as Sen. Wheeler said,” Stivers said. “Working with the cabinet – and they did have input on this – this is the product we get.”
Stivers and Wheeler said SB 1 has the potential to boost Kentucky’s economy. Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, asked how the tax incentives may impact local economies.
“What is the local impact in terms of growing workforce, growing small businesses or ancillary benefits like that” she asked.
Citing a 2022 University of Louisville study, Wheeler said the Kentucky film, motion picture and recording industry generated about $200 million in revenue.
“Which they estimated helped other businesses earn approximately $128 million as a result of that, and approximately $27 million was paid in federal, state and local taxes,” he said.
Stivers said the transient room tax will help fund the office.
“The way this is funded is taking up to $500,000 from the transient room tax. They generate $2.5 million a year,” he said.
Andrew McNeil with the Kentucky Forum for Rights, Economics and Education, asked the committee to vote against SB 1 due to the tax incentive provisions in the legislation.
“These are handouts,” he said, adding he doesn’t believe the bill will boost Kentucky’s economy, but will instead use taxpayer money to subsidize the film industry.
Stivers said the system is set up to monitor and ensure the filmmaking industry will make a true investment in Kentucky’s economy.
“If the people come in from out of state and they pay a wage here, they have to pay income tax here,” Stivers said. “That’s how you generate that type of return and payment back.”
The House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee approved SB 1 by a 17-0 vote with one pass vote.
The bill will now go before the full House for consideration.
Legislation seeks to return Ten Commandments monument to Capitol
Rep. Shane Baker, R-Somerset, speaks Monday during a meeting of the Senate State and Local Government Committee. He testified in favor of House Joint Resolution 15, which calls for the return of a Ten Commandments monument to the State Capitol grounds. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A granite monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments would find its way back to the Kentucky State Capitol grounds if House Joint Resolution 15 is adopted.
On Monday, lawmakers on the Senate State and Local Government Committee advanced HJR 15 with an 8-1-1 vote. Rep. Shane Baker, R-Somerset, and Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, testified in favor of the measure.
“This resolution basically does three things: It directs the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to retrieve the monument. It directs them to return that monument to the State Capitol grounds and place it in monument park, then to simply maintain the display,” Baker, primary sponsor of the resolution, testified.
The State Capitol Monument Park includes the Kentucky Organ Donor Monument and the Kentucky COVID Memorial, among others.
Baker said there’s a long history and tradition of public monuments and displays that acknowledge the role and significance of the Ten Commandments and the role they’ve played in the history of the United States.
The Kentucky State Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles donated the moment to Kentucky in 1971. It remained on permanent display until the 1980s, when it was moved to storage amid a construction project.
Lawmakers passed a resolution to return the display in 2000. However, a court prohibited the enforcement of the resolution, and the monument was returned it to the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Hopkinsville.
In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the exhibition of an essentially identical monument at the Texas State Capitol, Baker said, arguing that the court has resolved legal issues around such displays.
Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said she’s a Christian who grew up in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and still attends church on a regular basis. But she cast a pass vote and said she had concerns about making sure other beliefs are represented at the Capitol.
“I’m just curious as to why specifically the Ten Commandments, and if we were to do something like that, what are we going to do to ensure other religions like Buddhism, Muslims, other faiths have a presence here at our Capitol,” she asked.
Baker said the resolution isn’t about religious displays; it’s about returning a historic monument to the Capitol grounds.
“Anyone’s welcome to, if they so desire, to go in the future and file bills or resolutions in that vein to do exactly what you’re talking about, but that’s not what we’re trying to do today,” he said.
Petrie said there have been similar questions posed by House members during this legislative session.
“This deals with a particular historical event, and also a particular monument with particular reasons that endured or suffered through a particular set of Supreme Court cases and tests that, over decades, became obsolete,” he said.
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said she’s a person of faith, and she appreciates the helpful information included in the resolution. However, she voted against the measure, saying that, after reading the key legal cases, it is not clear that returning the display would pass the new legal test.
“I’m worried we’re opening ourselves up to litigation that could be very costly, and I think there’s a lot of legal uncertainty. I recognize this is a very fast-changing landscape,” she said.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, spoke briefly as he voted for the measure.
“I just think that the Ten Commandments are historical documents, almost kind of a secular code of conduct, very fitting to place them here,” he said.
This Week at the State Capitol
Lawmakers prepare bills for a final push next week
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, (left) and Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A Neal, D-Louisville, share a friendly moment on the Senate floor this week. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The 2025 legislative session is winding closer to sine die, and a heap of legislation is stacked up near the goal post after lawmakers worked into the evening this week to count votes and polish up bills for final action in the coming days.
Major bills on college sports, campus diversity programs, learner’s permits, government efficiency, freestanding birthing centers and Kentucky’s film industry were all gaining ground throughout the week, along with a late-breaking proposal on cannabis-infused drinks.
The beverages bill – Senate Bill 202 – calls for state regulations on intoxicating drinks derived from cannabis that have begun appearing in gas stations and vape shops.
It would grant the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control authority over the licensing, distribution, and retail sale of cannabis-infused beverages, using a three-tier system similar to the one for alcohol. The legislation would also limit the amount of intoxicating cannabinoids in such drinks – sometimes referred to as “weed water.”
SB 202 cleared a committee vote late Wednesday and passed off the Senate floor Friday after the sponsor removed a moratorium on the sale of such products that had appeared in an earlier version of the bill.
Proponents said the products are not approved by the FDA and that additional oversight is needed to protect consumers, particularly children, from exposure to THC, the psychoactive chemical in cannabis. Critics largely agreed that regulations are needed, but said they would like to take more time to work through the proposal.
The bill now heads to the House.
Meanwhile, one of the most watched bills from this year’s session – House Bill 4 – has been sent to the Senate.
The measure would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public postsecondary institutions. Specifically, it would forbid differential treatment in hiring, admissions, scholarships and other areas based on religion, race, sex, color or national origin.
Among several other provisions, the bill would also prevent campuses from requiring or incentivizing students to in participate in D.E.I. training, and it would prohibit institutions from using resources on D.E.I. training, offices and initiatives.
The legislation cleared the House Committee on Postsecondary Education on Tuesday and advanced off the House floor Wednesday 81-18 following impassioned debate over the impact of D.E.I. initiatives on students and staff.
HB 4 has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee for potential action next week.
Amid all the debates, two of the Senate’s priority bills have continued to move forward with relative ease.
Senate Bill 1 would establish the Kentucky Film Office to administer the state’s film incentive program, help market the state to the film industry and develop workforce training. The bill cleared the Senate on Tuesday with a unanimous vote.
Senate Bill 3, which would update Kentucky’s name, image and likeness law for college athletes, also cleared the Senate floor Tuesday without opposition and moved out of the House Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment on Thursday.
The legislation would align Kentucky’s law – adopted in 2022 – with national standards, particularly in the aftermath of the House v. NCAA court case, which could open the door to universities directly compensating student athletes.
In addition, a long-discussed measure on freestanding birthing centers has won renewed support in the House.
House Bill 90 would create a legal framework for freestanding birthing centers to operate in Kentucky. The House Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations passed the bill Wednesday, and it cleared the House on Thursday 82-9.
The general assembly has debated the issue for years, but the concept appears to be gaining support for a potential breakthrough in 2025, and a similar measure has already passed the Senate.
Many other bills were on the move this week. Here’s a look at some of the legislation making headway:
Squatting – House Bill 10 seeks to crack down on squatting by providing a more concrete procedure for property owners and law enforcement to quickly remove unauthorized occupants from private property. It would also spell out criminal penalties for squatters who damage property. The House passed the legislation Tuesday.
Financial Literacy – House Bill 342 would require high school students to earn one credit in a financial literacy course before graduation. The bill cleared the House on Tuesday.
Gift Card Scams – Under Senate Bill 130, individuals who tamper with gift cards with the intention to steal funds could face a class D felony charge. The Senate passed the bill Tuesday.
Government Efficiency – Senate Bill 257 would create the Office of Government Efficiency within the state auditor’s office. The agency would evaluate and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and performance of state offices and programs. The bill cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Monday and the Senate floor on Wednesday.
Terroristic Threatening – Under House Bill 621, parents could face fines if their children are adjudicated for terroristic threatening and the threat caused law enforcement to incur an excessive cost during the response. The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee passed the measure Wednesday.
Learner’s Permits – House Bill 15 would reduce the minimum age for getting a learner’s permit in Kentucky from 16 to 15 years old. The Senate Transportation Committee voted in favor of the bill Wednesday.
Chevron Deference – Under Senate Bill 84, courts could no longer defer to a state agency’s interpretation when dealing with ambiguity in statutes, administrative regulations or orders, a practice known as Chevron deference. The bill on Wednesday cleared the House Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations.
Cigar Bars – House Bill 211 would create a regulatory framework for cigar bars and allow the establishments to operate in communities that otherwise prohibit public smoking as long as the establishments meet certain conditions in the legislation. The Senate State and Local Government Committee approved HB 211 on Wednesday.
Insurance Fraud – Senate Bill 24 would expand the definition of property and casualty insurance fraud to help crack down on unscrupulous contractors and public adjusters who charge unnecessary or fraudulent fees. The House Banking and Insurance Committee passed the bill Wednesday.
Personal Image Rights – Senate Bill 7 would create legal protections to ensure that an image of a person’s unclothed body cannot be used for commercial purposes without explicit consent. The Senate passed the measure Wednesday.
School Bus Cameras – Senate Bill 38 would allow school districts to install camera systems on school buses to help combat stop-arm violations. A portion of the fines from violations would be transferred to school districts to help cover the cost of the cameras. The bill cleared the Senate floor Wednesday.
Childhood Hearing Loss – Senate Bill 93 would require all health benefit plans to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for children with hearing loss. The Senate passed the measure Wednesday.
Street Racing – House Bill 465 aims to curb illegal street racing with tougher penalties for offenders. Violations would result in a $1,000 fine for the first offense and a $2,000 fine for subsequent offenses. Violators could also have their car seized, and for a second offense, spend up to 30 days in jail. The House passed the legislation Wednesday.
Conversion Therapy – House Bill 495 would nullify an executive order that the governor issued in September regarding conversion therapy. The governor’s order banned the use of any state and federal funds on conversion therapy for minors and called on state officials to report practitioners of conversion therapy to licensing boards for potential discipline. The House voted in support of the bill Wednesday.
Concealed Weapons – Senate Bill 75 would lower the age requirement to carry a concealed deadly weapon from 21 to 18. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure Thursday.
Protective Orders – House Bill 38 would create tougher penalties for people who repeatedly violate protective orders. Offenders would face a class D felony if they violate an order three times within five years and the third violation involves the use or threat of violence. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced HB 38 on Thursday.
Drone Surveillance – House Bill 19 aims to protect Kentuckians from unauthorized drone surveillance when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It would allow a person who is subjected to unauthorized surveillance to initiate a civil action in court. The bill received a green light from the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Labor on Thursday.
Kentucky History Month – House Bill 313 would designate June of each year as Kentucky History Month. The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Labor passed the measure Thursday.
Kentucky DOGE – House Concurrent Resolution 50 would establish the Kentucky Discipline of Government Efficiency Task Force to examine executive branch expenditures, identify opportunities to increase efficiency in government operations, and inform the biennial budget preparation process. The House State Government Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
Moments of Silence in Schools – Senate Bill 19 would require public schools to hold a moment of silence and reflection for students at the start of the school day. The bill won support from the House State Government Committee on Thursday.
School Panic Alerts – House Bill 14 would allow school districts to implement wearable panic alert systems for teachers, administrators and staff. The systems provide a portable panic button that, when activated, sends a silent distress signal to emergency responders. The House passed the bill Thursday.
Teacher and Student Communications – Senate Bill 181 would require Kentucky school districts to implement policies for using only traceable forms of communication between staff, coaches, and volunteers and their students. The Senate Committee on Families and Children passed the legislation Tuesday, and the bill cleared the Senate on Thursday.
Disaster Prevention Task Force – Senate Concurrent Resolution 67 would establish the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force to study disaster mitigation, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and planning for natural disasters that impact the state. The Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee passed the bill Monday, and the Senate gave the resolution a green light Thursday.
Conscience Objections in Health Care – Senate Bill 132 would prohibit discrimination against health care professionals who decline to perform certain procedures that violate their consciences. The bill includes some exceptions for emergency care and sexual assault examinations. The Senate Health Services Committee advanced the measure Monday, and it passed the Senate on Friday.
Sexual Assault Response Training – House Bill 219 would require medical providers in emergency departments to receive sexual assault response training. The bill received approval from the Senate Health Services Committee on Monday and cleared the Senate floor Friday.
Sexual Extortion – Senate Bill 73 seeks to clamp down on sexual extortion by creating tougher penalties for offenders and more legal remedies for victims. It also requires schools and colleges to educate students and parents about the issue and display resources for reporting. The bill won support from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and advanced off the House floor Friday.
Interfering with a Legislative Proceeding – House Bill 399 would create criminal penalties, ranging from a class B misdemeanor to the class D felony, for interfering with a legislative proceeding if the intent is to prevent the general assembly from conducting business. The House passed the bill Friday.
The general assembly is scheduled to gavel in on Tuesday for day 25 of the 30-day session. If lawmakers want a chance to override potential vetoes from the governor, they will need to finalized legislation by March 14.
Kentuckians can track the action this year through Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
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 approves cannabis-infused beverages bill
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, speaks in the Senate chamber Friday about Senate Bill 202, an act related to cannabis-infused beverages. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers say cannabis-infused beverages – sometimes known as “weed water” – have been on their radar since last September. On Friday, the Senate advanced a bill that would seek to regulate the products.
Senate Bill 202 calls for cannabis-infused beverages to fall under the authority of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for the purposes of licensing, distribution, and retail sales. The bill proposes using a three-tier system similar to the one for alcohol.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, said there has been proliferation of the products at gas stations, liquor stores and vape shops recently.
“These cannabis-infused beverages are the result of a loophole in the 2018 federal farm bill that reauthorized the growing of hemp in our country. It didn’t take long for someone to quickly figure out you can extract the THC and that’s the delta-9 and put it in a whole host of products,” she said.
The Senate advanced the bill with a 29-6 vote, and it now heads to the House.
The legislation spells out what qualifies as a “cannabis-infused” beverage. According to the bill, it is a properly permitted, adult-use cannabinoid liquid intended for human consumption that has intoxicating properties that change the function of the nervous system and result in alterations of perception, cognition or behavior.
SB 202 would limit the level of intoxicating cannabinoids in the drinks to 5 milligrams. Adams said one manufacturer states on the company’s website that a 10-milligram beverage can is equal to four glasses of wine or four shots of 80 proof vodka.
Adams said there are several cannabinoid products that have nonintoxicating properties, and the bill is silent on all of them. It also doesn’t contain a tax provision because it’s unconstitutional for the Senate to impose a new tax or revenue measure.
One provision of the bill calls on the University of Kentucky Cannabis Center to study and report to the legislature on the manufacturing, testing procedures, distribution, sale and consumer effects of cannabis-infused beverages.
Critics of the bill agreed that some level of regulation is needed for the beverages, but they raised concerns about uncertainties in the proposal’s language.
Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, voted no on the bill, and said it’s possible some of the products might seem to have a higher level of THC, but have fewer intoxicating effects.
“I think that most everyone would agree there’s got to be regulations in place. I’m all for that. I think they should be regulated, taxed and made sure that we continue to put sections in place that only adults are getting these beverages,” he said.
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said the industry is now legal, and legislators should hear from stakeholders so there won’t be unintended consequences from enacted legislation.
But Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, said products with THC that exceed federal law should be confiscated.
“If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. Suddenly, the products that exceed the federal law on THC content have flooded our market. I believe that all these illegal products should be confiscated. No bill’s perfect,” he said.
House votes to criminalize interference of legislative proceedings
Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, speaks on House Bill 399 on the House floor on Friday. The bill would make interference of a legislative proceeding a misdemeanor in most circumstances. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House of Representatives advanced a bill on Friday that would make interference of legislative proceedings a misdemeanor in most circumstances.
Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 399. He said the bill is the result of an incident from the 2023 legislative session where protestors in the House gallery caused a loud disruption that impeded the legislature’s ability to do its job.
“(The bill) will ensure that the general assembly has an opportunity to legislate without interference from people who wish to prevent us from doing our work on behalf of our constituents,” Blanton said.
Blanton said the executive branch and judicial branches of state government have similar powers when it comes to curtailing certain disruptions.
“Judges have the power to deal with interruptions in their courtroom by use of criminal contempt proceedings,” Blanton said as an example of how the bill would give the legislature similar protections.
Under HB 399, a person would be guilty of second-degree interference of a legislative proceeding if they enter or remain inside a chamber or gallery of the general assembly or another room being used for the general assembly with the intent to impede or prevent the legislature from conducting business.
The second-degree provision would also apply if a person obstructs or impedes a legislator, legislative officer or legislative staff member from movement within a legislative building.
Second-degree interference of a legislative proceeding would be a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A misdemeanor on the second or subsequent offense.
A person would be guilty of first-degree interference of a legislative proceeding if they knowingly engage, conspire, or facilitate another person to engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a legislative building or they personally disrupt, impede or prevent the general assembly from conducting business, Blanton said.
First-degree interference of a legislative proceeding would be a class A misdemeanor until the third or subsequent offense. Violators would then face a class D felony charge.
An earlier version of HB 399 called for a class D felony at the second or subsequent offense. The House adopted a floor amendment from Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, on Friday that changed that provision to read “third” instead of second.
“I would hope a third offense never happens … However, I think that having that third offense in is a preferable way to do it,” Roberts said.
Roberts’s amendment would also clarify that nothing in the legislation could be construed to prohibit the public from assembling in traditional public forums in the Capitol Rotunda, Capitol grounds or other areas of the Kentucky State Capitol campus.
The provision is essential “to ensure we are focused on the areas where we are conducting the people’s business,” he said.
Additionally, the amendment clarifies that a peace officer may arrest violators and remove violators at the request of the Speaker of the House, sergeant-at-arms, Senate President or committee chair.
Blanton said he does not intend for HB 399 to impede on constitutional rights.
“This is the people’s house,” he said. “They have the right to come here and protest. That’s their First Amendment right.”
Rep. Anne Gay Donworth, D-Lexington, said there are times when constituents travel to Frankfort to testify in a committee or speak to their legislator and are unable to. When that happens, those people are often frustrated and use their voice in other ways in order to be heard.
“But for people not be able to speak appropriately, and then be criminalized for using their voice here, I don’t believe that’s right,” Donworth said. “I don’t believe that’s what our founders intended, and I would ask people to please vote ‘no’ on this.”
As the chair of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee. Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., R-Providence, said he tries to make sure everyone’s viewpoint is heard during a committee meeting, but time or circumstances do not always allow for that.
He said constituents have the right to visit and contact their legislator, advocate for an issue and have access to legislation and meetings, but nothing guarantees that a constituent can speak during a committee meeting.
“We all agree that people should get involved in the process, and the best way to encourage that is to try to give people time to speak. But, again, I cannot emphasize enough that nothing in the process guarantees your right to speak in committee,” Gooch said.
HB 399 advanced off the House floor by a 68-26 vote. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Resolution would create KY DOGE Task Force
Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, listens as a member of the House State Government Committee asks a question about House Concurrent Resolution 50. The resolution would establish the Kentucky Discipline of Government Efficiency (KY DOGE) Task Force. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A resolution to create a task force to examine executive branch spending advanced from the House State Government Committee on Thursday.
Rep. T.J. Roberts, R- Burlington, and Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, are the primary co-sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution 50.
“House Concurrent Resolution 50 establishes the Kentucky Discipline of Government Efficiency Task Force, which is an interim committee to examine our financial practices, particularly the executive branch,” Roberts said. “Further, the (resolution) makes clear that our focus will be on the transition to zero-based budgeting.”
According to the legislation, the 10-member task force, also known as KY DOGE, would meet at least twice a month during the 2025 interim of the Kentucky General Assembly. The task force’s findings would be considered in the biennial budget drafting process in 2026.
The resolution would require the task force to report its findings no later than Oct. 1, 2025.
Roberts said the KY DOGE Task Force would “ensure that when we are spending the people’s money through our tax system, that it is done in an efficient manner.”
Hodgson said he spent four years during former Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration working on a similar effort that was successful.
“In the span of four years, we were able to cut out 200 unneeded boards and commissions,” Hodgson said. “We downsized the workforce by about 10% — more than 3,000 people — without any reduction in service … The government not only survived, but was doing better at the end of that process. I think there are many more opportunities.”
Committee chair Rep. David Hale, R-Wellington, asked who would make up the 10 members of the committee.
Roberts said there would be four House Republicans, four Senate Republicans, one House Democrat and one Senate Democrat on the task force.
“This would compose it similar to what the partisan make up of our current body is,” Roberts said, adding the members would be appointed through the regular committee appointment process.
The Kentucky General Assembly has budget review subcommittees that meet throughout the year to examine certain areas of the budget, like education and transportation spending. Rep. Matthew Lehman, D-Newport, asked Roberts and Hodgson how the KY DOGE Task Force would be different from that subcommittee process.
Roberts said the focus of the task force would be to examine the funding base.
“The budget review subcommittees, they are focusing on specific parts of the budget that we are already voting on, that we are already having legislative oversight,” he added.
Lehman said a legislative report from 2001 on zero-based budgeting compared to performance based-budgeting already exists.
“I’m just not exactly sure what (the task force) is going to accomplish that isn’t being accomplished by the current budget process and our interim joint budget review subcommittees,” he added.
Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said that as the former chair for the Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, he believes the task force would be helpful.
“Nobody ever looks at what’s in the base,” Tipton said. “And the question is, are there things in that base that maybe aren’t working? If they’re working well, if they’re providing services, we need to keep them.
“But if there are things in that base that are not productive, that are not beneficial to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, maybe we need to cut them out and reinvest those funds in areas where they can truly benefit the commonwealth.”
HCR 50 advanced from the House State Government Committee by a 16-3 vote with one pass vote. It now goes before the full House for consideration.
Bill to lower concealed deadly weapons age approved by Senate committee
Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, speaks on Senate Bill 75, which would lower the concealed deadly weapons age in Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill that seeks to lower the age to carry concealed deadly weapons in Kentucky was green lighted Thursday during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting.
Sponsored by Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, Senate Bill 75 would lower the age requirement from 21 to 18. He said the bill is about fairness, constitutional rights and the ability of young adults to protect themselves just like any other law-abiding citizen.
“At 18-years-old, a Kentuckian is legally an adult. They can vote. They can sign contracts. They can marry. They can be tried as an adult in court, and most importantly, they can serve in the United States military,” Reed said.
Reed said the current age requirement is an “unjust double standard, one that must be corrected.”
Some people may argue that lowering the conceal carry age would make it easier for kids to get guns, but the bill doesn’t change who can legally purchase a firearm, Reed said.
“Federal law still applies. Background checks still apply. Nothing in this bill weakens or changes our existing gun purchasing laws. It simply ensures that those who are already legally allowed to own a firearm are given the same rights to carry it responsibly, just as they would at 21,” he said.
Reed testified that in January, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it’s unconstitutional to deny 18 to 20-year-olds the right to purchase firearms.
“If we acknowledge that they have the right to own a firearm, then why are we denying them the ability to carry one for their own protection?”
Also testifying in favor of the bill was Taylor McKee of the National Rifle Association.
“Young adults 18-20 are among the people protected by the Second Amendment, and they should not be barred or discriminated against from carrying firearms for self-defense,” he said.
Speaking against the measure was Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah. He asked if 18-year-olds and military members can openly carry deadly weapons. McKee answered yes, eliciting a response from Carroll.
“I think it’s important to note that I personally do not see anything to gain by passing this bill, and that’s from 24 years of law enforcement officer,” he said.
Carroll also said he’s a supporter of the Second Amendment, but was concerned when training requirements were eliminated from Kentucky’s concealed carry law several years ago.
“My entire adult life as a law enforcement officer, I was trained regularly to know how and when to shoot that gun,” he said. “The idea of people carrying a concealed weapon who may not even know how to shoot that weapon is terrifying. And I think we went too far there, and I think this is another step where we had gone too far.”
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals made clear that states could implement different rules for certain ages regarding how the weapons are carried, training requirements and the qualifications to purchase them.
“We’re not required by that Fifth Circuit decision to say that 18-year-olds can carry concealed weapons. Kentucky could still differentiate that Fifth Circuit decision between 18 and 20-year-olds in terms of having the rights to carry concealed weapons,” he asked McKee, who confirmed it would not be binding.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, spoke in favor of the bill, explaining how his father and uncles served in the military when they were young, along with his 19-year-old son who left college after two years to enlist in the Marine Corps.
“I think those instances show that we have within the recognition of the United States government and the state government that teenagers are able to defend our country,” he said. “And therefore, they should be able to purchase a weapon and carry it as any other adult because at 18, our laws recognize them as such.”
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Senate advances accountability, transparency bill
Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, speaks on Senate Bill 257, a measure that calls for accountability and transparency in state operations. (Editor’s note: Nemes is wearing ashes on this forehead for Ash Wednesday.) A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A measure that calls for accountability and transparency in state government advanced out of the Kentucky Senate on Wednesday with a 32-6 vote.
Senate Bill 257 would create the Office of Government Efficiency within the state auditor’s office to conduct performance audits and fiscal reviews of state agencies, according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield.
“This bill is a continuing effort of fiscal responsibility. Since 2016, the general assembly has implemented fiscally conservative principles and policies that have led to the largest surplus in state history,” Tichenor said.
The measure also calls for monitoring implementation of efficiency-related recommendations and reporting findings annually to the governor and the Legislative Research Commission, she said.
SB 257 would provide the state auditor’s office with access to certain restricted funds for hiring staff as necessary. Long-term funding would come through appropriations from the general assembly and through any federal grants earmarked for government efficiency, Tichenor said.
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, spoke against the measure, stating that the state needs Kentucky solutions to Kentucky problems.
“My concerns with this bill start, although they don’t end, with the title. And I know a title is just words, but these are words that have been intentionally chosen to invoke what is happening in Washington, D.C. under the federal DOGE program,” she said.
Chambers Armstrong said when she looks at the bill, it makes her think that the goal of the legislation is to bring that “same chaos” to Kentucky.
Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, said he was also concerned that the general assembly is copying the federal government. However, he suggested that the federal government look at what Kentucky has done.
“The feds need to look at us. And like the senator from Jefferson also said, this is something that isn’t new, but it hasn’t been utilized since auditor Crit Luallen, a Democrat, years ago. She was touted for what she did because she did a great job. We again want to do that great job,” he said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, voted against the bill and said the federal Department of Government Efficiency is politically charged.
“And what’s come out of it we’ve seen in the last four months is chaos, confusion, a loss of jobs and uncertainty and a great deal of social unrest. I would not like to see that duplicated here in Kentucky,” he said.
However, Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, said the efforts would be a good use of money, and the state auditor’s office is different than the federal one.
“The auditor is a constitutional officer. She has, or he has, a constitutional authority to do something and we, I think as a legislature, have a constitutional responsibility to fund that function that the auditor has,” he said.
The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
Bill to lower age for learners' permits clears Senate committee
House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, speaks on House Bill 15, a measure that would make 15-year-olds eligible for an instruction permit to drive a vehicle. With him is Brooks Young of Franklin County. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill that would lower the age for youth to acquire an instruction permit for driving unanimously cleared the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday.
House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, said the proposed legislation would allow teenagers to get a permit once they turn 15. At age 16, they would be eligible to take a driver's test for an intermediate permit if they have had at least six months of training.
Rudy said some young people might choose to delay or decline to get a driver's license, but for many young people, these aren't options.
"I think a lot of parents will say I'm better off getting an Uber or a Lyft for my kid than getting another car and taking out that insurance. And that's fine if they want to do that. But those kids, particularly in rural Kentucky that don't have those third-party ride platforms, I think this is going to be good experience for them," he said.
Rudy brought Brooks Young, a 14-year-old boy from Franklin County, who testified that he's excited about learning how to drive and become more independent.
"I'm here on behalf of every soon-to-be 15-year-old in Kentucky. House Bill 15 is an opportunity to provide significant benefits to our communities, families and businesses in every Kentucky county," he said.
Many 15-year-olds are already balancing school work, part-time jobs, sports and activities. This demonstrates their ability to manage their time, Young said.
"Allowing them to begin driving under controlled, safe and structured conditions offers an opportunity to further develop these crucial life skills," he said. "House Bill 15 would boost the local workforce. Teens who are able to drive will be more likely to access job opportunities and contribute to the economy."
Allowing teens to get their permits at 15 would also provide more chances for the parents to guide, monitor and teach, Young added.
Rudy said the bill would maintain the intermediate license process for 16-year-olds. Drivers could apply for a full operator's license at 17 if they have held an intermediate license for 180 days.
Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, said he is in favor of 15-year-old youth having the opportunity to drive, and allowing this will bring Kentucky in line with surrounding states. He also said he hopes the measure will help energize young people to want to get driver's licenses.
"I too drove at 15 years old when I was growing up. I didn't have any problems or any issues," he said.
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said she has two little boys, and the thought of them driving before they reach the age of 30 gives her heart palpitations.
"However, what I like about this bill is I like the added training requirements. But I do believe that allowing our young people more opportunities to learn will make them safer drivers when they are eventually out on their own," she said.
Sen. Brandon J. Storm, R-London, thanked Rudy for the bill and spoke in favor of it.
"My son's going to turn 16 next month, and I just wish we could have passed this last year so he would have a full year of experience driving," he said.
Committee Chair Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said it's important to give the driver licensing regional offices help to deal with the influx of 15-year-olds who seek to drive.
"It will put an extra strain on our regional offices to get these permits out. We have legislation coming your way. Please watch for that and help us out on this," he told Rudy.
Rudy responded that he and others have been in contact with staff of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
"We hear them loud and clearly. The regional driver's license has been an issue that I think everybody acknowledges. I also think that's going to work itself out in time, but we're looking at ways we can help get through this period of backlog and hopefully take care of this," he said.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Committee approves parent accountability bill
Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green, speaks on House Bill 621 before the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday. Parents of children adjudicated for terroristic threatening could be fined under the legislation. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Parents of children adjudicated for terroristic threatening could be fined under House Bill 621.
The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee advanced the legislation on Wednesday. Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green, is the primary sponsor of the bill.
"House Bill 621 simply allows the courts the option to impose a fine to the parents of the child based upon the determination that law enforcement incurred excessive cost responding to the offense," Duvall said. "It also puts the child in contact with the mental health professional."
Studies show that disengaged or negligent parents are often the cause for delinquency and minors committing major crimes, Duvall said.
"This will create a safer society we can all be proud of. But when parents are not parenting, they must be held accountable," he added. "And House Bill 621 does just that."
Steve Chappell, who serves as the Warren County Safe Schools Administrator through the Warren County Sheriff's Office, testified alongside Duvall.
He told the committee that threats against schools "spread like wildfire" and require a lot of resources to investigate.
"I have to pull resources from other schools to go to that school the threat was directed at and that leaves our other schools vulnerable," Chappell said. "Not only that, if it's an online threat, we have to track down who the user was, what the handle was, and then we have to get federal agencies involved a lot of times. FBI and Homeland Security assist us with that."
Chappell said more tools are needed when it comes holding people accountable for terroristic threatening against schools.
"With this bill, I think that it would help," he added. "… This would hold the parents accountable to some degree as far as checking their students' phones and seeing what they're looking at."
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, asked if there are any other state laws that fine parents for a crime their child commits. Duvall said he wasn't aware of any.
Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, said he had the same question as Bojanowski and some other concerns about the bill.
Calloway said he worries the bill doesn't take into consideration parents of adopted children or foster children who are dealing with reactive attachment disorder and other parents who are aware and actively helping their child.
"It just seems like (the bill's language) is extremely open and allows for just a lot of leeway in the judicial system to decide what they think, instead of us telling them specifically in statute this is how you can charge and when you can charge," Calloway said.
Duvall said HB 621 is not a mandate.
"This legislation would simply allow the courts to look at this as an option," he said. "… This is not a ‘shall' it is a ‘may.'"
Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, also had concerns about the language of the legislation. She said she understands terroristic threatening in schools is a serious issue, but asked about "the child shall be detained" provision and if it would allow for diversion programs.
Duvall said his intent for the bill would be for the child to be assessed by a mental health professional and referred to counseling and other services if needed.
Willner said she is "100% behind" that idea, and asked Duvall if he would be willing to work on an amendment to make that intention clearer in the legislation. Duvall said he would look into that.
Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, also spoke on the mental health aspect of threats in schools. He told the committee about a student who recently died by suicide in his district who may have been influenced by online behavior.
"We're having our young people's lives destroyed because of threats that are being made, whether they be online or at school or whatever they may be," Riley said. "As a society, we've got to start holding people accountable, whether they're teenagers who know better or their parents for activities that harm our students, and in many cases, the people who work at our schools."
The committee approved HB 621 by a 10-2 vote with five pass votes.
Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said he thinks parents are responsible for the actions of their children.
"I think this is a very appropriate first step, and I appreciate you for bringing it Representative Duvall," he added.
HB 621 now goes before the full House for consideration.
Senate advances bill to boost film industry
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, speaks Tuesday on Senate Bill 1, which would establish the Kentucky Film Office within the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill that seeks to boost Kentucky's film industry received unanimous approval from the Senate on Tuesday after supporters said the state's charm and natural beauty provide major draws for filmmaking.
Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, said the proposed legislation will centralize efforts to attract movie producers to Kentucky and spur the economy. The Kentucky film, motion picture and sound recording industry generated $200 million in revenues in 2022, and in turn, probably helped other businesses in the state garner another $128 million, he said.
The legislation would establish the Kentucky Film Office within the state Cabinet for Economic Development. It would also create the Kentucky Film Leadership Council and call on state tourism, labor and economic development officials to develop comprehensive film industry strategies.
"Senate Bill 1 is Kentucky's effort to bring itself to the world through the motion picture film industry. For many years, Kentucky has had in place some of the most generous film tax incentives in the entire country," Wheeler said. "And yet we have not fully taken advantage of a job employment and economic opportunities that film production has for the commonwealth."
At the heart of the bill is a centralized infrastructure plan to capitalize on the full potential of film production. The film office would serve as a hub for marketing, industry coordination, and workforce development and solidify Kentucky's position as an attractive destination for film production, he said.
"A dedicated Kentucky film office will help maximize incentives, track major productions and remove unnecessary roadblocks for filmmakers. And why do we know this will bring economic success in Kentucky? We've seen other examples, perhaps most notably Georgia, which has formed a multi-billion-dollar industry based upon film production as well as film tourism," Wheeler said.
Staff at the film office would work closely with local and regional film offices and tourism offices to streamline permitting and market Kentucky as a prime location for film production.
They also would assist the state's production companies in navigating the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program and facilitate the development of a skilled workforce in collaboration with film studios and training programs, he said.
Also speaking in favor of the measure was bill co-sponsor Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. He shared stories with other legislators about naysayers, but said Kentucky is in fact drawing interest from filmmakers.
Stivers pointed out that Asbury University in Wilmore is probably one of the leading postsecondary institutions in the nation for steering people to pursue careers in film and television production.
He said he received calls over the weekend from people on the west coast who want to negotiate coming to Kentucky to work.
"What more can we do for creating an environment for diversification, education and economic development than creating a coordinating body that the secretary and his staff and us as policy makers recognize as quite the viable entity to project us into a realm that we have not been in and been competitive because we lack this structure," he said.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, called the measure a "workforce attraction" bill and perhaps one of the biggest things the legislature will do for decades.
"This is an invitation to all of our Kentuckians to find a place, to find a home," she said mentioning that many people in the film industry work in support roles and aren't actors.
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said her house was used for filming last January. Sixty-five people in a crew filmed scenes for an upcoming movie featuring Al Pacino.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, added that in 1992, there were nearly 800 people in Henderson and Evansville filming "A League of Their Own," and it had a tremendous economic impact on Hendersonville and the tri-state area.
"I want to thank the senators for their sponsorship of this and look forward to the growth in tourism to come," he said.
The bill now heads to the House.
Senate committee approves school employee misconduct bill
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, speaks about Senate Bill 181 during Tuesday's Senate Families and Children Committee meeting. The bill would require Kentucky's public school districts to implement policies for using only traceable forms of communications between staff, coaches, and volunteers and their students. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Legislators on the Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would require Kentucky's public school districts to implement policies for using only traceable forms of communication between staff, coaches, and volunteers and their students.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, testified during a meeting that Senate Bill 181 would put standards in place that protect the education profession and the proper relationships between students and those in authority. It would also return previously existing safeguards that protect children and their families, she said.
Tichenor asked committee members to recall their adolescent years and the old communication methods they most likely used. She said the lines that delineated proper relationships between authority and students have been diminished.
"Can you imagine or think of a time when a school volunteer or a teacher or a coach called you up just to chat privately? How would that have gone over with your family? Probably not well. It would have been quite awkward," she said.
Tichenor said she has a stack of concerning stories in a folder from Kentucky counties.
"And they're just a sampling of a few that make it into the news, and I will tell you, it crosses our state entirely," she said.
Under SB 181, employees and volunteers would be required to report known direct, private communications at which point parents would be notified and the district will proceed with the appropriate action, Tichenor testified.
There's also a provision in the bill that would protect the anonymity of minors during an investigation by the Education Professional Standards Board. SB 181 would also extend the time for investigations of a sexual nature to 120 days, Tichenor said.
Stacy Briscoe of Anderson County testified in favor of the bill, stating that her then-16-year-old daughter had interactions with an employee at Anderson County High School without parental consent. The communication included several text messages, she said.
"Please, put yourself in our parental shoes. Completely oblivious to an adult having unlimited, uncensored contact with our minor child," Briscoe said.
Ashley Nation also testified, and said she is not only an advocate for student safety, but also a survivor of educator sexual abuse.
"As a student, I was targeted by a teacher who used in-person and electronic communications to groom and manipulate me. What began as seemingly harmless conversations and messages soon escalated into a situation where I felt trapped, vulnerable and unable to seek help," she said.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, said she's an active volunteer in the Roman Catholic program, Protecting God's Children. She said abuse of students is a terrible problem, and asked where the term traceable communication is defined.
"We actually have that defined in the bill, but we will clarify that a little bit as well," Tichenor said. "Traceable communication could be old-school, like a parent's note, a communication that's on paper that can be traced. Email can be traceable, and there are so many apps they use these days..."
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, asked Tichenor if she knows if schools already have policies about communications between school employees and students.
"There are some ethical standards, but I'm not seeing that they're being followed or they're not being disciplined if they're not being followed," she said.
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, asked Tichenor if there's a requirement, for example, for a teacher to report another teacher if direct communication is observed. He asked if it would fall under the requirement to report.
"It absolutely would, and we do specify in the language of the bill that if someone knows that there's direct communication happening, they have a duty to report that," she said.
Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, commented about platforms teachers use for communication and said he is in favor of the bill.
"The bill that you put together says that they must have one, and that's an issue that I would say that I would like to see addressed a little bit wider in this bill because there are multiple platforms out there that are trackable that schools use from their athletic department to their teachers," he said.
Tichenor said there will be a floor amendment to address the platforms.
Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, said he could have been convinced of anything in high school, and he would have been willing to run into a wall if his coach asked him to do it.
"I thank God every day that I was raised in the 50s and 60s, not in the 20s. But we send our kids to get an education, not to be abused or used," he said.
House committee advances D.E.I. ban bill
Cutline: Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, presents House Bill 4 before the House Postsecondary Education Committee on Wednesday. The legislation would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I.) initiatives at public postsecondary institutions. A high-res version is available here.
FRANKFORT — A bill that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I.) initiatives at public postsecondary institutions cleared its first hurdle in the 2025 legislative session.
The House Postsecondary Education Committee advanced House Bill 4 on Tuesday. Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, said the measure would end an unconstitutional practice in Kentucky and make public postsecondary education more accessible for all students. She is the primary sponsor of the legislation.
Decker said HB 4 would "ensure our postsecondary system in Kentucky is held accountable" and would "dismantle the failed and misguided D.E.I. bureaucracies that have made our colleges more divided, more expensive and less tolerant."
HB 4 is the result of a 2023 Supreme Court ruling on the issue, Decker added.
For public postsecondary institutions, HB 4 would:
- Prohibit differential treatment or benefits to an individual based on religion, race, sex, color or national origin in hiring, admissions, scholarships, contracts and scholarships;
- Only allow an investigation of a bias incident if the general counsel authorizes it and it meets certain criteria;
- Prohibit expending resources to establish or maintain a diversity, equity or inclusion office, training or initiative;
- Prohibit students from being required to enroll or complete an academic course that seeks to indoctrinate participants with a discriminatory concept; and
- Prohibit students, faculty or staff from being required or incentivized to participate in D.E.I. training.
The Council on Postsecondary Education would also be prohibited from implementing D.E.I. initiatives.
Decker said HB 4 would not threaten student centers.
"Critics misread this bill as threatening student centers and threatening support for veterans, first generation and low-income students – services that are explicitly and groups that are explicitly exempted from this bill," Decker said.
To ensure compliance, HB 4 would require the state auditor of public accounts to set up a process to review whether public institutions are abiding by the statute, Committee chair Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said.
The review would take place every four years, and institutions would have 180 days to correct any violations.
"If the institution fails to cure the violation within that time, the institution shall be ineligible to receive formula funding increases … during the following fiscal year," Tipton said. "There's also an ability for the institution to petition the attorney general if they disagree with the auditor on the issue."
Decker said the goal of HB 4 is to foster critical thinking at public postsecondary institutions and correct a 14-year drop in enrollment from low income and underrepresented students.
"If education is to be the great equalizer in the commonwealth, the opportunity to obtain a college degree in our state must be equally available and affordable to all," she said.
Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, said it is "a broad leap" to suggest D.E.I. is the cause for a drop in enrollment among underrepresented students.
"If the D.E.I. initiatives are leaving some folks out, why don't we make these more inclusive rather than just get rid of them?" she asked.
Decker replied that she doesn't think D.E.I. caused a drop in enrollment, but it hasn't helped the issue either.
"If I were paying millions to help something not happen, and then it happened for 14 years, I would stop that spending," she added. "I would be disgusted by the outcomes that I was not getting from what I was paying for."
Rep. George Brown Jr., D-Lexington, called HB 4 "problematic" and said Kentucky's history of discriminatory practices should be taken into consideration.
"The historical indicators of what has occurred, particularly with people who look like me, and other protected classes in our society – it's a really serious problem." Brown said. "And I think we're trivializing it and that we're trying to say that this does not matter."
Brown said he also has concerns about how HB 4 may violate federal Title IX and Title VI law.
Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, said he supports HB 4, but wished a private course of action provision in an early version of the bill remained in the current draft.
"I would like to see maybe a little more teeth to it, but I think you've done a great job on this," Doan said, adding he worries colleges and universities may ignore sections of the bill without the original language.
The House Postsecondary Education Committee approved HB 4 by an 11-4 vote.
In explaining his "yes" vote, Tipton said the debate on HB 4 has distracted from the goal of the legislation: student success.
"... We have to work to help every student succeed, no matter their situation in life," Tipton said. "There are many extra wrap-around services that are needed, and that should be our goal. That should be where we focus on helping every student have the opportunity to succeed."
HB 4 now goes before the full House for consideration.
Senate Health Services Committee advances medical conscience bill
Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, speaks about Senate Bill 132 during Monday's Senate Health Services Committee meeting. The bill would prohibit discrimination against health care professionals who decline to perform procedures that violate their conscience. With Douglas is Dr. Bill Wehrman. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Lawmakers on the Senate Health Services Committee advanced a bill Monday that would prohibit discrimination against health care professionals who decline to perform procedures that violate their consciences.
Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, called Senate Bill 132 "commonsense," and said the bill would strengthen health care providers' rights and also set up civil remedies for people who feel they've been wronged.
"This bill is not a challenge to the social structure. It is not a policy bill. It is not a get out of jail free bill for those who decide that they don't want to fulfill their duties. What this bill is, it is a recruitment tool. It's an economic development tool," he said.
Douglas said the pressure on Kentucky's health care system and those who work in it are tremendous. He said if the health care professionals don't have a choice regarding their sincerely held beliefs, it makes it more difficult for medical facilities to recruit competent health care providers in Kentucky.
"It is a tool that basically says welcome to the commonwealth. We really look forward to your business, and even though we expect the highest level of professionalism from you, we will honor your moral conscience as we do for all Kentuckians," he said.
Douglas said there are some medical professionals who don't mind violating their own consciences when they want to complete procedures, but there are those who have strong beliefs. He also said institutions are protected at the federal level, but not individuals.
The legislation would give health care professionals the right to refuse to participate in any service that violates their conscience, and it would stipulate that professionals cannot be held, civilly, criminally or administratively liable in those circumstances. It also would prohibit discrimination against such professionals in hiring or licensing.
SB 132 includes some exceptions, including instances in which health care professionals are required to provide emergency medical treatment or conduct examinations related to sexual assaults.
The bill sparked some lengthy debate during Monday's hearing.
Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, voted against the bill, and said it would lead to discrimination against patients.
"I know that we continue to hear the words individual civil rights and religious ethical beliefs. It's just very concerning to me that we continue to pass policy to say that people have individual civil rights basically to discriminate against folks and that we use words ‘religious' and ‘ethical beliefs' to allow that, so I'm going to be a no on this," she said.
But Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, voted for the measure, arguing that it specifically points out objections to procedures or particular health care services.
Likewise, Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, voted for SB 132.
"The way it was described, it's the medical procedure that you can object to, not any person or their belief or what they did to get there," he said.
Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, concurred with Mills and Nemes.
"In the seven or so states that have this on the books, patients have not been turned away. So, it's so much more important to look at track records rather than theoreticals," he said.
Several health care professionals and advocates also testified on the bill, including Dr. Miranda Bencomo, a pediatrician who said she strongly opposes the measure.
"While I do appreciate the goal of trying to recruit more providers, I fear that this bill does not actually add anything to achieve that goal. Instead, I feel that it opens the door to substandard care by allowing health professionals to deny services based on personal beliefs without accountability," she said.
Representatives from the Fairness Campaign and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates also raised concerns about discrimination in health care settings and exacerbating a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists.
However, one supporter, Paris physician Dr. Bill Wehrman, said patients would continue to get care if the bill is passed. He said Kentucky lacks specialists, paramedics and other health care workers and that the proposed legislation would provide a boost in attracting professionals to the state.
Registered nurse Lindsey Cox testified that her career has been affected by a lack of protection of her beliefs.
"As a nurse, when I was deciding what field of specialty I wanted to work in, I changed the direction due to ethical concerns about being forced to participate or being coerced to participate in procedures that would violate my conscience," she said.
The measure cleared the committee with an 8-1 vote and one pass. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
This Week at the State Capitol
Key bills on NIL, workplace safety and religious liberty move forward
Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, speaks at a press conference Thursday on Senate Bill 3, which seeks to update Kentucky's name, image and likeness law for college athletes. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — High-profile bills on religious freedom, college athletics and fluoride were all on the move this week as lawmakers passed a wave of bills out of committee and off the chamber floors in preparation for a busy two weeks ahead.
Friday marked day 20 of this year's short, 30-day session, leaving just eight days on the calendar before the general assembly is scheduled to break for the veto recess. Legislators will need to finalize bills by March 14 if they want a chance to override potential vetoes from the governor.
The looming deadline prompted swift action in committee and long afternoons in the chambers throughout the week.
The House met for more than four hours Wednesday to clear a slate of 23 bills, and lawmakers passed another 16 off the floor Thursday. Measures on fluoride and workplace conditions proved especially contentious during the proceedings.
House Bill 16 would make water fluoridation programs optional for the governing bodies of local water providers, and lawmakers clashed over the impact of fluoride on both dental and internal health before passing the measure 68-29.
The focus then pivoted to differences over occupational safety.
House Bill 398 aims to align Kentucky's workplace safety and health regulations with federal rules. It also calls for limits on Kentucky policies so that they are no more stringent than those on the federal level.
Supporters said the bill would streamline regulations and make it easier for businesses to locate in Kentucky. However, opponents raised concerns that it would compromise the safety of workers and leave Kentucky subject to uncertainties on the federal level.
The bill passed 62-33 and now heads to the Senate.
For its part, the upper chamber turned Wednesday to a floor debate over religious liberty and discrimination.
Senate Bill 60 seeks to reinforce religious liberty protections in Kentucky and clear the way for individuals to sue the government for violations of religious freedom.
Critics cited concerns that some might use religious protections to justify discrimination. But supporters said the bill is needed to reinforce founding principles and protect religious exercise. The measure cleared the Senate with a 29-7 vote on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the spotlight shifted to the Senate Education Committee thanks in part to an appearance by Mitch Barnhart, athletics director at the University of Kentucky, and Josh Heird, director of athletics at the University of Louisville.
Both testified in support of Senate Bill 3, which would update Kentucky's name, image and likeness law for college athletes. The proposed changes would align Kentucky's law – adopted in 2022 – with national standards, particularly in the aftermath of the House v. NCAA court case.
A pending settlement in the case could result in universities providing direct compensation to student athletes, and advocates for the bill said Kentucky needs to respond to the evolving landscape. The committee passed the measure Thursday.
Later in the day, lawmakers also took action on a priority measure designed to boost Kentucky's growing film industry.
Senate Bill 1 would establish the Kentucky Film Office to administer the state's film incentive program, help market the state to the film industry and develop workforce training. It received a nod from the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee on Thursday.
Many other measures are edging closer to passage in the legislature. Here is a look at some of the other bills on the move:
Dyslexia Interventions – House Bill 272 would require local boards of education to develop a policy for identifying and assisting students in kindergarten through third grade who have dyslexia. It also calls on the state Department of Education to collect data and annually review and update its guidance on reading and writing difficulties. The measure cleared the House floor on Tuesday.
Elections Security – House Bill 455 would establish the Office of Election Investigations and Security in the Kentucky Attorney General's Office. The agency would review and investigate alleged violations of state election law. The House advanced the bill Tuesday.
Manufactured Housing – House Bill 160 would prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that treat manufactured homes differently from site-built homes in single family residential zones. The manufactured homes would still need to meet strict standards for size, age and foundation. The measure won support from the House on Tuesday.
Moments of Silence in Schools – Senate Bill 19 would require public schools to hold a moment of silence and reflection for students at the start of the school day. The Senate passed the measure Tuesday.
KEES Scholarships – Senate Bill 83 would expand the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship program to provide funds for homeschooled students based on their ACT scores. The legislation cleared a Senate floor vote on Tuesday.
Childhood Hearing Loss – Senate Bill 93 would require all health benefit plans to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for children with hearing loss. The Senate Health Services Committee voted to advance the bill Wednesday.
Cell Phones in Schools – House Bill 208 calls on school districts to establish a policy for limiting the use of cell phones during the school day with some exceptions for emergencies and instructional purposes. The bill also calls for statewide regulations that would block access to social media sites on school computers. The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee gave the bill a green light Wednesday.
Financial Literacy – House Bill 342 would require high school students to earn one credit in a financial literacy course before graduation. The bill received a nod from the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday.
School Bus Cameras – Senate Bill 38 would allow school districts to install camera systems on school buses to help combat stop arm violations. A portion of the fines from violations would be transferred to school districts to help cover the cost of the cameras. The Senate Transportation Committee advanced the legislation Wednesday.
Squatting – House Bill 10 seeks to crack down on squatting, providing a more concrete procedure for property owners and law enforcement to quickly remove unauthorized occupants from private property. It would also spell out criminal penalties for squatters who damage property. The House Judiciary Committee voted in favor of the bill Wednesday.
Coercive Control – House Bill 96 would expand domestic abuse laws to include coercive control and allow victims to seek emergency protective orders based on patterns of coercive behaviors. The measure won support from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Interfering with a Legislative Proceeding – House Bill 399 would create criminal penalties, ranging from a class B misdemeanor to the class D felony, for interfering with a legislative proceeding if the intent is to prevent the general assembly from conducting business. The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill Wednesday.
Street Racing – House Bill 465 aims to curb illegal street racing with tougher penalties for offenders. Violations would result in a $1,000 fine for the first offense and a $2,000 fine for subsequent offenses. Violators could also have their car seized, and for a second offense, spend up to 30 days in jail. The House Judiciary Committee advanced the bill Wednesday.
Kindergarten Readiness – House Bill 240 would require schools to administer a reading assessment to kindergarten students within the final 14 days of the academic year. Students who fail to meet grade-level benchmarks and standards would likely need to repeat kindergarten under the proposal. The legislation won support on the House floor Wednesday.
Repeat DUIs – Under House Bill 220, offenders would face a class D felony charge if caught driving under the influence for a third time. The bill would also create escalating fines for repeat offenses. The House advanced the bill Wednesday.
Family Preservation – House Bill 291 seeks to reduce the impact of incarceration on families. When a nonviolent offender serves as a caregiver of a dependent child, the bill would call on judges to consider that role before imposing a sentence for a felony. The House voted in support of the legislation Wednesday.
Super Speeders – Senate Bill 57 would levy a new $200 fee against "super speeders," a proposed term for those convicted of driving more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit on a state highway. Revenue from the legislation would help fund Kentucky's emergency trauma network. The Senate advanced the measure Wednesday.
Youth Nicotine Use – Senate Bill 100 seeks to curb underage nicotine use by licensing nicotine retailers and providing more oversight of nicotine sales. Retailers operating without a license could face a misdemeanor charge, and possibly a felony for a third offense. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday.
Antisemitism on Campus – Senate Joint Resolution 55 would direct Kentucky colleges and universities to adopt policies for combating antisemitism. It also calls on campuses to disband and report any student organizations that have provided resources to terrorist organizations. The resolution received support from the Senate on Wednesday.
Disabilities and Parental Rights – Senate Bill 26 would clarify that disability alone cannot be used as a basis for terminating adoption petitions, terminating parental rights, or determining placement of children. The House Families and Children Committee passed the bill Thursday.
Personal Image Rights – Senate Bill 7 would create legal protections to ensure that an image of a person's unclothed body cannot be used for commercial purposes without explicit consent. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the legislation Thursday.
Gift Card Scams – Under Senate Bill 130, individuals who tamper with gift cards with the intention to steal funds could face a class D felony charge. The bill received a nod from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday.
Counseling Services – Under House Bill 495, mental health services that seek to ease distress related to sex or sexual attraction would be considered protected counseling services. The bill would prevent state agencies and licensing authorities from taking adverse actions against mental health professionals or ordained ministers who provide those services. Supporters argue that the bill is needed to prevent discrimination, but critics say it opens the door to conversion therapy. The House State Government Committee passed the measure Thursday.
Chronic Wasting Disease – House Bill 700 would forbid the exportation of wild deer and elk from a chronic wasting disease surveillance zone. Supporters say the goal is to prevent spread of the fatal prion disease and protect Kentucky's deer and elk population. The House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee voted in support of the bill Thursday.
Make America Healthy Again – Senate Concurrent Resolution 61 would establish the Make America Healthy Again Kentucky Task Force and charge the group with exploring ways to integrate the principles for the MAHA movement to improve health outcomes in Kentucky. The Senate Families and Children Committee passed the resolution on Tuesday, and the Senate advanced the measure off the floor Thursday.
Reporting Child Abuse – Under Senate Bill 120, school coaches would receive training on the duties and procedures for reporting child abuse. The legislation would also add language to sports participation forms telling parents and students about the right to report abuse and how to make a report. The Senate passed the bill Thursday.
Artificial Intelligence – Senate Bill 4 would boost oversight and create guidelines for using artificial intelligence in state government and elections. The Senate Committee on State and Local Government gave the bill a nod on Wednesday, and the legislation cleared the Senate on Friday.
Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday.
Kentuckians can track the action this year through Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
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 Education Committee advances name, image, likeness bill
Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, center, speaks Thursday on Senate Bill 3, which deals with name, image and likeness, known as NIL. With him are, left, Josh Heird, director of athletics at the University of Louisville, and right, Mitch Barnhart, athletics director at the University of Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved legislation Thursday that would update Kentucky's name, image and likeness law in response to issues that have cropped up since it was first adopted for college athletes.
Name, image, likeness laws – known as NIL – allow student-athletes to generate personal income from their image and celebrity.
Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, seeks to tackle new issues that have emerged in the "constantly evolving" NIL landscape. Wise said the legislation would allow Kentucky to remain prepared and competitive in the new era of college sports.
"It's a time for us to act, and it's a time for us to update to make sure that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our universities are not left behind when it comes to college athletics," he said.
SB 3 would align Kentucky's law with national standards, allowing state universities to participate in the emerging revenue sharing model. It would also establish legal protections by providing clear guidelines that ensure fair compensation and protect the student-athletes and the institutions.
The bill also includes an emergency provision, meaning it could take effect as soon as the bill becomes law. The urgency will ensure Kentucky's institutions remain competitive as the national landscapes shift, Wise said.
The recent House v. NCAA lawsuit has introduced potential changes that could reshape student-athlete compensation, and a proposed $2.5 billion federal settlement is expected to be finalized by April 7. This might allow universities to directly compensate student-athletes, something not previously included in Kentucky's framework, Wise said.
Mitch Barnhart, athletics director at the University of Kentucky, testified that times have changed regarding NIL, and institutions are facing "choppy waters" now. He said there are 50 different states that are doing 50 different things, and continuity in laws or rules is important.
Barnhart was joined by Josh Heird, director of athletics at the University of Louisville, in Thursday's testimony.
"A lot of times we compete," Barnhart said of Heird. "But on this, we're on the same team. We both need help as we continue to adjust to the landscape that's in front of us, and the 2022 bill was amazing. It was really, really helpful at a time we desperately needed it."
Heird said he appreciates the proactive approach of the legislators. He offered some details about the settlement.
"If approved, the House settlement will assist in creating a framework that provides additional benefits to student-athletes, but also creates guardrails that are much needed in this current environment. The anticipated date for a decision on the House settlement is the first few weeks of April," he said.
Heird said SB 3 would update current state laws so UofL, UK and other schools can implement the presumed changes that will take place if the House settlement is approved.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said it's clear in his mind that Congress and the NCAA are weak about addressing NIL issues. He also talked about how extremely competitive Kentuckians are sports-wise.
"I think it's great that come March, we're going to have both the UK and UofL back in the NCAA tournament, both in the men's and women's tournaments, and that's wonderful for our state," he said.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, said he thinks NIL has "absolutely destroyed" college sports, but he can't let Kentucky get behind other states regarding NIL.
"You can't focus on the game because all they talk about is that the best player is about to leave to go to another school. I have lost interest in college sport because of it. And it's difficult for me to vote yes for this, and I regret the vote that I made, but in saying that, I also know Kentucky has to compete," he said.
Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said he shares Carroll's sentiments.
"I wish we could go back, back in the days where the athletes played for the name on the front of the uniform rather than the back. I know we have to do this. I offer my yea vote begrudgingly," he said.
Chronic wasting disease bill clears committee
Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, testifies on House Bill 700 before the House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee on Thursday. The bill would place restrictions on the movement of deer and elk, or cervids, in chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance zones. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Chronic wasting disease – or zombie deer disease – poses a threat to Kentucky's deer and elk population and industry, experts say. Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, wants to prevent that from happening.
Bray is the primary sponsor of House Bill 700, which he presented to the House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee on Thursday alongside Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Rich Storm.
The legislation would place restrictions on the movement of cervids (deer and elk) in chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance zones.
Storm said chronic wasting disease is a 100% incurable and fatal prion disease. The only way to test an animal for the disease is by testing a lymph node from the base of the deer's skull. Bray said the disease cannot be transmitted to humans, but other prion diseases, like mad cow disease, are transmissible to humans.
Kentucky has had two isolated cases of chronic wasting disease, Bray said, but other states haven't been so lucky. In states where the disease has spread, hunting tourism has declined.
"My greatest fear – as I sit here today – if we do nothing, and CWD spreads across this state, once it hits interior Kentucky, we will forever wish we had done something today," Bray said.
Storm said Kentucky has a conservation and fiduciary responsibility to preserve Kentucky's cervid population and $2 billion hunting industry. Kentucky also has a thriving deer farming industry.
Under HB 700, it would be unlawful to export any wild cervid outside a CWD surveillance zone. Those zones are defined as a 30-mile radius from a positive CWD detection, according to the legislation.
For captive cervids, the bill would make it unlawful to export a captive cervid outside a 10-mile radius from a CWD positive captive cervid facility. Cervid facilities who install double fencing could be exempt from some of the regulations in HB 700, Bray said.
The bill would allow a CWD surveillance zone designation to expire five years after the zone's last positive CWD case.
Storm said the legislation would still allow the export of certain cervid products.
"They will be able to continue to sell (boneless) meat, the byproducts, the antlers," he said.
Several representatives of Kentucky's deer farming industry testified they're already taking precautionary measures when it comes to CWD.
Henry Woodard, who serves on the Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association board, said deer farming is already heavily regulated by Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Agriculture and the USDA.
"We take CWD very seriously," he said. "… We have a CWD response plan already in the state, and it is a response plan by our Department of Ag that we fall under. We test every mortality in our herds for CWD, regardless of proximity to a CWD positive case."
Woodward said HB 700 could shut down many of Kentucky's deer farms.
Several lawmakers had questions about CWD, including how to test for it.
Rep. William Lawrence, R-Maysville, asked about the future of a live test for CWD where farmers and Fish and Wildlife would be able to test a live cervid.
Storm said he's "very confident" there will be a live test in the years to come, but right now there isn't one that's approved.
"When the day comes that there's a live test, we can absolutely come back in and change all of this, because it won't be as necessary," Bray said.
Lawrence said he understands the urgency behind HB 700, but he worries how the bill may hurt deer farmers.
"If I was told I couldn't (operate) for the next five years, it could crush my business," Lawrence said, adding he hopes the legislature could communicate the sense of urgency for a live test on a federal level.
The House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee approved HB 700 by a 13-1 vote with three pass votes.
In explaining his "yes" vote, Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, said he's looking forward to using the "robust" legislative process to make sure HB 700 is as "perfect a bill as is possible."
Bray said he and Storm have been working with all stakeholders, including the farmers, on the bill and are hoping to find a solution everyone can be content with.
"I love deer. I love deer hunting," Bray said. "I would never want to do anything to hurt anybody's business, but there's far too much to lose if we sit here and do nothing."
HB 700 now goes before the full House for consideration.
Senate green lights religious liberty bill
Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, speaks about Senate Bill 60 on the Senate floor Wednesday. The bill seeks to bolster religious liberty. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate adopted a bill Wednesday that supporters say will strengthen religious liberty in the commonwealth even as some raise concerns about discrimination.
Senate Bill 60, sponsored by Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, advanced off the Senate floor with a 29-7 vote and now heads to the House.
The legislation seeks to reenforce religious liberty protections in Kentucky. Specifically, it would waive sovereign and governmental immunity, clearing the way for individuals to sue if the government substantially burdens their religious freedom.
Rawlings said SB 60 would enable religious claimants to get full relief when the government violates their religious liberty, and it would clarify that individuals can invoke the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in judicial or administrative proceedings.
"It ensures that Kentuckians who face a substantial burden on their religious exercise have a fair opportunity to seek justice, including the ability to recover attorney's fees, just as we allow in civil rights cases," he said.
Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, spoke in favor of the measure on the Senate floor, arguing that it ensures freedom and would help prevent the government from bullying Kentuckians out of their religious rights.
"Our Founding Fathers gave us the constitution not to shield the government from the people, but to protect we the people from an overreaching government," he said. "Today, that overreach too often comes in the form of costly legal battles where the government with its unlimited resources can financially cripple a citizen simply for standing by their faith."
However, critics of the bill cited fears over the impact of SB 60 on anti-discrimination efforts.
Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said the legislation could make it difficult for the government to enforce state and local laws that protect people from harm and discrimination, and that lawmakers should make sure everyone receives fairness and justice.
"There's a balance that must be struck between protecting religious freedom and ensuring that marginalized communities are not further harmed," Herron said. "No one has the right to harm others, even if those actions are motived by religious beliefs."
Rawlings said current state RFRA law already played a crucial role in protecting rights. It was used to reopen churches during COVID-19 and defend the rights of an incarcerated Muslim woman to wear a headscarf in front of male guards, he said.
"What Senate Bill 60 does is ensure that when the government oversteps, citizens have the ability to recover legal costs when defending their rights, just as they would in other civil rights cases," he said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said federal laws prevent discrimination based on race, sex and religion, but do not apply to sexual orientation. He noted that advocates have sought for years to pass a fairness law in Kentucky, which would include sexual orientation among civil rights laws.
Thomas said if a police officer or a government official tried to enforce a fairness ordinance, the person could be personally liable and lose their home, car and bank assets.
"It's designed to wipe out all fairness ordinances and expose members of the LGBTQ community again to second class citizenship. Now this is the second time we've done this in this session," he said.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, voted for the bill, however, saying it offers clarification of definitions, gives citizens appropriate relief and is a safeguard against those who might violate religious liberties of Kentuckians.
"I gladly vote yes," Mills said.
Fluoride opt-out bill advances from House
Cutline: Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, watches as Kentucky House members vote on House Bill 16 on the House floor on Wednesday. HB 16 would allow local water districts to opt-out of water fluoridation. A high-res version can be found here. A high-res version is available here.
FRANKFORT —The Kentucky House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that would allow local water districts to remove fluoride from the water supply.
Sponsored by Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, House Bill 16 does not ban fluoride, but makes it optional.
"House Bill 16 removes the unfunded state mandate on water producers that requires fluoride to be added to water after the water is treated and cleaned for consumption," Hart said.
Rep. William Lawrence, R-Maysville, is a co-sponsor of the legislation. He has experience working in a wastewater and water treatment facility and spoke on his personal experience with the chemical on the House floor.
"Fluoride in water is an unfunded state mandate and forced medication," he said. "... I'm telling you from a personal stance, it's dangerous stuff. I don't allow my children to drink tap water. Their teeth are fine."
Lawrence said despite Kentucky mandating water fluoridation, Kentucky is still 48th in the nation when it comes to dental health.
"It's not working. We need to do something else," he said.
Several other lawmakers, however, said they believe fluoride is beneficial to oral health.
Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, said he would be thinking about children who cannot care for their own teeth when voting "no" on HB 16. His mother-in-law, who is a physician, told him children can struggle with sleep apnea, chronic jaw pain and diabetes later in life due to poor dental health.
"I very much see the need for local control and decisions like these to be made locally," Moore said. "At the same time, I know that we have an obligation to be looking out for the people who sent us here, especially our children."
Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, said she also foresees Kentuckians, especially children, may have more costly dental health issues if fluoride is removed from the water.
"We were all elected by our constituents to be watchdogs of our taxpayers' money, and $1.9 million, which is a low estimate of what this bill could cost Medicaid and our tax payers, is a lot of money," she said.
Marzian filed a floor amendment to require local water districts to reimburse the Department for Medicaid Services for utilization costs of Medicaid-covered dental services. The amendment was not adopted.
Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, joined Moore and Marzian in speaking against allowing fluoride to be optional. She said adding small amounts of fluoride to drinking water for the last 75 years has "dramatically improved dental health."
She also said those who do not want to use or consume fluoride, do not have to.
"Thanks to science, individuals can utilize a reverse osmosis filter or a distillation filter," Camuel said. "Those filters remove up to 92% of fluoride from tap water."
Another co-sponsor of HB 16, Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, said he is also concerned about fluoride's impact on health, but he agrees with Lawrence. He said he's read research that shows fluoride is a neurotoxin that can reduce IQ, weaken bones and cause thyroid issues, among other health problems.
Dotson also said fluoride can cost local governments up to $600,000 a year, and most of the fluoridated water ends up going down the drain.
"We are mass medicating without informed consent or a right to refuse…. It's wasteful, with little to no efficacy at all," Dotson said.
The House approved HB 16 by a 68-29 vote. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Senate hearing loss bill advances Wednesday
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, right, testifies on Senate Bill 93 during Wednesday's Senate Health Services meeting. SB 93 would help parents offset some costs associated with hearing aids through insurance plans. With Berg is Jennifer Hughes, who testified about the challenges parents face when paying for hearing aids. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Senate Health Services Committee unanimously advanced a bill Wednesday that would make buying hearing aids for children more affordable through insurance plans in Kentucky.
Sponsored by Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, the bill would require all health benefit plans to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for children with documented hearing loss. It also calls for state regulations that establish a minimum coverage amount of $2,500 per hearing aid.
One supporter, Jennifer Hughes, testified that her son was born with hearing loss, and the family faced challenges with inadequate insurance coverage for his hearing aids.
Hughes said her son received his first pair of hearing aids when he was two months old, and there was an immediate difference. When he turned three years old, his audiologist recommended upgrading to a pair that cost $5,000.
"Long story short, we paid the full $5,000 for the hearing aids," Hughes said. "Only $2,000 of that went towards our deductible and out-of-pocket. And then the insurance didn't pay anything."
Pediatric audiologist Shelley Moats also testified that prior legislation needs to be updated to meet today's situations. She said a law passed in 2002 required insurance plans to cover the devices for children, but it has not kept pace with the changes in the health care environment, specifically when it comes to high-deductible insurance plans.
"Most parents end up being completely out-of-pocket on the purchase of hearing aids for their child," she said, adding that of the roughly 58,000 babies born in Kentucky in 2023, about 175 had permanent hearing loss.
Sen. Craig Richardson, R-Hopkinsville, asked if the price for hearing aids is associated with the size and development of children.
Moats said children are typically fit with hearing aids that go behind the ear and have a life expectancy of about five years as children sweat and get dirty. That creates a replacement cost over time, she said.
Berg said the original version of the bill included coverage requirements for adults as well, but she removed those provisions in the current version. She also expressed concern about a lack of pediatric audiologists in Kentucky networks.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, asked about a fiscal note, and Berg said it was for the original bill.
"We have requested a second fiscal note. We've not gotten that back, but the assumption is it's going to be less than the current because we excluded adults, and the original fiscal bill included those people," she said.
Mills asked about breakage, loss and maintenance of hearing aids.
Moats said manufacturers understand that hearing aids for children are at risk of loss or breakage, and the cost includes unlimited repair and a one-time replacement for loss or damage during the warranty period.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
House committee votes to crack down on street racing
Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton, D-Shively, speaks on House Bill 465 before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. HB 465 would strengthen penalties for unlawful street racing in Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Criminal penalties for unlawful street racing in Kentucky would increase under a new House bill.
The House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 465 on Wednesday. Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton, D-Shively, and House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, are the primary sponsors of the legislation.
Chester-Burton, who represents part of Jefferson County, said the bill was modeled after Louisville Metro Council's efforts to curb street racing.
"House Bill 465 is presented today as an effort to address the issue of street racing where it's been significantly affecting my area in Jefferson County," she said. "However, I have had other members throughout the community who have contacted me about street racing."
The current penalty for street racing in Kentucky is a $200 fine. Under HB 465, the fine would increase to $1,000 on the first offense, and violators could face a $2,000 fine on the second or subsequent offense, Chester-Burton said.
Violators could have the vehicle used in the act impounded on a first offense as well. For a second or subsequent offense, violators could spend up to 30 days in jail and have the vehicle seized for crushing or auction. The revenue would go to the Crime Victims Compensation Board, she added.
Nemes said the penalty increase is needed to hopefully deter street racing across the commonwealth.
"These are people who are deliberately putting citizens' lives in danger," Nemes said. "They know they're doing it, so the first time we're only going to fine them $1,000. I think it should be much higher than that, but that's what we've put as the first offense."
Nemes said street racing is getting "out of control" in Jefferson County.
Metro Councilwoman Donna Purvis testified in support of HB 465. She said illegal street racing often involves violence.
"I am sure this is not just a Louisville problem, and for that reason, a message should be sent to the entire state there will be serious consequences for the endangerment of other's lives," Purvis said.
Recreational, permitted street racing is a new activity in the commonwealth. Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, asked Chester-Burton and Nemes if HB 465 could inadvertently ban the activity.
"I'm supportive of the bill, but I want to make sure we don't inadvertently prevent the tourism aspect that's going on in southeast Kentucky where we're doing permitted road racing there," Blanton said.
Committee chair Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, said there is a provision in HB 465 that keeps the recreational road racing exempt. Nemes confirmed the legislation only impacts illegal activities.
The House Judiciary Committee approved HB 465 by a 15-0 vote with one member passing.
Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, decided to vote pass due to constitutionality concerns over the seizure provision in the bill.
"I do have constitutional concerns, and I would like to research this further," he said, citing a 2019 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on excessive fines under the Eighth Amendment.
In voting "yes," Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, thanked Chester-Burton and Nemes for bringing HB 465.
"It is so important," she said. "It's heartbreaking to see what happens — the devastation and the deaths of people — it's going to be all over the state before we know it."
HB 465 will now go before the full House for its consideration
House passes bill on manufactured homes
Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville, speaks on House Bill 160 on the House floor on Tuesday. The bill would ensure qualified manufactured homes that meet strict standards for size, age and permanent foundation are treated the same as site-built homes in single family residential zones. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Kentucky has a housing shortage. House Bill 160 could help, according to supporters.
Sponsored by Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville, HB 160 would ensure qualified manufactured homes that meet strict standards for size, age and permanent foundation are treated the same as site-built homes in single family residential zones.
The bill is the result of the work done by the Kentucky Housing Task Force in which Witten served as a co-chair. The goal of last year's task force was to study and review the current and future policy needs of the state to address access and availability of housing to the citizens of the commonwealth.
Witten said the task force determined the state needs around 200,000 housing units.
"These gaps hit all 120 counties. They affect urban, rural and suburban communities, and the shortages are across all price points," Witten said. "It was clear from the testimony that the demand for housing has far outpaced the production of new supply in Kentucky."
Manufactured homes could be one of the housing gap solutions, Witten added.
Witten said local governments would still retain control over cosmetic standards, square footage requirements, setbacks and lot orientation under HB 160. Additionally, the bill would not allow mobile homes, trailers or traditional manufactured homes where they're currently prohibited.
"It does not impact HOA rules, deed or developer restrictions, or historical preservation areas," Witten added.
To address concerns some stakeholders have with the bill, Witten said she worked with Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, on a floor amendment that further clarifies local government authority.
Flannery said the amendment confirms local governments can protect property values, restores the right to regulate square footage, adds language to regulate setbacks and lot orientation and addresses some concerns about certain shapes and sizes.
Additionally, the floor amendment changes the dates of qualified manufactured homes to a rolling five-year period and addresses foundation requirement concerns, Flannery said.
"This amendment is the product of good faith negotiations between local government organizations like the (Kentucky Association of Counties) and the (Kentucky League of Cities), and attempts to incorporate some of their suggestions and alleviate some of the concerns and heartburn that they had about this bill as it passed committee," Flannery said.
The amendment was adopted, and the Kentucky House of Representatives passed HB 160 by a 90-5 vote.
"If we truly want to prioritize home ownership for working class Kentuckians, while at the same time addressing our housing shortage, ensuring that qualified manufactured homes are treated equally to cycled homes is an important step," Witten said.
In explaining her "yes" vote, Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, thanked Witten for her work on the bill and the Kentucky Housing Task Force.
HB 160 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Senate committee adopts SNAP-related resolution on workforce development
Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, speaks Tuesday on Senate Resolution 18 during a meeting of the Senate Families and Children Committee. The resolution calls on state health officials to explore strategies for maximizing the use of a workforce development effort attached to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Senate Families and Children Committee adopted a resolution Tuesday to explore strategies for better using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training program in Kentucky.
Senate Resolution 18 calls for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to compile a report detailing findings, strategies and recommendations for expanding SNAP E&T utilization and submit a report to the general assembly by Dec. 1.
Sponsored by Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, the resolution was adopted with an 8-0 vote. One legislator cast a pass vote.
"SNAP E&T is a powerful tool for Kentucky and businesses alike. It helps individuals receiving SNAP benefits to gain valuable job training education and workforce development opportunities while strengthening our state's labor market by fully leveraging federal funding," Neal testified. "We can expand access to training and employment services at no additional cost to the commonwealth."
Neal said Kentucky and other states face workforce participation challenges – mainly in rural and underserved areas. The program provides critical services such as job search assistance, vocational training and support for employment barriers such as transportation and child care.
"By expanding our engagement with this program, we can help more individuals transition from public assistance into stable, higher paying jobs and reducing poverty rates and foster economic growth," he said.
Jessica Klein, of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, testified that all states are required to operate a SNAP E&T program, and it's up to the states to determine how they will operate.
"Kentucky's program helps provide supports to SNAP participants between 16 and 59, and that's a group we call work registrants in the SNAP program," she said.
The voluntary program is operated by five key partners across Kentucky, and with additional engagement and the possibility of adding more partners, the program could expand, Klein said.
Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, suggested Amazon as a potential partner, noting that the corporation just celebrated a workforce program graduation.
"So maybe that is an organization and entity that you all can talk to and partner with to figure out how we do make this work here in Kentucky," she said.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, asked if the workforce opportunities in the program are taking away dollars from other existing programs.
CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander said there are several different elements of the SNAP program, and one doesn't take away from the other. He said it's a supportive piece.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, said the state needs workforce training, but said he's concerned the legislature might have to authorize spending.
"I'm concerned slightly about the wording here where it says ‘implement strategies to maximize utilization' because I think the administration has used those types of terms on drawdown of Medicaid dollars that have expanded Medicaid," he said.
Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, asked if there should be a fiscal note with the resolution, and Committee Chair Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, said the matter at hand is a simple resolution.
Meredith cast a pass vote.
When Herron cast her vote, she recognized the other legislators' concerns about possible funding.
"I want my colleagues to just know, I know there has been a little concern about what potential costs, if anything, but just remember whatever the cost is, it's for workforce. So, if we're putting anything in, the goal is that these individuals would have employment, higher education so that they then would not be utilizing the SNAP benefits program," she said.
The resolution now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Planning and zoning bill breaks ground
Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, speaks on House Bill 18 before the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday. The bill would require local elected officials to have a say on new developments instead of leaving it solely up to unelected planning and zoning boards. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill seeking to curb issues in the planning and zoning process at the local level advanced from the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday.
Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 18. He told the committee the bill would require local elected officials to have a say on new developments in single-family zoned areas instead of leaving the decision solely up to unelected planning and zoning boards.
Hodgson said multi-family dwellings and other developments are causing infrastructure issues, such as unsafe traffic congestion, in certain communities across Kentucky.
"Some suburban areas are seeing attempts to insert high-density apartments and development into these single-family areas, straining the infrastructure to the breaking point and fundamentally changing the quiet character of the existing neighborhoods forever," he said.
Under HB 18, any density development project proposed in a traditional single-family home zone would be treated as if it were an amendment to the zoning map and would be required to be approved by the local fiscal court or legislative body.
Additionally, the legislation would create some development incentives for infill development in urban areas, Hodgson said. Another provision also provides a two-year extension on a moratorium on zoning district classification changes.
Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, said she is concerned certain provisions of HB 18, like the moratorium extension, may make the housing crisis in Kentucky worse.
"I think density is the key, and this concerns me that we are restricting local communities … This seems to go against a whole other effort that we're up against in this state. Is there something else that I'm missing?" Stalker said.
Hodgson said he agrees there are areas that need density, but making sure the infrastructure to support it is crucial. There are highways in the state where emergency vehicles cannot safely pass through due to high traffic caused by high-density development, he said.
"(House Bill 18) doesn't stop you from doing density development. You just have to have weigh-in and a vote by the elected officials," Hodgson added.
Liam Gallagher, legislative director for Americans for Prosperity Kentucky, testified against the legislation to the committee. He spoke against a provision of the bill that would limit new leases of certain properties in single-family home zones and said the measure would hurt housing development and limit property rights.
Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, also said he has concerns about HB 18, but he agrees there are planning and zoning issues that need to be addressed.
"I am concerned from a development standpoint and want to make sure that there are incentives to provide housing and so forth," Fleming said, adding he appreciates the effort but needs to clarify some things before moving forward.
Fleming recorded a "pass" vote on the bill.
Echoing Hodgson's earlier comments, Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, said there are three major developments planned for a road in his district that cannot support the traffic.
"I'm thinking that my constituents support this very much because you are going to strengthen their position to push back against these developments that end with three-story apartments overlooking homes that have been in that neighborhood for 60 to 80 years," Bauman said, encouraging the committee to vote "yes" on HB 18.
The House Local Government Committee voted 14 to 4 with two pass votes to send HB 18 to the House floor.
Family Preservation and Accountability Act advances
Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, testifies on House Bill 291 during Thursday's House Families and Children Committee meeting. The bill would ask judges to consider a defendant's status as a caretaker before imposing a sentence for a felony offense. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill currently on the move in the Kentucky House of Representatives seeks to reduce incarceration rates and keep families together.
Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, and other stakeholders testified on House Bill 291 before the House Families and Children Committee on Thursday. Wilson is the primary sponsor of the legislation and the committee's vice-chair.
HB 291, also known as the Family Preservation and Accountability Act, would ask judges to consider a defendant's status as a caretaker of a dependent child before imposing a sentence for a felony offense.
"The Family Preservation and Accountability Act addresses challenges by expanding sentencing alternatives for primary caregivers convicted of nonviolent offenses," Wilson said.
The legislation would not apply to defendants convicted of a violent offense or defendants who used or attempted to use physical force while committing the crime. If the victim is a child or statute prohibits alternative sentencing, HB 291 would also not apply.
"The intent of the bill is to prioritize family unity, reduce harm from the separation of parents and children, and offer a rehabilitative approach that preserves that parent-child relationship while safeguarding child safety, safety of the community, while taking all of those things into consideration," Wilson said.
Wilson said the bill would allow defendants at the time of conviction to file a motion asking the judge to consider their status as a primary caregiver. The judge would then determine whether the defendant is a primary caregiver. If true, then the judge can use that information during sentencing.
The bill would allow the court to require a defendant participate in a substance use disorder treatment program, parenting classes, anger management, job training, literacy classes and more in addition to the imposed sentence, Wilson said.
Sarah Durand, vice president of government affairs for Kentucky Free, testified alongside Wilson. She said HB 291 would save the state $74 million in direct incarceration costs.
"That is just savings of housing incarcerating primary caregivers," Durand said. "However, national research indicates that for every dollar spent on incarceration, society loses an additional $10 in indirect costs. As we looked at this and looked at those indirect costs, this bill has the ability to add $740 million annually to the state's economy."
Cortney Downs with Kentucky Youth Advocates said parental incarceration is an adverse childhood experience, which is a traumatic event occurring in childhood that is often associated with negative long-term outcomes.
Nearly 102,000 children in Kentucky will experience parental incarceration, she added.
"The persistently high rates of kids who are affected by parental incarcerations creates an urgency for us to minimize the impact," Downs said, adding HB 291 will help children.
Kenton County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Summe said there are "a lot of good things" about HB 291, but she has concerns about some of the language in the bill and how a ruling may impact a family court case.
"Our biggest concern is about the overlap and the crossing of making decisions about whether or not somebody is a caregiver, not a parent, but a caregiver, and how much that involves."
Wilson said the judges have a valid point about not wanting to "step on family court's toes."
"We added a section that the determination that's being made under this bill is not admissible as evidence in family court," he said, adding he's willing to continue working on the legislation's language.
Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said she supports the legislation, but would support more changes.
"I'm in support of this. I just want to find a way that really helps streamline the information that the judges need to make these determinations," Moser said.
The House Families and Children Committee unanimously approved HB 291. It will now go before the full House for consideration.
Committee advances bill about moments of silence in schools
Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, testifies Thursday during a Senate Education Committee meeting about legislation regarding moments of silence and reflection in public schools. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Senate Education Committee on Thursday unanimously advanced Senate Bill 19, which would require public schools to establish procedures for moments of silence and reflection in the classroom.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, testified that the measure would allow students to have a moment of silence at the start of the school day without any religious connotations.
Testifying with Girdler was Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, who is involved with several Jewish organizations and is director of Central Kentucky's branch of Chabad-Lubavitch.
Litvin said he strongly endorses SB 19 because a moment of silence has long been recognized as a valued practice in schools to offer students an opportunity for reflection, mindfulness and focus. He said under the measure, teachers wouldn't be allowed to tell the students how to use the time.
"It fosters an important sense of self-worth among students and strengthens their respect for one another. As we explore meaningful ways to uplift and support our students, a brief 60-120 seconds of silence, of silent reflection, is a simple yet powerful tool that can make a real difference," he said.
Research consistently demonstrates that such moments enhance cognitive abilities, concentration, and emotional well-being, Litvin said. He added that they also contribute to a more respectful and thoughtful school environment.
"Importantly, Senate Bill 19 does not infringe on religious freedom. It is crafted by Jewish leaders here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has been endorsed by rabbis from across the state as well as religious leaders from a diverse range of faith groups and secular mental health professionals, he said.
Rabbi Ben Freed of Keneseth Israel Congregation of Louisville, said some points of the bill are "wonderful," but cited concerns with changing the law to require moments of silence.
The possibility that The Lord's Prayer could be recited before the moments of silence is also a concern, Freed said.
"And I feel that mandating it goes, to me, a step too far especially in conjunction with the fact that earlier in this statute, the statute states that it is permissible to have a recitation of the Lord's Prayer… I find that to be somewhat problematic for a Jewish kid who would be in a classroom," he said.
Mindy Haas, executive director of The Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, said the federation agrees with Freed, and there are rabbis in Lexington who do not support the bill.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, asked the speakers if moments of silence are already being observed in public schools. Girdler and Litvin said they aren't aware of this happening.
Tichenor said the measure would offer children a chance to take a deep breath and have some silence. She also said the United States has a deep history of Christianity, and teaching this as a historical fact can be valuable to students.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said he takes his faith very seriously, and as he reads the bill, there's nothing to prohibit a Jewish, Muslim or Christian student from using the moment of silence to think about religion in the context of which they've been trained.
Thomas said religion can be used in two ways – either as a sword or as a shield.
"And when I see statutes where religion is being the sword to promote bigotry or discrimination or hate, then I'm going to oppose. I'm going to oppose those bills, because there's no place in American for a religion to be used in that context," he said. "But where religion is being as a shield, to provide comfort, or consolation or just a moment of peace for a person, then I'm going to allow that, and that's what this bill does."
The bill now heads to the full Senate.
Senate endorses juvenile justice bill
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, speaks Wednesday on Senate Bill 111 on the Senate floor. The measure would expand and improve services for high-acuity youth in Kentucky's juvenile justice system. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill to expand and improve services for justice-involved, high-acuity youth received unanimous endorsement Wednesday from the Kentucky Senate. The legislation is part of a multi-year effort to reform juvenile justice in the commonwealth.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, testified that the bill he's sponsoring – Senate Bill 111 – stems from a working group dedicated to the complicated issue.
"Senate Bill 111 is another product of the DJJ working group established by leadership in both chambers two years ago. The bill is also very much a collaborative effort with the Justice Cabinet, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Kentucky Hospital Association," he said.
Carroll said the bill would create a protocol for determining the proper location to provide mental health treatment to youths. It would also establish enhanced rates for inpatient psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals caring for youths.
In addition, SB 111 would create a process to remove youths who commit acts of violence or incite violence at a treatment facility, and it would create a process to move youths to a lower level of care if a physician determines that the current level is no longer required.
The bill also calls for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to construct a specialized mental health facility to provide residential treatment for high-acuity youth in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services would need to contract with a public teaching university to provide clinical services to the facility.
SB 111 also contains language addressing confidentially of juvenile records and other provisions, Carroll said.
The original bill included provisions to construct two female juvenile detention facilities, but that language was removed from the bill through a floor amendment Wednesday.
Carroll said the facilities are still being planned, but the current legislative session is a non-budget year. He expects the facilities could be broached again during the 2026 legislative session.
Currently, females are housed in a single facility, and there are times when it has been at capacity. Counties are often transporting females across the state, he said.
"We do plan to move forward with that. But there is, right now, a $90 million price tag on these two facilities, and we will continue to work in that direction," he said.
Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, thanked Carroll and said she wants to help solve juvenile justice related challenges. She expressed concern about a high turnover rate of juvenile justice commissioners and other cases of instability, which can have a negative effect on the youth.
Herron said she has spent several years working with justice-involved youth who are in the foster care system, and that they respond to their environment.
"I think we have a huge responsibility to continue to analyze, review and look at, from the top to bottom, the needs of our kids who are justice-involved. And it's not just the kids who are in facilities, but it's also the kids who are in communities, the kids when they're coming home to re-entry," she said.
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said she has heard from constituents about juvenile justice issues.
"I stand to thank the people who have been working on this bill. This is an issue that I've had constituents come to me about," she said. "This is an issue in our state that is of high significance, and I really want to say that this is something I think we're moving forward with and thank you."
Senate committee green lights nuclear energy grant bill
Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, speaks on Senate Bill 179 during Wednesday's Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee meeting. Smith is committee chair. The measure would set aside funding for nuclear development grants in Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A measure to set aside funding for nuclear energy development grants in Kentucky was unanimously given the green light by the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Wednesday.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, testified that the bill he's sponsoring – Senate Bill 179 – will bolster the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA). Lawmakers established the group last year to promote the development of nuclear energy and a related ecosystem within Kentucky.
"This bill establishes the nuclear energy grant program within KNEDA. As you all will remember, we appropriated $40 million that went to the University of Kentucky to support the nuclear authority and also EPIC (Energy Planning and Inventory Commission). The provision was that those boards would be operated with the interest from the $40 million investment that we made," he said.
The measure calls for setting aside $10 million of the $40 million for grants, and it sets up a subcommittee of board members to oversee the process for evaluating applications and awarding funds.
The maximum grant an entity could receive would be $2 million. But over time, more funding could be earmarked for the effort, Carroll said. He pointed to nuclear development in Tennessee, and said Kentucky can't lag behind other states.
Tennessee has invested about $95 million in such efforts, "and as a result, Tennessee has taken the lead in this country on the development. The first small scale reactor, SMR (small modular reactors), will be built in Tennessee, and they are getting numerous businesses, development coming in related to nuclear," he said.
Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, thanked Carroll for his work on the initiative.
"This is important now. We needed this yesterday. Just look forward to working on this with you in the future," he said.
Carroll said he and West continue to learn more about nuclear energy, and "these are historical times, and Kentucky has got to step up in this area or we've going to be left behind."
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, said he agrees with West that moving forward is necessary.
"All of us on this committee are concerned about energy, and we've got to put our head down and get to work and get back to being a leader in energy in the nation," he said.
Committee Chair Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, encouraged committee members to study energy-related bills that are moving through the committee.
"Let's take the time to do the due diligence so they can move through our committee quickly. It is going to be very pivotal for us to take advantage of having a president that has a power policy," he said.
Smith said now is a transitional time for American energy, and the United States needs to be at the forefront of energy and artificial intelligence capabilities.
"And we don't want to wind up being energy poor," he said. "We've seen what that does to other nations. That does not need to happen to us, so I do really applaud the effort here."
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Bill on wearable panic buttons for teachers clears committee
Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, holds up a wearable panic alert system while Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, looks on. The lawmakers are co-sponsoring House Bill 14, which would allow schools to implement a wearable panic alert system and set up the framework for funding. The testimony was part of Wednesday's House Primary and Secondary Education Committee meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Seven years ago, a gunman killed 17 people at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, including 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff.
Alyssa's mother Lori Alhadeff joined Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, and a group of Kentucky students to testify on House Bill 14 during the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee meeting on Wednesday.
HB 14, also known as Alyssa's Law, would allow Kentucky public schools to implement a wearable panic alert system for teachers, administrators and other school staff. Jackson and Aull are co-sponsors of the legislation.
"The principle of Alyssa's Law is simple: Time equals life. And we need to get our kids and teachers to safety quickly and reduce the response time of first responders," Alhadeff said.
The bill defines a wearable panic alert system as a silent security system. It is a manually activated device that sends a nonaudible signal to the local 911 call center and emergency responder agencies.
Jackson said HB 14 would make Kentucky schools safer.
"Seconds matter in an emergency," he said. "This is not only for an active shooter … I've got four little grandkids. That would be our worst nightmare, but it can be used for medical emergencies, fights, etc."
Jackson showed an example of the device to the committee. He said its about the same size as the ID badges teachers already wear every day. After the button is pressed three times, the device vibrates and alerts first responders to the exact location of the emergency.
Aull said HB 14 does not currently fund the purchase of the system, but establishes the framework for funding in the biennial budget next year.
"The entire cost on the high end would be $6 million and on the low end, it would be about $2 million," Aull added. "And the draft here is a 50/50 match, so the local school district would have some skin in the game as well as the general assembly."
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, who is also a teacher, said Jefferson County Public Schools is already in the process of rolling out a similar device.
"I believe that we have a different vendor than the one for the sample device," she said. "If there are any limitations that are brought through this legislation that would keep you from having another vendor, would you be supportive in making sure multiple vendors (can be used)?"
Jackson and Aull said HB 14 is "vendor neutral."
Installation isn't the only cost school districts would have to consider. Aull said there are ongoing maintenance fees of up to $7,000 to $8,000 per campus.
Rep. Felicia Rabourn, R-Turners Station, asked if the proposed grant system in the bill would help with any ongoing costs. Under HB 14, The Center for School Safety would have the ability to establish the Wearable Panic Alert Grant Program.
Aull said the bill is written to incentivize installation.
"If the general assembly decides to put more money in the fund, then there will be plenty of opportunity for leftover dollars then to go pay for ongoing maintenance as well," Aull said.
As for training, Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, asked who would be responsible for training teachers and other staff on how to use and maintain the devices and deploy them in the correct situation.
"I want to make sure that that's harped on and emphasized in order to make sure that the proper protocol is trained for teachers, staff and so forth," Fleming said.
Aull said the bill requires that all building personnel receive training on the protocol and the appropriate use of the system.
"That training would be led in conjunction with the school district and the vendor to provide that training on what they have installed in the school system," Aull added.
Alyssa's Law unanimously advanced from the committee and now heads to the full House for consideration.
House approves cigar bar legislation
Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Louisville, speaks about House Bill 211 on the House floor on Tuesday. The legislation would create a regulatory framework for cigar bars and prevent local anti-smoking ordinances from prohibiting their operation. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Cigar enthusiasts may soon have more places around the commonwealth to sample and enjoy cigars.
House Bill 211, sponsored by Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Louisville, would create a regulatory framework for cigar bars and prevent local anti-smoking ordinances from prohibiting their operation.
Lewis opened his speech on the House floor on Tuesday by telling the Kentucky House of Representatives what House Bill 211 does not do.
"This bill does not fully roll back existing smoke-free laws in any local municipality in the commonwealth," he said. "This is not about smoking cigars in a regular bar, your local bowling alley, a restaurant, or in any other public place that doesn't currently allow smoking if you do not want to be exposed to cigar smoke in a public place where smoke free laws currently exist.
"Nothing in this bill changes your ability to maintain that separation."
Lewis said HB 211 would create a "very narrow exemption" to allow smoking of cigars inside cigar bars.
HB 211 defines cigar bars as a 21 and older establishment that holds a valid quota retail drink license and generates at least 15% of its annual gross income from the on-site sale of cigars, pipe tobacco, paraphernalia, and accessories.
Lewis said the legislation would give local governments oversight of the businesses.
"It also adds another layer of government inspections and accountability to the process," Lewis said. "A local government may enact an ordinance requiring a cigar bar to obtain an annual permit for its inspection for its operation to ensure that the applicant complies with the requirements set forth in this legislation."
HB 211 would also require cigar bars that share a physical wall or common enclosed air space with any other structure to implement smoke mitigation measures. A smoke-free area for delivery drivers or mail carriers would also be required in some circumstances, Lewis said.
House Floor Amendment 2, filed by Lewis, would exempt currently operating cigar bars from being required from having a smoke-free delivery area.
"This will prevent those businesses currently in operation from incurring unreasonable expenses to establish such a space as a result of this legislation," Lewis said.
Rep. Anne Gay Donworth, D-Lexington, spoke against the amendment.
"I don't think it's acceptable to require someone who is doing the course of their job, their delivery job, to be required to inhale secondhand smoke," she said.
Donworth and Rep. George Brown Jr., D-Lexington, said cigar bar regulation should be left up to local governments.
"I think this bill overrides local control, so I'm vehemently opposed to this piece of legislation," Brown said.
HB 211 cosponsor Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., R-Providence, said only six or seven cigar bars would be impacted by House Floor Amendment 2, and those delivery drivers typically enter through a well-ventilated part of the business.
"I think it's a very reasonable bill, and it certainly does not change any of the existing restaurant laws or bar laws that are on the books now," Gooch said. "With that, I urge people to vote for this amendment and for the bill."
House Floor Amendment 2 was adopted by a voice vote.
The House also adopted House Floor Amendment 1 by a voice vote. Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, filed the amendment.
"This is a simple floor amendment that would allow a local government to opt out of the liquor license requirement," Doan said. This floor amendment would be helpful for dry counties, he added.
HB 211 advanced off the House floor by a 74-19 vote. It now goes before the Senate for consideration.
Senate committee advances bill to combat youth nicotine use
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, testifies on Senate Bill 100 during Tuesday's Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee meeting. The measure seeks to combat youth nicotine use in Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A measure to combat youth nicotine use in Kentucky – Senate Bill 100 – advanced unanimously Tuesday during a meeting of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee.
The legislation seeks to stop the supply of tobacco products to underaged children. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said most retailers follow the law, but action is needed to address "bad actors."
"In my 42 years as a retailer, I firmly believe the only way to control the bad actors in this industry is by licensing all retailers of vape, tobacco and alternative nicotine products. This bill takes a strong step in that direction," he said.
The legislation would establish the Division of Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Products Licensing within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The division would be managed by a director who will enforce regulations on the sale and distribution of tobacco, nicotine and vapor products, Higdon said.
Additionally, administrative regulations would be created to govern the products, and investigators would have the authority to inspect any premises where tobacco, nicotine or vapor products are manufactured, stored or sold. Investigators would also have the power to confiscate contraband, he said.
The legislation calls for a $250 license and $50 application fee to be obtained before selling the products in Kentucky. If fines and penalties are not paid, the retailer cannot renew a license.
Retailers operating without a license would face a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense, a Class A misdemeanor for the second offense, and for third and subsequent offenses, a Class D felony.
Retailers would have access to an appeals process, and 50% of the collected fines would go to enforcement. The remaining funds would support youth education programs on the dangers of nicotine, vaping and tobacco, Higdon testified.
"This bill has teeth. If you sell products without a license, you will face criminal penalties," he said.
Griffin Nemeth, a student at the University of Kentucky, leads the #iCANendthetrend Youth Advisory Board. He thanked Higdon for the legislation and testified during the meeting.
Nemeth said Kentucky is approximately one of 10 states where retailers are not required to have licenses to sell tobacco products, and the legislation includes strong, enforceable penalties.
"Nicotine dependence and the accessibility of these products pose a real threat to Kentucky kids – not just to their health, not just to their education, but to their futures as a whole," he said.
Delaney Crump, also with #iCANendthetrend and a student at Boyd County High School, said vaping is an academic distraction and leads to under performance. Many students can't resist the vapes that are sometimes sweet and fruity.
"The consequences of inaction are devastating. This isn't just about lung cancer 30 years down the line, it's about kids dropping out of sports because their lungs can't keep up. It's about the anxiety and depression that nicotine fuels," she said.
Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, said that as a mom of teenagers, she is well aware of the issue of vaping in elementary, middle or high school. She said lawmakers have in recent years discussed the importance of holding people accountable.
Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, said prevention programs are paramount. He asked Crump where she thinks her peers obtain the vapes.
She said adults sometimes buy them for the students. She also hears students talking about the places where they get them.
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said vapes can look like flash drives and they're easy for young people to conceal. She said she's concerned about life-long impacts the products can cause.
"The thing that concerns me is the testimony about these companies that intentionally design these to appeal to our young people – to make the candy flavors and the bright colors," she said.
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said the bill is important for young people's health.
"I don't know if people out there understand nicotine is as addictive as opioids are. It is extremely addicting, and I know growing up in Kentucky, that I was able to purchase cigarettes by the time I was 12 years old without any difficulty whatsoever," she said.
The bill now heads to the full Senate.
Automated license plate reader privacy bill advances
Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, speaks on House Bill 20 before the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday. The bill would regulate automated license plate reader data and other electronic tracking measures. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill that would regulate automated license plate reader data and other electronic tracking measures is on the move.
Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, is the primary sponsor of House Bill 20. The same bill advanced from the House unanimously last year but stalled in the Senate, he told the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
Under HB 20, any entity maintaining or deploying automated license plate readers would be required to delete the collected data within 60 days, unless it is being used as evidence in an investigation or for toll collection. The bill would also prohibit the sale of the data.
Additionally, HB 20 would protect Kentuckians from being required, coerced or compelled to be "microchipped" or administered a subcutaneous device.
The legislation also seeks to protect Kentuckians from unlawful surveillance via a tracking device on a person or property. There would be exceptions. Law enforcement would not be prevented from lawfully using tracking devices, for example.
"Basically, we're trying to avoid the non-consensual tracking of the movements of American citizens," Hodgson said.
During discussion, Rep. Anne Gay Donworth, D-Lexington, asked Hodgson, "Who will be responsible for making sure that the information is deleted after 60 days?"
Hodgson said law enforcement entities, who are typically the ones managing automated license plate readers, would be responsible.
"We rely on the goodwill of the vendors who have that policy in place now, but this would make it illegal to do that," Hodgson added.
Rep. Matthew Lehman, D-Newport, said he noticed the bill allows victims of violations to take civil action, but he suggested considering adding criminal penalties in the future.
"I'm very supportive of the bill. But if there's multiple victims involved or a bad actor, I think maybe also amending the criminal code would be helpful," Lehman said.
Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, said she hopes HB 20 paves the way for highway safety camera legislation.
The House Transportation Committee unanimously approved HB 20. It now heads to the full House for consideration.
This Week at the State Capitol
Lawmakers ramp up the pace as dozens of bills sail through committees
The Kentucky Senate convenes in the Old State Capitol to pass a measure designating June as Kentucky History Month. The proceedings were part of Old Capitol Day, a periodic event in which lawmakers meet in the Old Capitol to celebrate legislative history. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Old State Capitol was full of spirit this week as lawmakers gaveled in to session under the painted gaze of Isaac Shelby and George Washington and advanced a pair of bills that would designate every June as Kentucky History Month.
House Bill 313 and Senate Bill 313 are companion measures that each received a nod Tuesday in the Old Capitol building, which served as the home of the Kentucky General Assembly from 1830 to 1910.
Lawmakers conduct a session day in the Old Capitol every few years in a nod to legislative tradition, and this year's event seems like it happened a century ago given the expansive schedule that unfolded throughout the rest of the week.
Over a packed four days, bills on smoking, insurance fraud, tax exemptions, and driver safety all received action. Lawmakers discussed the legal theories behind Chevron deference and debated a proposal to display the Ten Commandments on the Capitol grounds.
Deliberations were especially pointed Thursday when the Senate Judiciary Committee took up Senate Bill 2, which would prohibit public funds from being spent on procedures, treatments and surgeries related to gender transition in Kentucky prisons.
Lawmakers sparred over the nature of the procedures – whether they are elective or constitute necessary medical treatment. Ultimately, the bill cleared the committee with a 6-2 vote and now heads to the full chamber. One member voted "pass."
Lawmakers were more unified when the House Judiciary Committee green-lighted a bill related to wrongful convictions.
Under House Bill 206, wrongfully convicted individuals who prove their innocence could petition to receive financial compensation based on the amount of time they spent imprisoned, on parole or under supervision. The bill won committee support with a 19-0 vote on Wednesday.
Like many weeks in the general assembly, education issues also loomed large on the agenda.
The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee advanced a measure Wednesday to strengthen dyslexia interventions in public schools.
House Bill 272 would require local boards of education to develop a policy for identifying and assisting students in kindergarten through third grade who have dyslexia. It also calls on the state Department of Education to collect data and annually review and update its guidance on reading and writing difficulties.
The same committee also advanced legislation – House Bill 240 – that would require schools to administer a reading assessment to kindergarten students at the end of the academic year. Students who fail to meet grade-level benchmarks and standards would likely need to repeat kindergarten under the proposal.
Two bills related to driving are also picking up momentum.
Senate Bill 99 would forbid drivers from using a personal communication device while operating a motor vehicle. The bill provides some exceptions for emergency use and for adults who use hands-free options. It cleared the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday.
House Bill 15 would reduce the minimum age for getting a learner's permit in Kentucky from 16 to 15 years old. It cleared the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday and passed off the House floor Thursday. The bill now heads to the Senate.
More than one third of the 2025 legislative session is now over, and many other bills made progress this week. Here's a look at some of the bills that were on the move:
Educator Preparation Programs – House Bill 251 would establish the Education Professional Standards Board as the primary oversight authority for teacher education programs at state colleges and universities. The Council on Postsecondary Education currently serves in that role. The House Committee on Postsecondary Education advanced the legislation Tuesday.
Cigar Bars – House Bill 211 would authorize cigar bars that generate at least 15% of their revenue from cigar and pipe products to operate in communities that otherwise prohibit smoking. In addition to the revenue threshold, cigar bars would need to meet a series of other requirements in the bill. HB 211 won support in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday.
Manufactured Housing – House Bill 160 would prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that treat manufactured homes differently from single-family homes. HB 160 cleared the House Committee on Local Government on Tuesday.
Insurance Fraud – Senate Bill 24 would expand the definition of property and casualty insurance fraud to help crack down on unscrupulous contractors and public adjusters who charge unnecessary or fraudulent fees. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee passed the bill Tuesday.
Protective Orders – House Bill 38 would create tougher penalties for people who repeatedly violate protective orders. Offenders could face a class D felony if they violate an order three times within five years and the third violation involves the use or threat of violence. The House Judiciary Committee voted in support of the measure Wednesday.
Homeowner Tax Exemptions – Senate Bill 67 proposes a constitutional amendment that would exempt homeowners who are 65 and older from paying property taxes that result from higher assessments on their permanent residence. The measure cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.
Sexual Extortion – Senate Bill 73 seeks to clamp down on sexual extortion by creating tougher penalties for offenders and more legal remedies for victims. It also requires schools and colleges to educate students and parents about the issue and display resources for reporting. The Senate passed the legislation Wednesday.
Choking Prevention – If a school acquires an anti-choking device, House Bill 44 would require the school to ensure that cafeteria staff and others are trained on using the device, along with the Heimlich maneuver. The bill would also provide some protection against civil liabilities if the student is injured during the intervention. HB 44 advanced off the House floor on Wednesday.
Chevron Deference – Under Senate Bill 84, courts could no longer defer to a state agency's interpretation when dealing with ambiguity in statutes, administrative regulations or orders, a practice known as Chevron deference. The Senate Judiciary Committee gave the bill a nod on Thursday.
Juvenile Justice – Senate Bill 111 builds on a multi-year effort to reform Kentucky's juvenile justice system. The bill aims to strengthen the process for assessing youth with severe behavioral challenges and developing an appropriate treatment and placement plan. It also calls for two female-only detention centers and seeks to establish a detention center for high acuity youth. The measure advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Ten Commandments – House Joint Resolution 15 seeks to return a granite monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments to the Capitol grounds for permanent display. The House State Government Committee gave the resolution a green light Thursday.
Sexual Assault Response Training – House Bill 219 would require emergency medical providers to receive sexual assault emergency response training. The House Health Services Committee approved the bill Thursday.
Government Services – House Bill 182 would forbid state and local government entities from using the word "free" to describe any benefit, product or service financed with public funds. The House State Government Committee passed the legislation Thursday.
School Athletics – Under Senate Bill 120, school coaches would receive training on the duties and procedures for reporting child abuse. The legislation would also add language to sports participation forms telling parents and students about the right to report abuse and how to make a report. The Senate Education Committee passed the bill Thursday.
Water Regulations – Senate Bill 89 would change how state law defines waterways in Kentucky to align with recent changes on the federal level. Lawmakers have debated the impact of the change on environmental regulations in Kentucky, particularly regarding ephemeral waterways. The measure cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Wednesday and won support on the Senate floor Friday.
Friday marked day 12 of this year's short, 30-day session. Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, Feb. 18, which is the last day to file new bills in the Senate. The next day is the last day to file new bills in the House.
Kentuckians can track the action this year through Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
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 advances juvenile justice bill
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, testifies on Senate Bill 111 during Thursday's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. The measure would improve and expand services for high acuity youth. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A measure to improve and expand services for youth with severe behavioral and emotional challenges received approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday as part of a multi-year effort to reform juvenile justice in Kentucky.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, testified that the bill he's sponsoring – Senate Bill 111 – reflects the efforts of a working group dedicated to the issue.
The legislation focuses on children who have acute mental illness and receive services from the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services while also being involved with the state Department of Juvenile Justice, he said.
"We still have kids in facilities today that are in juvenile detention centers. Although I feel the treatment has gotten better, they're still not where they need to be and where they can receive the best care in the safest environment for their situation," Carroll said.
He noted that the U.S. Department of Justice has been in Kentucky investigating issues involving juvenile justice detention centers.
SB 111 seeks to strengthen the process for assessing high acuity youth and develop an appropriate treatment and placement plan. If a youth at a psychiatric or pediatric teaching hospital commits or incites violence, the bill provides a process for them to be removed.
It also includes a procedure for high acuity youth to move to a lower continuum of care if the treating physician determines that the current level of care is no longer needed, Carroll said.
"Many hospitals are reluctant to take children. Under current statute, as it is interpreted, once they receive these children, they have to keep these children. If they assault staff, they still have to keep the children. Police will not remove them from the facility," Carroll said.
SB 111 also seeks to establish a detention center dedicated to high acuity youth. It would provide the highest level of care and serve children who are currently incarcerated or detained in juvenile detention centers, Carroll said.
The bill would also require the Department of Juvenile Justice to operate at least two female-only detention centers and to separate violent and nonviolent youth.
Carroll said preliminary cost estimates would be $45 million each for the female detention centers and an additional $5 million to complete design work for the high acuity mental health detention center.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said he advised Carroll to keep cost estimates in the bill whether or not this legislative session is opened up to budget-related legislation.
"…Everybody needs to understand implementation of this bill, which I think everyone knows is probably needed, will come with a price tag. If not this year, it will probably become next year," he said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said new facilities would be expensive, but they are needed.
"It's costly. It's going to cost us a lot of money to get this right and to construct and develop facilities that are going to satisfy both our needs and the concerns of the United States Department of Justice," he said.
The bill now heads to the full Senate.
Measures on sexual assault care advance
Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, speaks on House Bill 219 and House Concurrent Resolution 20 before the House Health Services Committee on Thursday. HB 219 would require emergency medical providers to receive sexual assault response training. HCR 20 would direct the Legislative Research Commission to study access to sexual assault nurse examiners in the commonwealth. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, hopes two pieces of legislation she's sponsoring would help Kentuckians access better care after a sexual assault.
The House Health Services Committee approved House Bill 219 and House Concurrent Resolution 20 on Thursday.
HB 219 would require emergency medical providers to receive sexual assault emergency response training, and HCR 20 would direct the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) to study access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) in the commonwealth.
The training would be conducted by the state's Sexual Assault Response Team Advisory Committee.
Raymer said she started working on the legislation after learning about gaps in coverage for sexual assault patients in emergency rooms across Kentucky.
"While that is a big problem that we need to address, and I think it's a multi-faceted problem, it requires some research and some data for us to know how to correctly address it," Raymer said.
Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, asked Raymer if she's spoken to any of the SANE nurses about the bill.
Raymer said she has not reached out to the nurses directly, but the Kentucky Hospital Association and the Kentucky Medical Association did not have an issue with the legislation.
HB 219 would not mandate a certificate-type program, only training, Raymer added.
"This would just allow patients to be referred to the resources that they need in the emergency department, and we would protect the evidence and also ensure the patients aren't being sent away to another facility?" Committee Chair Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, asked.
Raymer said, "yes."
Ultimately, HB 219 would be "temporary fix" for a larger problem, Raymer said. That's where HCR 20 comes in.
"What we really want is we want those sexual assault nurse examiners that have that training in these hospitals," Raymer said. "We want them to be there. When our citizens, at possibly one of the most vulnerable times in their life, walk into an ER, they need to have the correct treatment by the correct individual."
The LRC report under HCR 20 would hopefully give the legislature the information it needs to draft legislation to fix the sexual assault care issues at Kentucky hospitals, Raymer said.
"It directs LRC to conduct a study looking at where we have gaps in coverage. Why do we have gaps? Try to find out what hospitals are doing when there isn't a sexual assault nurse examiner on staff," Raymer said.
If approved, LRC would submit the report by December 2025.
Moser said the Sexual Assault Advisory Committee has been asking for more SANE nurses for years.
"I think this would support that," Moser added. "We will be able to actually see the data, so I think that's really important."
HB 219 and HCR 20 are now before the full House for consideration.
Senate committee approves communication device safety bill
Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, testifies on Senate Bill 99 during Wednesday's Senate Transportation Committee meeting. The measure would strengthen safety laws related to using personal communication devices in vehicles. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill that seeks to improve safety on roads and highways in Kentucky was given the green light Wednesday during a Senate Transportation Committee meeting with an 8-1-1 vote.
Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, is sponsoring Senate Bill 99 with Committee Chair Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon.
"It establishes that a person is not allowed to use that personal communication device to write, to send or to read texts while they are operating a motor vehicle," Douglas testified.
Douglas said the bill is needed to prevent catastrophic injuries and deaths, and the measure would improve the safety of pedestrians in cities, those running on the side of the road and those out walking with children on two-lane country roads.
"I'm looking to improve the safety of operating motor vehicles in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as those who are not distracted. We often forget the other people involved in the accident," he said.
Higdon said the bill includes provisions that truck drivers and bus drivers are already used to.
"This is a bill that 120,000 Kentuckians already abide by because it's the exact language that's included in a CDL national law pertaining to truck drivers and bus drivers. They have to stay off the phone, so this has already been applied in Kentucky," he said.
The measure would still permit adult drivers to access personal communication devices using hands-free options.
But the bill would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from using a personal communication device in any manner while operating a motor vehicle, including hands-free operations, Douglas said.
Vehicle operators would still be allowed to use devices to report illegal activity or summon first responders. The measure would also allow those under the age of 18 to use GPS.
Douglas testified that school bus drivers with commercial driver's licenses are subject to different state laws, and the bill calls for the state transportation cabinet to update some regulations according to advances in technology.
Violations of the proposed law would result in a $100 fine. Those under 18 would receive a 90-day license revocation for a violation.
"Some may look at this and say that's just entirely too long. Would you say that if it was your mother who was hit by the driver? Would you say that if it was your daughter who was hit by that driver, and you're never going to see them again? I don't think so," Douglas said.
Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, voted for the bill, and said its provisions would improve motorcyclists' safety.
When cyclists are hit by another vehicle, the majority of cases are due to distracted driving," he said. "And this is a bill that they have wanted for a long time, so I'm very proud to vote for that."
Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, also voted for the bill, and said he's seen statistics showing that hands-free usage makes roads safer and that drivers adapt to the changes.
"While I was in the trucking industry, we went through the transition from talking on your phone the way we all talk on our phone to the hands-free laws that were passed. I remember the reluctance," he said.
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, also cast a vote for the bill and thanked the bill's sponsors.
"I really do believe that this is going to save lives, and I'm very grateful to the sponsors for bringing it forward," she said.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Wrongful conviction compensation bill clears committee
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, asks the House Judiciary Committee to vote in-favor of House Bill 206, which would guarantee compensation for Kentuckians wrongfully convicted of a felony. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians wrongfully convicted of a felony may soon have the right to receive restitution
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, presented House Bill 206 to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. He was joined by several exonerees who shared their experiences and struggles with the committee.
"I would like to talk about my support for this bill, how when I was released, housing was difficult," said exoneree Paul Hurt. "I was fortunate enough to have family members still living. A lot of exonerees do not have that luxury of people to help them when they're released. And we're not afforded very much as wrongfully convicted exonerees."
Under HB 206, Nemes said only Kentuckians who can prove actual innocence would be awarded compensation.
"The most important thing to know about this bill is you have to prove actual innocence," he said. "This is not just ‘the constable blundered,' or reversal of a conviction or even a pardon. That's not enough. You have to prove that you're actually innocent of the crime for which you were convicted and served time."
If it becomes law, innocent individuals who file a claim in circuit court within two years of being exonerated would be awarded $65,000 per year of imprisonment. If that person was on death row, they would be awarded $75,000 per year, according to the legislation.
Claimants would also receive $32,500 for each year they were released on parole, under post-incarceration supervision or wrongfully registered as a sex offender, whichever is greater.
Exonerees may also be eligible to receive other compensation under this bill, such as tuition assistance and attorney's fees.
Winnie Ye with The Innocence Project said 38 states, Washington D.C. and the federal government have all enacted wrongful conviction compensation laws.
"Wrongful convictions are a grave injustice," Ye said. "They're a symptom of our broken criminal legal system. And one way that we can try to address this is by promoting this bill today."
Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, said he wouldn't call the legal system broken, but he agrees the state should try to do the right thing when a mistake is made, which is why he supports HB 206.
Flannery said he likes the actual innocence provision of the legislation, but suggested the burden of proof be higher.
"Would it perhaps be better to have a higher standard of clear and convincing (evidence), given the gravity of what we're dealing with?" Flannery asked.
According to Ye, HB 206 follows the same burden of proof standard set by 14 other states. Nemes said he understands the argument Flannery is making and he's open to discussing it further.
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved HB 206.
In explaining her "yes" vote, House Minority Whip Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, said she is grateful for the legislation, but wishes it also included a provision that would provide wrongfully convicted Kentuckians a certificate of actual innocence.
Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, also expressed support for HB 206.
"This is a crucial, crucial first step in ensuring accountability as a government," Roberts said.
HB 206 now goes before the full House for consideration.
Senate committee advances insurance fraud bill
Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, testifies on Senate Bill 24 during Tuesday's Senate Banking and Insurance Committee meeting. The measure seeks to curtail property and casualty insurance fraud in Kentucky. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A measure to help tackle insurance fraud in Kentucky – Senate Bill 24 – gained unanimous approval Tuesday from legislators on the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
The legislation would expand the definition of property and casualty insurance fraud to help crack down on nefarious contractors and public adjusters who charge unnecessary or fraudulent fees or who surprise consumers with exorbitant charges, supporters testified.
Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, is sponsoring the bill. He said it doesn't deal with insurance claims related to bodily injury, only property and casualty insurance. The proposed changes would add more teeth to the law, he said.
"You have to prosecute these people," Girdler said. "If you don't prosecute them, we're in trouble."
Eric DeCampos of the National Insurance Crime Bureau testified that the bill would provide law enforcement personnel with additional tools to investigate insurance fraud and close loopholes in state laws that are being exploited by fraudsters.
Chris Nolan, testifying on behalf of the Insurance Institute of Kentucky, told committee members that Kentuckians are familiar with storms and catastrophes that have become common. He said the events give unscrupulous people opportunities to commit insurance fraud and prey upon already vulnerable consumers.
"As many of you already know, property and casualty insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It's estimated that the cost to a single family each year is between $400 and $700 in increased premiums due to insurance fraud," he said.
Nolan said most contractors and adjustors do a great job in providing services to help people rebuild, but some contractors and public adjusters charge unnecessary, exorbitant, or fraudulent fees to inflate insurance claims.
Sen. Brandon J. Storm, R-London, asked those testifying about insurance fraud enforcement.
"Is this an issue that commonwealth's attorneys across the commonwealth are not prosecuting insurance fraud," he asked. "Because if that's the case, can you show me a commonwealth's attorney in Kentucky that's not doing their job as it relates to insurance fraud enforcement?
Nolan said an insurance fraud task force meets quarterly, and Department of Insurance investigators update stakeholders regarding the millions of dollars they recover from fraud. Additionally, officials of the DOI have been referring cases to the Kentucky attorney general for prosecution.
Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, said he can support the bill because it clarifies criminal intent.
"I appreciate your willingness to work with this bill to make sure that it's narrowly tailored and actually goes to making sure that someone has criminal intent," he said.
More driver's license renewal locations under consideration
Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, speaks before the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday about House Bill 161, which would allow third-party entities to offer driver's license renewal services. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians looking for a more convenient way to renew their driver's license may soon have more options under House Bill 161.
The House Transportation Committee approved the bill on Tuesday. Primary sponsor, Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, said the legislation would allow third-party entities to offer driver's license renewal services.
"This legislation would leverage a tool already being used in other states to increase the access and availability of driver's license renewal services for Kentuckians," Jackson said, reiterating this bill would be for renewals only.
In 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation to create 34 regional centers for issuing driver's licenses and renewals, which was a change from the services being offered in all 120 counties. Jackson said this has caused issues for many Kentuckians.
"Many folks are forced to drive long distances, wait in long lines, and deal with people they've never met before," he said. "We ask the public to get online to make appointments, but many don't have a computer or Wi-Fi."
Today, roughly 28 states allow third-party entities, like AAA or insurance offices, to offer driver's license renewals, Jackson said.
Under HB 161, businesses seeking to offer driver's license renewal services would have to undergo an approval process through the Transportation Cabinet.
"Allowing third-party entities to issue driver's license renewals will help streamline the process and make it more accessible for all Kentuckians," Jackson said.
Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, said he noticed the bill mentioned there would be a fee for the service.
"Do you have any idea what that range would be?" Elliott asked. "Because sometimes fees can get pretty exorbitant, but I think the point that you've made is really good in terms of our inaccessibility to these regional offices, and that does disproportionality affect older folks."
Jackson said his research showed renewing at a third-party location would cost an extra $2 to $5 compared to what it would cost at a regional center.
Two lawmakers had additional questions about the ability of the third-party entities to do driver's license renewals.
Rep. Matthew Lehman, D-Newport, asked Jackson if Kentuckians would be able to renew a REAL ID at a third-party site. After May 7, a 2005 federal law will go into effect requiring Americans to have a REAL ID or a passport in order to board a commercial airplane.
Jackson said, yes, the third-party site would be able to do renewals, but would not be able to issue a brand-new REAL ID.
Rep. Anne Gay Donworth, D-Lexington, asked Jackson if the third-party entities would be able to do the new state-required vision test for driver's license renewals.
Jackson confirmed the vision test would not be an issue.
"They would have to have the refraction machine in these locations just like they would at the 34 driver's license centers," he said.
In addition to wanting more driver's license renewal location options, Kentuckians have also been asking lawmakers to allow more options for driver's tests, Rep. Tom Smith, R-Corbin, said.
Smith asked Jackson if allowing sheriff's departments to be trained to offer driver's tests is something he considered. Currently, only Kentucky State Police can administer driver's tests.
Jackson said HB 161 only focuses on renewals, but it might be something the general assembly considers in the future.
"We didn't deal with that in this," he said. "We wanted to basically stick our toe in the water and try renewals this way, but I could see in the future that possibly would be something that we could do."
HB 161 is now before the full House for consideration.
This Week at the State Capitol
Lawmakers resume 2025 session with action on key income tax measure
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, signs House Bill 1, priority legislation to reduce Kentucky's income tax rate. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly reconvened in Frankfort this week for Part II of the 2025 legislative session, and lawmakers were eager to begin moving bills on health care, gubernatorial pardons and public safety.
Close to 20 bills have passed out of committee so far, and a handful have cleared at least one chamber. But no measure has advanced with more momentum than House Bill 1, the latest step in a multi-year effort to gradually reduce and eliminate Kentucky's income tax.The legislation was resting close to the finish line when lawmakers concluded the first part of the session in January. The Senate wasted no time Tuesday passing the bill off the chamber floor and sending it to the governor's desk.
HB 1 will cut Kentucky's income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% beginning next year. The measure has carried bipartisan support this session even as lawmakers in both chambers have sparred over the impact of tax cuts. The governor signed the bill on Thursday, making it the first bill to become law in 2025.
The Senate was also moving deliberately this week on Senate Bill 17, which seeks to create a statutory and regulatory framework to operate freestanding birthing centers in Kentucky.
Different versions of the bill have been discussed for years as supporters have sought to find common ground among a wide gamut of stakeholders.
The latest proposal appears to be advancing with more support. It won passage in the Senate Health Services Committee on Wednesday and advanced off the Senate floor Friday with a 34-0 vote and three pass votes.
Another measure clearing the Senate was Senate Bill 126, which proposes to amend the state constitution and limit the governor's ability to grant pardons or commutations either just before an election or in the final months before they leave office.
SB 126 advanced out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday and breezed off the Senate floor Friday with a near-unanimous vote.
If the bill wins final passage this year, Kentucky voters would still need to ratify the amendment before it could take effect.
Meanwhile in the House, a bill that seeks to prevent choking deaths in schools took an early step after the mother of 8-year-old Landon McCubbins provided moving testimony to the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee.
Landon died at school in 2022 while choking on a bouncy ball, and House Bill 44 would clear the way for schools to deploy anti-choking devices in such cases after other attempts to save a student's life have failed.
It won committee approval Wednesday and now heads to the full House.
Also on Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee moved a bill that would levy a new $200 fee against "super speeders," a proposed term for those convicted of driving more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit on a state highway.
Revenue from the legislation – Senate Bill 57 – would help fund Kentucky's emergency trauma network.
Sexual extortion was another issue to capture attention this week after the Senate Judiciary Committee heard stirring testimony Thursday on Senate Bill 73. The measure seeks to make sexual extortion a felony in Kentucky and provide victims with more legal remedies.
Committee members voted 7-0 to send the bill to the full Senate.
Twenty-two days remain in this year's short, 30-day session, and lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday in the Old State Capitol building in downtown Frankfort.
The Old Capitol served as the center of state government from 1830 to 1910, and in a nod to legislative history, the General Assembly typically conducts floor proceedings in the building once each session.
As always, Kentuckians can track the action this year through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
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 committee advances ‘sextortion' bill
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, testifies Thursday during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting regarding a bill to combat sexual extortion. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill Thursday to combat sexual extortion in Kentucky after hearing impassioned testimony.
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, is sponsor of Senate Bill 73, which she said would strengthen laws by making sexual extortion a felony and empower victims by giving them clear legal remedies to seek justice and recover damages, among other measures."Sexual extortion is one of the most dangerous and rapidly growing crimes targeting young people today. It is calculated, it is cruel and it thrives on fear and silence," she said. "Too many kids today are being manipulated into situations that they don't know how to escape from."
Adams defined sextortion as a form of exploitation that occurs when someone obtains sexually explicit images – sometimes generated by artificial intelligence – of someone and threatens to release them unless their demands are met. That might include monetary, sexual or any other requests. Abusers often use social media platforms, online gaming sites and messaging applications to target victims.
Testifying with Adams were bill advocates Sara Collins, a Louisville-based attorney, and Lady Tee Thompson, who fights against human trafficking and advocates for human rights.
"I'm here with an appeal – a plea on behalf of our children, our communities, our humanity. The crisis of sextortion and sextortion-based trafficking is not a shadow lingering in some distant land. It is here. It is real. It is devouring the innocence of our youth," Thompson said.
Collins said she testified on behalf of a client who is known as "Jane Doe," and whose story is unforgettable and illustrates how important passage of the bill is.
"No one is exempt from being a victim, and predators are very difficult to identify," she said
Collins testified that in 2020, a former Louisville Metro police detective sexually extorted at least 25 women, and she called him a "very dangerous predator."
"He is not a registered sex offender. He has internet access. And, my client, who is one of his victims, phoned me a few months ago to tell me she ran into him in Kroger," Collins said.
She pointed out that the bill must pass because criminal and civil law – federal or in Kentucky – inadequately addresses sexual extortion.
"Currently, sextortion is prosecuted both civilly and criminally under a patchwork of laws that really do not address the problem," Collins said.
Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, thanked the three women who testified and said Adams' legislative work to fight sexual assault, abuse and sexual extortion is commendable. He said he looks forward to supporting the bill on the Senate floor.
"As a former principal, I see this rampantly throughout our school systems, and I appreciate the efforts to curtail this," he said.
Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, also vice chair of the committee, said he agrees with most of the measures in the bill and "extortion in and of itself is both a criminal and a civil offense."
Wheeler asked about a portion of the bill dealing with suicide and how it would be judged in statute.
Adams said this portion could be clarified, and she's open to a floor amendment.
Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, said it's terrible that those who commit sexual extortion keep ahead "on how to do these dastardly things," and he appreciates the legislation.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said sexual extortion is very real, and he wants to do everything he can to protect his young granddaughters.
Adams said it's time to protect children against sexual extortion and she looks forward to working on the bill as it moves forward.
"The perpetrators move faster than our laws do," she said. "I'm excited to make this bill even stronger and better and without any unintended consequences."
Kentucky General Assembly to convene in historic Old State Capitol
A photo of the Old State Capitol is available here The photo is provided courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly will celebrate the rich history of the legislature next week by convening for a day in the Old State Capitol building in downtown Frankfort.
The Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives will gavel into session at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, inside the building's historic chambers. The Old Capitol, located at 300 W. Broadway St., is a National Historic Landmark that served as the center of state government from 1830 to 1910."Kentucky has a rich and storied history. I always enjoy visiting the Old Capitol and reflecting on the influential figures who helped shape the Commonwealth we call home today," said Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. "As we honor those who came before us, we also celebrate their legacy and the heritage of ‘My Old Kentucky Home.'"
House Speaker David W. Osborne, R-Prospect, added, "Our historic Old State Capitol witnessed several critical chapters in Kentucky's history and today serves as a reminder that our Commonwealth has overcome great challenges and emerged stronger than ever. Lawmakers have stood within the walls of the House and Senate and debated the merits of suffrage, secession, and the adoption of two state constitutions. Our visit underscores the General Assembly's enduring commitment to enacting legislation that reflects our state's evolving needs, while preserving the values of our citizens, essentially shaping the course of our shared history and future."
Kentuckians can view the proceedings via livestream on Kentucky Educational Television's website at www.ket.org/legislature Proceedings will also be broadcast on KET KY, the Kentucky Channel.
Credentialed media will be admitted into the Old Capitol chambers as space permits. Interested media should contact Laura Leigh Goins at Laura.Goins@kylegislature.gov about space availability in the House and Angela Billings at Angela.Billings@kylegislature.gov about space availability in the Senate.
Both the House and Senate plan to adjourn for the day at the Old Capitol and will not return to the present-day Capitol for proceedings on the floors.
The Old State Capitol, completed in 1830 and used until 1910, is a vital part of Kentucky's history as a center of significant legislative activity and an architectural gem.
As the third of four capitol buildings in the state, the Old State Capitol is a symbol of Kentucky's democratic values and civic pride. Designed in the Greek Revival style, the building embodies the ideals of democracy and serves as a lasting reminder of the state's early years and political evolution.
Beyond its role as the seat of government, the Old State Capitol is where some of Kentucky's most influential leaders debated and made decisions on issues that defined the nation's future. Topics such as slavery, secession, women's rights and civil rights were central to discussions that shaped Kentucky's trajectory during a period of profound political and social change.
Now a National Historic Landmark, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) manages the Old State Capitol. In addition to preserving the building's architectural significance, KHS is committed to transforming it into a hub for civics education.
KHS offers a variety of programs, exhibits and tours designed to engage visitors and students with Kentucky's early political history. By exploring the key decisions and debates that took place in this historic space, KHS fosters reflection on how those choices continue to shape the state and its people today.
More information about the Old State Capitol is available on the Kentucky Historical Society website.
Senate committee green lights ‘super speeder' bill
Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, testifies on the "super speeder" bill during Wednesday's Senate Transportation Committee meeting. Senate Bill 57 would help fund Kentucky's trauma system, among other measures A high-resolution photo can be found here
FRANKFORT — The Senate Transportation Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would levy a new $200 fee against "super speeders" to help fund an emergency trauma network in Kentucky.
The legislation, Senate Bill 57, cleared the committee with a 7-1 vote. Under the proposal, a motorist would be considered a "super speeder" if convicted of driving more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit on a state highway.Fees collected from such speeders would be used to boost Kentucky's trauma care system fund, a rural hospital preservation fund, an emergency medical technician scholarship fund, and a fund to help public schools purchase automated external defibrillators.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said the measure is modeled after legislation in Georgia. He said the Kentucky legislature passed a bill in 2008 to establish a trauma care network, but it has never received an appropriation.
"One of my frequent complaints as a legislator here is that we never measure the cost of doing nothing, and certainly by not funding this network has cost us dearly not just in terms of lives – probably during that period we lost 85,000 lives due to trauma – average about 5,000 a year," he said. "And if we had a network in place, probably conservatively, we could have saved at least 5,000 lives."
Meredith said many trauma patients have had to leave Kentucky to receive treatment, and millions of Medicaid dollars have been spent in other states.
Dr. Zachary D. Warriner, a trauma surgeon at the University of Kentucky, testified he's originally from Southeastern Kentucky, and providing appropriate trauma care for everyone in the state is paramount.
"I'm proud to be from here. I'm not proud of some of our trauma outcomes despite the fact that we've implemented this system in 2008," he said. "I think that it's startling to me that depending on where you fall or wreck your vehicle in our state, that your likelihood of survival can be dramatically altered just based on that geography."
He said if the legislature earmarks funds adequately, there will be a dramatic impact on Kentuckians' lives and there is data to support that.
Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, asked Meredith about the number of tickets being issued on limited access highways versus urban areas. He voted against the measure, citing the funding mechanism.
"I think we can agree that if you're going 25 miles and over in the middle of a city, that's dangerous, and I can see a reason for a super speeder fine," he said. "If you're trying to get home at 10 o'clock at night, and there's nobody on a limited access highway at all, frankly I would just adopt Montana's reasonable and prudent standard. And as long as you're not being unsafe, then I don't really think you should have to pay an additional fine."
Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, said he's concerned about air ambulance bills and asked if a fund or pool could be set up to help families defray the costs of services.
Meredith said the network needs to be built, but he envisions some way to address this issue.
"It's economically killing for a lot of families," he said of the costs. "We have to build the system first."
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, said he supports the bill and supports improving the trauma treatment situation in Northern Kentucky.
"Right now, there is children's hospital, which is a Level 1 pediatric center in Cincinnati. Would love to open a hospital in Northern Kentucky, and they're prevented by certificate of need from doing so," he said.
Meredith said the bill could change the trajectory of health care in Kentucky for almost every citizen.
"The other option that could be available to us if this bill doesn't pass is we have an appropriation request in the next budget cycle for $10 million. We know that's not going to happen, so this is a way to fund this system without costing the taxpayers any additional tax burden," he said.
Bill aims to prevent choking deaths in schools
Rep. Candy Massaroni, R-Bardstown, explains House Bill 44 to the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday. The legislation would allow schools to have an anti-choking device on hand to use if other life-saving efforts fail. A high-resolution photo can be found here
FRANKFORT — In 2022, 8-year-old Landon McCubbins choked on a bouncy ball in a Nelson County classroom.
His mother, Lauren McCubbins, told the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday her son died after all efforts to dislodge the bouncy ball from Landon's throat failed.
Rep. Candy Massaroni, R-Bardstown, said House Bill 44, also known as Landon's Law, could prevent what happened to Landon from happening to another Kentucky child. She is the primary sponsor of the legislation.
"Schools will be allowed to have life-saving, anti-choking devices in their schools while removing the liability from the schools (under this bill)," Massaroni said. "Choking is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for children under the age of 18."
The bill defines an anti-choking device as "a portable suction device used to remove an airway obstruction during a choking emergency that has been registered as a Class II medical device with the United States Food and Drug Administration."
The device would be an option, not a requirement, for schools, according to the legislation.
Lauren McCubbins said HB 44 is something Landon would support. Weeks before he died, Landon wrote in his journal at school: "One future technology that will change our lives is a robot that will help paramedics save people's lives."
"This is an 8-year-old child wanting technology that will help save lives and hoping that our future is better," Lauren McCubbins said. "We are not asking you to skip all other emergency protocols. We are asking you to allow LifeVacs in schools to use them when there is no other option."
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, asked Massaroni and McCubbins to describe the LifeVac device.
Massaroni said a LifeVac is a simple, non-invasive device that fits over a child or adult's mouth. It uses suction to remove an obstruction from someone's throat. She said the device is registered with the FDA and in the process of becoming FDA approved.
"The CDC came out and recommended that anybody that wants to be ADA compliant should get them," Massaroni added.
Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, asked Massaroni if the Heimlich maneuver is included in the legislation.
Massaroni said the legislation recommends typical protocols prior to using the LifeVac device, and the Heimlich maneuver is one of the first. The device is an alternative if the Heimlich maneuver does not work, she said.
Lauren McCubbins believes a LifeVac could have saved her son's life.
"A LifeVac is an alternative to dying," she said. "Those emergency protocols failed my sweet boy on 11/21/22. There was not a LifeVac in school to even attempt to save him. My son may still be alive had there been. We are here today hoping that this never happens to any child again."
The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee unanimously approved Landon's Law. It now goes before the full House for consideration.
Senate advances income tax cut bill
Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, speaks on House Bill 1 during Tuesday's floor proceedings in the Senate. The measure, which would reduce the state income tax rate, received Senate approval. A high-resolution photo can be found here
FRANKFORT — A measure to cut the income tax rate in Kentucky – House Bill 1 – was the first bill in 2025 to gain Senate approval.
With a 34-3 vote on Tuesday, the Senate approved the measure that would reduce the state income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The House approved the bill in early January by a 90-7 vote and it now heads to the governor.
Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, and chair of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, said the general assembly created certain "triggers" several years ago to allow for the gradual lowering of the Kentucky income tax. The triggers require state coffers to meet savings and surplus thresholds before the tax rate can be lowered.
"It's been said that there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes," McDaniel said. "…In the last seven years, we've added another thing that's fairly certain, which is the general assembly is going to do everything in its power, and frequently with success, to lower your taxes. And that's what House Bill 1 is all about."
Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, voted for the bill, and said it's part of a "journey" to reduce the state income tax rate to zero.
"Let's tackle the root of the problem by controlling spending and empowering our citizens. This tax cut will boost our economy and put more money back in the pockets of Kentuckians," he said. "I vote yes for growth, yes for fiscal responsibility and yes for the future of the prosperity of our great state."
However, a few lawmakers cited concerns with the plan during debate on the chamber floor.
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, voted against the measure. She acknowledged that the bill is popular, but said it is "putting way too many apples in a basket we can't get a hold of if we need." She also said she's concerned about risks with the bourbon industry in Kentucky and tariffs.
"Obviously, these are things that sound very attractive to people, very attractive," Berg said. "I may be socially liberal, but I am extremely fiscally conservative, and I honestly know that sound finances is that you pay your bills first. You make sure that you're solvent, and you have enough money to cover exigencies as they come across."
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, also voted against the bill. She said she appreciates the intent of the legislation. However, she's concerned that the people who are making the most money stand to receive the most benefits from the reduction.
"I also worry about cutting our revenues at a time of such economic uncertainty. We don't know what tariffs, if any, might be coming. We don't know what federal funds, if any, might be going away. We don't know what impact, if any, that's going to have on us here in this state," she said.
But Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, argued in favor, saying it's a great thing for people to keep more of their money.
"They earned it. It's their money, not ours. We think we know better what to do with their money than they do. I'm telling you, we do not," he said.
Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, also voted for the bill, and said the measure shouldn't have anything to do with partisanship.
"I tried to talk to our nonbiased economic advisers about what would happen in going from a 4% to a 3.5% in our climate today is still safe. I do have fears of the future and I know how hard it is in order to reverse something like this," he said.
The Senate is adjourned until Wednesday at 2 p.m.
This Week at the State Capitol
In between bouts of winter weather, the Kentucky General Assembly convened the 2025 legislative session and moved a tax reform bill close to final passage this week before gaveling out on Friday A high-resolution photo can be found here
FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers spent the first week of the 2025 legislative session electing leaders, adopting rules for the chambers, and advancing a high-priority bill on tax reform close to the finish line.
Friday marked day four of this year's short, 30-day session, and winter weather hasn't hampered the action in Frankfort. Legislators have filed more than 200 bills since the chambers gaveled into session on Tuesday.
The proposals touch everything from education and crime to more specific topics like water fluoridation, and they offer a glimpse of the issues lawmakers might look to tackle in the coming months.
Majority lawmakers in both chambers have been signaling for weeks that tax reform would receive focus early in the session, and that proposal – House Bill 1 – was the only measure to begin moving this week.
The legislation is part of a multi-year effort to gradually reduce and eliminate Kentucky's income tax – so long as the state continues to meet certain revenue thresholds.
HB 1 would cut the state income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% starting in 2026. It cleared the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on Wednesday and advanced off the House floor Thursday with a 90-7 vote after proponents staved off nearly a dozen floor amendments.
During the hour-long debate, supporters said the change will encourage more growth and development in Kentucky while helping ease the burden on taxpayers. Critics, however, raised concerns that it will mostly benefit high earners and rob the state coffers of important revenue.
The Senate received the bill late Thursday, and the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee took up the measure Friday morning, voting 11-0 to send HB 1 to the chamber floor for consideration during Part II of the session.
In addition to the tax discussion, the House and Senate welcomed a new class of legislators this week. Twenty-two new members were sworn into the General Assembly on Tuesday, including 16 in the House and six in the Senate.
Both chambers also saw a handful of leadership changes.
In the House, Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, will now serve as minority floor leader; Rep. Al Gentry, D-Louisville, will serve as minority caucus chair; and Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, will serve as minority whip.
In the Senate, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, was elected as majority floor leader; and Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, will serve as majority caucus chair.
Other leadership roles remained unchanged from last year.
Under the state constitution, the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in short sessions during odd-numbered years. The calendar calls for four session days in January. Then the chambers gavel out until Part II begins in February.
This year, lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 4 and gavel out sine die on March 28.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
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.
Income tax cut bill on the move
Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, speaks on House Bill 1, which would reduce the state income tax to 3.5% in 2026, on the House floor on Thursday A high-resolution photo can be found here
FRANKFORT — House Bill 1 became the first bill to advance off the House floor in 2025 on Thursday.
Sponsored by Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, HB 1 would reduce the state income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Petrie said the general assembly's journey to reducing the state income tax began in 2018, but picked up steam in 2022 with House Bill 8. HB 8 established a "trigger" system, which allows the legislature to reduce the income tax rate by either a half or a full percentage point if state revenues reach certain levels.
"It is before this body again, per formula, as a good, methodical, thoughtful, cautious approach to reducing the individual income tax rate to zero over time, but not so fast we hurt ourselves, or – more importantly – our constituents," Petrie said.
Eleven amendments were filed to make changes to HB 1 on the floor. Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, attempted to amend HB 1 to reduce the income tax to 3% in 2025 and bring it to zero by 2028.
"States like Texas, Tennessee and Florida have no individual income tax, which has been a significant draw for businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to minimize their tax burden," Doan said. "By aligning with these states, Kentucky will be poised to see an influx of new businesses and residents, stimulating economic growth."
The House did not vote on the amendment after it was ruled unconstitutional by House Speaker David W. Osborne, R-Prospect. Petrie said reducing the income tax too quickly would lead to a "severe" budget deficit, which is against the Kentucky Constitution.
Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, also tried to amend HB 1. She suggested amending the bill to introduce a graduated income tax system, adding she has concerns over the future funding of public education under a consumption-based tax structure.
Beginning in 2026, individuals making less than $90,000 annually would be taxed at 3.5% under her proposal. Her amendment would also put individuals making $90,000 to $100,000 in net income to be taxed at 3.75% and individuals making more than $100,000 a year to be taxed at 4%.
"Amendment 8 will provide a larger budget revenue stream for Kentucky, fulfill the majority's efforts to cut taxes for Kentuckians, and also give a greater tax cut and greater financial relief to the people who need it most," Camuel said.
Petrie said he doesn't support Camuel's amendment because HB 1 is designed to reduce the tax burden for all Kentuckians.
Camuel's amendment was not adopted.
Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, was one of many lawmakers to speak on HB 1 during a more than an hour-long debate on the bill. He said he would be voting "yes" on the legislation, but he still has concerns.
"I wish the bill focused more on our working-class families, and was not drafted to disproportionally help those who have the most," Aull said.
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said he has seen the evolution of tax reform in Kentucky since he joined the general assembly in 2017 and it hasn't happened "in a vacuum," but with careful consideration and conservative budgeting practices.
"This is a conservative approach to a conservative goal," Nemes said. "This is a long play, and that's the reason we're doing this: to help the individual taxpayer, and to grow the pie for all of our people, and we have done that."
The House approved HB 1 by a 90-7 vote. It will now go before the Senate for consideration.
House committee approves income tax cut proposal
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians may see another state income tax cut next year.
The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee started the process of reducing the state income tax from 4% to 3.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2026, by approving House Bill 1 on Wednesday.
Committee Chair Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, said HB 1 is the next step in a process that began with House Bill 8 in 2022 to reduce the state income tax. Petrie is the primary sponsor of HB 1.
HB 8 established "triggers" that permit the general assembly to lower the state income tax rate by either a half or full percentage point once state revenues reach certain levels.
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, asked Petrie what would happen if future projections indicate the general assembly should reverse the tax cut.
Petrie said there are several ways the legislature could address the issue.
"You would reverse it by statutory amendment modification, just like we're doing in a different direction today," Petrie said. "Or you would focus on budget, or you would focus on revenues and expenditures … those are three easy places to go."
Jason Bailey, executive director for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said Kentucky will face budgetary issues if cuts are made to the state income tax.
"A recent state forecast predicted revenues will decline by $213 million this year, and the state will face a shortfall," Bailey said.
In continuing the discussion on HB 1, House Minority Caucus Chair Al Gentry, D-Louisville, asked Petrie about the state moving toward an all consumption-based tax structure and working toward becoming a zero-income tax state.
"What is the general reason for doing that? Is it trying to promote growth for people moving into the state?" Gentry asked.
Petrie said that there is evidence that supports the theory that a lower income tax will lead to population and economic growth.
"There's a good amount of support for the theory that as the income tax becomes much more competitive with other states, there's reason for people to stay here, as well as locate here, as well as economic growth," Petrie said.
The committee approved HB 1 by a 17-0 vote with three members passing.
Gentry recorded a "pass" vote on HB 1 in committee, but said he may vote in favor of the legislation on the floor once he does more research.
"I don't see any reason to vote ‘no' on this bill yet other than not really being in 100% agreement on the entire model of going to where we're going, because I feel like it benefits higher income people at the expense of lower income people," Gentry said.
HB 1 will now go before the full House for consideration.
Stay connected to the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session
Lawmakers are set to convene on Jan. 7 for the 2025 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly.
FRANKFORT — State lawmakers are set to convene in Frankfort next week for the 2025 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, 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 2025 session calendar and the 2025 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 The full 2025 standing committee schedule will also be available on the Schedules and Calendars webpage once it becomes available.
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.