LRC News Releases
Interim joint committee meetings begin in June
FRANKFORT — The first week of committee meetings of the 2023 interim period begin June 5 for Kentucky lawmakers.
An interim joint committee is composed of all members of a Senate standing committee and all members of a House standing committee. Interim joint committees meet between sessions as a subcommittee of the Legislative Research Commission. Statutory and special committees may also meet during the interim period.
For the full 2023 interim calendar, visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Documents/2023%20Interim%20Calendar.pdf. Please note, the calendar is subject to change.
Unless otherwise indicated on the calendar, most interim joint, statutory and special committee meetings are scheduled to take place in the Capitol Annex building in Frankfort.
Livestreams of the committee meetings will be provided by Kentucky Educational Television (KET) and the Legislative Research Commission. For links to the livestreams, go to https://legislature.ky.gov/Public%20Services/PIO/Pages/Live-Streams.aspx.
Each week, the legislative calendar on the Legislative Research Commission website will be updated with information on which committees are meeting for the week. The calendar is available at https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar
For more information on interim joint committees, visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/interim-joint-committee.
For more information on statutory committees, visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/statutory-committee.
For more information on special committees, visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/special-committee.
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. Meeting agendas are also posted on this 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.
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.
Juvenile Justice Oversight Council holds first interim meeting
A high resolution photo from Friday’s Juvenile Justice Oversight Council meeting can be found here. It shows council co-chair Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, leading the meeting.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly continues to monitor Kentucky’s juvenile justice system following the 2023 legislative session.
The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council held its first meeting of the 2023 interim period on Friday. The council is co-chaired by Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, and Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville. The other legislators on the council are Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton; Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson; Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville; and Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville.
The council also features 12 non-legislator members who represent different areas of the juvenile justice system and state government. A full list of the council’s members is available at https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/Committee-Details.aspx?CommitteeRSN=414&CommitteeType=Statutory%20Committee
The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council is a statutory committee that will meet at least once a month in 2023 to provide an independent review of the state juvenile justice system and provide recommendations to the legislature, Elliott said.
The council will actively review the implementation of all juvenile justice reforms enacted by the General Assembly, collect and review performance measurement data, and continue to review the juvenile justice system for changes that improve public safety, hold youth accountable, provide better outcomes for children and families, and control juvenile justice costs, Elliott added.
On Friday, the council heard an update on the Department of Juvenile Justice from Kerry Harvey, secretary of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, and Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Vicki Reed. Harvey and Reed also serve on the council.
In the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers approved legislation geared toward making Kentucky’s juvenile justice system safer for offenders and staff while also ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of juvenile offenders in the system.
House Bill 3 requires that juveniles charged with a violent felony offense be detained up to 48 hours pending a detention hearing with a judge, beginning July 1, 2024. The bill also seeks to improve parent accountability, expand mental health interventions and enhance options for restorative justice. Other provisions will reopen the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center.
Senate Bill 162 places all eight of Kentucky's juvenile detention centers under one office with a lead supervisor who reports directly the commissioner. Among many other changes, the bill seeks to increase staffing and training, enhance mental health interventions, and provide better segregation of violent offenders.
Harvey said the department is already working on implementing the new requirements. For example, detention center officers are now provided with pepper spray and tasers in the event of a violent incident.
“I do want you to know that we take very seriously our obligation to implement the legislative changes that were made in this session,” Harvey said.
The council spent two hours discussing the many challenges facing Kentucky’s juvenile justice system. Lawmakers asked Harvey, Reed and other state officials to continue communicating with them on the needs of the department.
“The relationship that we developed in working through these issues – the bills that passed – we need to build on that, and there needs to be a trust there,” Carroll said.
The next Juvenile Justice Oversight Council meeting will be a joint meeting with the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity on June 20 at 1 p.m.
For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov.
This Week at the State Capitol
Short but active session adjourns after lawmakers pass bills on cannabis and sports betting
Despite maintenance to the dome, the Kentucky Capitol remained illuminated in Frankfort Thursday night. A high resolution photo is available here.
FRANKFORT — While the 2023 legislative session may have opened to tempered expectations in January, it gaveled to a close this week with a stack of major bills in the books, including two breakout measures on medicinal cannabis and sports wagering that both passed in the final hours.
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort on Wednesday for the last two days of the short, 30-day session and, in a marathon of proceedings, overrode more than a dozen vetoes from the governor.
They also wrapped up an historic impeachment trial against a Kentucky prosecutor, honored the victims of the deadly helicopter crash near Fort Campbell, and passed another volley of bills before adjourning sine die late Thursday night.
Overall, close to 175 measures earned a final tap of the gavel this year, including more than 40 that carried support on the last day. Many have already become law.
Legislation on medicinal cannabis is one of the most noteworthy thanks to its long and rocky path to victory. Lawmakers have debated the concept of medical marijuana for more than a decade in Kentucky, and even though proposals have won favor in the House in recent years, they have failed to get much traction in the Senate.
Supporters broadened the appeal this year by proposing additional safeguards against abuse.
The measure, Senate Bill 47, establishes a framework for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to oversee and regulate a medicinal cannabis program, starting in January 2025. That includes special permits and licenses for cultivators, prescribers and dispensaries.
SB 47 allows cannabis use for those suffering with cancer, chronic and other types of pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients who are over 21 could vape the substance, but smoking would remain illegal.
The House approved the legislation with a 66-33 vote Thursday, and the governor signed it into law Friday morning. The Senate passed the bill with a 26-11 vote earlier this month.
The measure on sports wagering also marked a significant shift in the General Assembly.
House Bill 551 creates a structure to legalize, regulate and tax sports wagering in Kentucky under the auspices of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Only licensed tracks would be permitted to obtain a sports wagering license, and the bill sets up a fund to address problem gambling. It also prohibits minors from placing wagers.
Officials estimate that the wagering marketplace will generate about $23 million in new tax revenue for the state, much of which will benefit Kentucky's troubled public pensions, according to supporters.
The bill cleared the Senate floor on a 25-12 vote Thursday and received the governor's signature Friday morning. It passed out of the House earlier this month on a 63-34 vote.
Both measures were among a list of substantial bills that won approval this year despite a relatively slow start to the session.
Over the 30 days, lawmakers also passed a major package on juvenile justice, a ban on gray machines and a battalion of bills on public schools, some of which spurred intense deliberations.
Many will remember the session for Senate Bill 150, which focuses on health services and school policies related to gender and human sexuality. The legislation commanded headlines throughout most of the session and stirred another round of fierce debate Wednesday as lawmakers overrode a veto on the bill.
But many other bills found bipartisan support, including legislation to regulate delta-8 THC, efforts to expand the workforce and a measure to crack down on hazing.
Here's a final look at some of the major bills that won passage this year:
Autonomous Vehicles: House Bill 135 would provide a legal framework for the use of fully autonomous vehicles in Kentucky. The measure has been sent to the governor.
Biomarker Testing: House Bill 180 requires health benefit plans to cover biomarker testing for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and other diseases. The governor signed this bill into law.
Bourbon Barrel Tax: House Bill 5 would, over a 20-year period, phase out the property taxes on distilled spirts that are warehoused in Kentucky. The taxes are paid to state and local taxing districts, and the bill includes some protections for public schools and local governments that use the revenue. HB 5 has been signed by the governor.
Charles Young Corridor: Senate Joint Resolution 58 calls for the area from Camp Nelson in Jessamine County to the Kentucky and Ohio border at Mays Lick, Kentucky, to be designated as the Brigadier General Charles Young Memorial Historical Corridor. The governor signed this resolution.
Child Abuse: Senate Bill 229 seeks to ensure that law enforcement, social services and other authorities are properly notified and communicating in cases of child abuse. It also requires agencies under investigation to cooperate with authorities. The governor signed this bill into law.
Child Murder: House Bill 249 makes the intentional killing of a child under age 12 an aggravating circumstance. That ensures that a person who is guilty of killing a child would either be subject to life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The governor signed this bill into law.
Coal Power: Senate Bill 4 requires utility companies to receive permission from the Kentucky Public Service Commission before retiring a fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit. A unit cannot be retired if the move would compromise the quality of service to customers or negatively impact the electric grid. SB 4 became law without the governor's signature.
Delta-8 THC: House Bill 544 directs the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish regulations related to delta-8 THC by Aug. 1. That includes product testing and labeling along with prohibitions on the sale of delta-8 products to people under age 21. The governor signed this bill into law.
DUI Restitution: Senate Bill 268 would allow courts to order restitution for children whose parents are killed or permanently disabled by an intoxicated driver. This bill has been delivered to the governor.
ESG Investing: House Bill 236 requires that the state's public pension investments be based on financial risks and returns and not on environmental, social and governance factors, commonly known as ESG. The governor signed this bill into law.
Federal Firearms Bans: House Bill 153 prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies and other public officials from enforcing any federal firearm bans or regulations enacted after Jan. 1, 2021. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and face termination from their job. HB 153 became law without the governor's signature.
Fentanyl Test Strips: House Bill 353 would remove fentanyl test strips from state prohibitions on drug paraphernalia unless the strips are used in the manufacture or selling of the drug. This bill was sent the governor.
Gender and Sexuality: Senate Bill 150 is a wide-ranging bill focused on health services and school policies related to gender and human sexuality. Among many provisions, the legislation bans puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for transgender minors. SB 150 also calls for greater parental communication and consent on how schools approach gender and sexuality with students. It prohibits instruction on human sexuality in elementary school and requires written parental consent for teaching the subject in later grades. Other instruction on exploring gender identity or sexual orientation is not allowed at any grade level. The governor vetoed this bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
Gray Machines: House Bill 594 clarifies that certain gambling machines, often called “gray machines” or “skill games,” are illegal in Kentucky. The devices are called gray machines because they have operated in gray area in the state's gambling laws while growing more prevalent at gas stations and convenience stores over the past two years. Anyone who manages or owns the machines would be subject to a $25,000 fine per device. The governor has signed HB 594 into law.
Hazing: Senate Bill 9, known as “Lofton's Law,” would elevate reckless or dangerous acts of hazing to a crime. First-degree hazing would qualify as a Class D felony, while second-degree hazing would be a Class A misdemeanor. The governor signed this bill into law.
Health Care Workers: House Bill 200 aims to address a shortage in health care workers by creating the Kentucky Health Care Workforce Investment Fund. It will use both public and private money to increase scholarship opportunities in the field. The governor signed HB 200 into law.
Incest: House Bill 78 more narrowly defines Kentucky's incest laws by prohibiting a person from having sexual intercourse with his or her parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, brother, sister or ancestor or descendant. This bill was signed into law by the governor.
Juvenile Detention: House Bill 3 requires that juveniles charged a violent felony offense be detained up to 48 hours pending a detention hearing with a judge, beginning July 1, 2024. The bill also seeks to improve parent accountability, expand mental health interventions and enhance options for restorative justice. Other provisions will reopen the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center. The governor signed this bill into law.
Juvenile Justice Reform: Senate Bill 162 will place all eight of Kentucky's juvenile detention centers under one office with a lead supervisor who reports directly the commissioner. Among many other changes, the bill seeks to increase staffing and training, enhance mental health interventions, and provide better segregation of violent offenders. SB 162 was signed into law by the governor.
KEES for Workforce Training: Senate Bill 54 allows students to use a Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship to attend certain propriety school programs and workforce training programs that are focused on high-demand work sectors. Students could also use KEES funds at an eligible college of art and design. The governor signed this bill into law.
Literacy Center: Senate Bill 156 establishes a statewide reading research center for research on early reading models, instructional resources and evidence-based reading practices. The legislation builds on last year's Read to Succeed Act, a comprehensive effort to improve early literacy outcomes in Kentucky. The governor signed this bill into law.
Motor Vehicle Racing: Senate Bill 96 would set up a framework for local governments to grant permits for motor vehicle racing events as long as conditions are met on insurance, security and emergency services. It would also allow local governments to temporarily close roadways and waive traffic regulations for the events. SB 96 has been sent to the governor.
Physician Wellness: Senate Bill 12 will allow physicians to participate in wellness and career fatigue programs without disclosing their participation to employers. Supporters say it will help physicians deal with job-related burnout without fear of retaliation. The bill was signed by the governor.
Police Wellness: House Bill 207 would allow law enforcement agencies to provide confidential wellness programs to support employee mental health. Specifically, it would shield records of a wellness program from subpoenas and open records requests. The bill has been sent to the governor.
Postpartum Depression: Senate Bill 135 calls on the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create a panel focused on perinatal mental health disorders and provide related information and assessment tools online. The governor signed this bill into law.
Public Employee Payroll Deductions: Senate Bill 7 will cease most automatic payroll deductions that public employees might use for paying union dues or dues to other organizations. The governor vetoed this bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
Religious Freedom in Schools: House Bill 547 codifies religious freedoms for public school teachers, faculty and staff, including the right to engage in religious expression and prayer during breaks and to display religious items in personal spaces. The governor signed this bill into law.
School Materials: Senate Bill 5 calls on local school boards to create a process for reviewing and resolving parental objections over sexually explicit materials in public schools. This bill became law without the governor's signature.
School Staffing: House Bill 32 allows school districts to hire classified personnel, such as cafeteria workers and bus drivers, without a high school diploma or GED. The school district must provide those employees an opportunity obtain a GED or earn relevant licenses or credentials at no cost. The governor signed this bill into law.
Sex Offenders: Senate Bill 80 prohibits registered sex offenders from loitering or operating a mobile business within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, and public playgrounds or swimming pools. The governor signed this bill into law.
State Education Commissioner: Under Senate Bill 107, the state education commissioner will be subject to Senate confirmation before taking office. The bill also sets a four-year term for the position. The governor vetoed this bill, but lawmakers overrode the veto.
Student Discipline: Under House Bill 538, school boards are required to adopt policies related to expelling students who pose a threat to the safety and wellbeing of others and disciplining students who have physically assaulted, battered or abused personnel or other students off school property — if the incident is likely to disrupt the educational process. HB 538 also provides more flexibility to place students into alternative learning programs. The governor signed this bill into law.
Taxes: House Bill 1 is part of a broad, multi-year effort to gradually reduce and eliminate income taxes while also expanding the overall tax base. It would reduce state income taxes from 4.5% to 4% at the start of 2024 and codify a reduction from 5% to 4.5% that took effect earlier this year. The governor signed this bill into law.
Teacher Shortages: House Bill 319 aims to ease teacher shortages by cementing Kentucky's place in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Contract if created. The bill also requires the Kentucky Department of Education to establish a statewide job posting system. The bill has been sent to the governor.
TikTok Ban: Senate Bill 20 bans nearly all employees in the state executive and legislative branches from using the social media app TikTok on government-owned networks and devices. The app — owned by the Chinese company ByteDance — is considered a threat to the state's data security. The governor signed this bill into law.
Tracking Devices: Senate Bill 199 would, with some exceptions, outlaw the installation of tracking devices on motor vehicles without the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee. The bill has been delivered to the governor.
Unemployment Insurance: House Bill 146 makes technical updates to an overhaul of unemployment insurance that lawmakers passed last year. Among the changes, the measure sets the minimum duration of benefits to 16 weeks, instead of 12, and calls on state unemployment officials to advise claimants on educational and training opportunities. The governor signed this bill into law.
Vehicular Homicide: House Bill 262 adds the crime of vehicular homicide to state statutes. A person would be guilty of vehicular homicide, a class B felony, if they cause a death while operating a motor vehicle impaired. The governor signed this bill into law.
Most bills will take effect 90 days after passage unless they contain emergency clauses or special effective dates. Kentuckians can learn more about these bills and many others by visiting the Legislative Record webpage.
Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
The Kentucky General Assembly will gavel back in for a 60-day legislative session on Jan. 2, 2024
Senate passes sports wagering bill on last session day
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, speaks on House Bill 551. The measure would legalize sports wagering in Kentucky. A photo from today's Senate proceedings can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Every coin has two sides, and so it was with the opinions of Kentucky lawmakers in the Senate on Thursday after they passed legislation that would create a legal marketplace for sports wagering and establish a fund for regulation of the industry.
House Bill 551, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, and introduced on the Senate floor by Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, would also establish a fund for problem gambling, and much of the tax revenue would benefit Kentucky's pension fund.
The legislation would also make the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission the exclusive regulator of sports wagering with exclusive jurisdiction over wagering and licensing
“We are a sports crazy state — we love our sports in the Commonwealth,” Thayer said. “And people want to be able to make the choice of their own free will to make a wager on a sports event like almost all of our surrounding states.”
He said six states that border Kentucky have already legalized sports betting, and Missouri is in the process of doing so. Forty-six counties in Kentucky have a border state, and several thousand people regularly drive to Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee to make legal sports wagers, he added.
Thayer pointed to a fiscal analysis of the bill indicating that sports wagering would raise $23 million annually for the state general fund. However, Thayer said he thinks that number is low.
“We know that quantitatively, and we know qualitatively because we hear the stories about people driving across the river in Cincinnati and Louisville to make online wagers or brick and mortar sportsbook wagers in our surrounding states,” he said. “Our nine racetracks would be the brick and mortar locations. This follows the trend in other states where brick and mortar locations are located at racetracks, casinos, and occasionally professional sports franchises.”
Before accessing the product, patients would have to register and receive approval for a special identification card. Patients under 18 years old would not be allowed to possess, purchase or acquire medicinal cannabis without the assistance of a designated caregiver.
The measure cleared the Senate floor on a 25-12 vote and now heads to the governor's desk. It passed out of the House earlier this month on a 63-34 vote.
Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, said he's against the legislation because the outcomes can badly damage people and families.
“I've heard all of you at one point or another on the floor and committee talking about how you want to provide for the least of these. You want to look out for people that are in need, you want to protect the people who can be harmed,” he said.
Westerfield said some families only have a specific amount of disposable income.
“And whatever money is spent on that app gambling on whatever sport you want to bet on is money that's not spent in a church offering plate, that's not spent on a United Way campaign, that's not spent on a nonprofit that needs you,” he said.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, also opposed the bill.
“I made a promise to my constituents when I ran that the only way I would vote for gambling would be on a constitutional amendment. Kentucky's constitution only allows three types of gambling — lottery, charitable gaming, and pari-mutuel. And this doesn't fit in any of those categories,” he said.
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, voted for the measure even though he said he has spoken to many friends who are against it.
“I can't take responsibility for everybody in this state on their wagering,” he said. “However, what I assured them was I would make sure there is a fund… for problem gamblers and that we would monitor that to make sure it is sufficient for what we need to do and that it is going to the right people.”
Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, also voted in favor of the measure, citing less government intrusion in his constituents' lives.
“They wanted sports wagering. They wanted the ability to be able to make a bet legally. And I say 'legally' because a lot of people were already making the bets on their phone. They were already doing it,” he said. “…What does work is a calculated, intelligent regulation and oversight, and I think this bill does that.”
Kentucky General Assembly sends medicinal cannabis bill to governor's desk
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, (left) and Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, presents Senate Bill 47, a bill to legalize medicinal cannabis, before the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee. A high-res version can be found here.
FRANKFORT —The Kentucky House of Representatives gave final passage to a bipartisan bill to legalize medicinal cannabis in the Commonwealth on Thursday.
Senate Bill 47 will now go to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk for his signature or veto. The House approved the legislation with a 66-33 vote. It passed the Senate with a 26-11 vote earlier this month.
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, carried SB 47 in the House on behalf of the bill's primary sponsor, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris.
“First of all, I want to note that this is a no smoke bill, no self-grow,” Nemes said on the House floor.
SB 47 establishes a framework for the Cabinet of Health and Family Services to regulate the cultivation and distribution of medicinal cannabis, or medical marijuana, in the Commonwealth. One provision of the bill makes it illegal for medicinal cannabis users to smoke the substance, but vaping would be allowed for users over the age of 21.
Under SB 47, individuals diagnosed with cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, muscle spasms, chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder could receive prescriptions for medicinal cannabis. The bill also permits the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research to add medical conditions and diseases to the list.
Additionally, those seeking to cultivate marijuana for medicinal purposes must obtain special permits. Doctors and nurse practitioners would also need a special license to prescribe, and dispensaries would need a special license to distribute.
Nemes said fiscal courts can vote to opt counties out of allowing distribution of medicinal cannabis. Minors could receive prescriptions for cannabis, but caretakers would be responsible for managing and administering the prescription, he added.
On the House floor, several lawmakers spoke against the bill.
Rep. Shane Baker, R-Somerset, attempted to pass a floor amendment to more narrowly tailor some of the provisions in the bill, including removing all stages of cancer, PTSD and muscle spasms from the list of conditions.
Baker's amendment failed, and he urged his fellow lawmakers to vote against SB 47.
“We all agree urban and rural, wherever you are across the Commonwealth, we have a drug issue, and this will adversely affect the people of our communities, including our young people,” Baker said.
Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, also shared his concerns with SB 47 on the House floor. He said he was in favor of Baker's amendment and that SB 47 in its current form “has a lot of flaws.”
“I really, really wanted to get to a 'yes' because I think this has a lot of merit … and I think as a body it's our duty that the laws that we pass are the best form of that law that we can get,” Lockett said.
Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, was one of several lawmakers who spoke in favor of SB 47.
“The legalization of medical marijuana could be an economic boon to Kentucky,” he said. “It would create jobs in the cannabis industry and generate tax revenue for our state. We have an opportunity to be at the forefront of this growing industry, and we shouldn't let it pass us by.”
Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, said he is not in favor of recreational marijuana, but he is in favor of SB 47.
“I do think it's time that we give people with medical conditions that can get relief by using this substance the opportunity to do it legally,” Hart said.
If the governor signs SB 47 into law, it will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2025.
This Week at the State Capitol
A wave of legislation receives final passage before lawmakers recess for vetoes
A photo from the state Capitol this week is available here. It shows Senate Minority Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, (left) speaking with Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, on the Senate floor.
FRANKFORT — Lawmakers often compare the chambers of the House or Senate to an arena. They sometimes quote Theodore Roosevelt's famous passage about faces "marred by dust and sweat."
If ever a week in the General Assembly proved those sentiments correct, it was the one that wrapped up late Thursday night when the legislature gaveled out for a 10-day veto recess.
The last full week of the 2023 Regular Session was ablaze with electric oratory and raw debates as lawmakers hotfooted from committee to caucus to chamber — all in a four-day sprint to get bills to the governor's desk.
Throughout the late nights and early mornings, legislators sparred over education, gender identity, parental rights, firearms, marijuana, gambling and coal. They pondered the relationship between state and federal government. They recited scripture from both sides of the political aisle.
By midnight Thursday, more than 120 bills had received final passage and were sent to the governor, including a full slate of bills on public schools.
The most prominent and contested of those was Senate Bill 150, a wide-ranging bill focused on health services and school policies related to gender and human sexuality. Among many provisions, the legislation would ban puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for transgender minors.
SB 150 also calls for greater parental communication and consent on how schools approach gender and sexuality with students. It would prohibit instruction on human sexuality in elementary school and would require written parental consent for teaching the subject in later grades. Other instruction on exploring gender identity or sexual orientation would not be allowed at any grade level.
The legislation, versions of which appeared in different bills this week, sparked long and impassioned debates in both chambers, along with another measure — Senate Bill 5 — that calls on local school boards to create a process for reviewing and resolving parental objections over sexually explicit materials in public schools.
Both SB 150 and SB 5 were sent to the governor on Thursday.
Education has remained at the forefront this session, and other bills on student discipline, religious freedom in schools and school staffing received a final nod this week with varying degrees of support.
Lawmakers were more united on a different matter related to minors — a comprehensive overhaul of Kentucky's troubled juvenile justice system.
Senate Bill 162 would place all eight of Kentucky's juvenile detention centers under one office with a lead supervisor who reports directly the commissioner. Among many other changes, the bill seeks to increase staffing and training, enhance mental health interventions, and provide better segregation of violent offenders.
SB 162 was the result of special work group that lawmakers formed earlier this year following reports of problems in the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The measure cleared both chambers with unanimous support on Thursday, and supporters said it marks the beginning of a larger revamp.
Bipartisan consensus is also emerging on legislation related to medicinal cannabis that could potentially break a long-standing impasse in the legislature.
Senate Bill 47 calls on the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to implement, oversee and regulate a medicinal cannabis program, starting in January 2025. It would allow cannabis use for those suffering with cancer, chronic and other types of pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Senate advanced the legislation off the floor on Thursday, marking newfound support for the concept in that chamber. The bill now heads to the House where medicinal cannabis has won more favor in recent years.
Lawmakers are saving two legislative days at the end of March to override any vetoes and close out any unfinished business. After a bill receives final passage, the governor has 10 days to sign it, issue a veto or allow the legislation to become law without his signature.
Here are some of the bills that received a final vote before the legislature adjourned on Thursday.
Biomarker Testing: House Bill 180 would require health benefit plans to cover biomarker testing for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.
Child Abuse: Senate Bill 229 seeks to ensure that law enforcement, social services and other authorities are properly notified and communicating in cases of child abuse. It would also require agencies under investigation to cooperate with authorities.
Child Murder: House Bill 249 would make the intentional killing of a child under 12 an aggravating circumstance. That would ensure that a person who is guilty of killing a child would either be subject to life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
Coal Power: Senate Bill 4 would require utility companies to receive permission from the Kentucky Public Service Commission before retiring a fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit. The unit could not be retired if the move would compromise the quality of service to customers or negatively impact the electric grid.
Delta-8 THC: House Bill 544 would direct the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish regulations related to delta-8 THC by Aug. 1. That would include product testing and labeling along with prohibitions on the sale of delta-8 products to people under age 21.
ESG Investing: House Bill 236 would require that the state's public pension investments be based on financial risks and returns and not on environmental, social and governance factors, commonly known as ESG.
Federal Firearms Bans: House Bill 153 would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies and other public officials from enforcing any federal firearm bans or regulations enacted after Jan. 1, 2021. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and face termination from their job.
Gray Machines: House Bill 594 clarifies that certain gambling machines, often called "gray machines" or "skill games," are illegal in Kentucky. The devices are called gray machines because they have operated in gray area in the state's gambling laws while growing more prevalent at gas stations and convenience stores over the past two years. Anyone who manages or owns the machines would be subject to a $25,000 fine per device. The governor signed HB 594 on Thursday.
Hazing: Senate Bill 9, known as "Lofton's Law," would elevate reckless or dangerous acts of hazing to a crime. First-degree hazing would qualify as a Class D felony, while second-degree hazing would be a Class A misdemeanor.
Health Care Workers: House Bill 200 aims to address a shortage in health care workers by creating the Kentucky Health Care Workforce Investment Fund. It would use both public and private money to increase scholarship opportunities in the field.
Incest: House Bill 78 would more narrowly define Kentucky's incest laws by prohibiting a person from having sexual intercourse with his or her parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, brother, sister or ancestor or descendant.
Juvenile Detention: House Bill 3 would require that juveniles charged a violent felony offense be detained up to 48 hours pending a detention hearing with a judge beginning July 1, 2024. The bill also seeks to improve parent accountability, expand mental health interventions and enhance options for restorative justice. Other provisions would reopen the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center.
KEES for Workforce Training: Senate Bill 54 would allow students to use a Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship to attend certain propriety school programs and workforce training programs that are focused on high-demand work sectors. Students could also use KEES funds at an eligible college of art and design.
Literacy Center: Senate Bill 156 would establish a statewide reading research center for research on early reading models, instructional resources and evidence-based reading practices. The legislation builds on last year's Read to Succeed Act, a comprehensive effort to improve early literacy outcomes in Kentucky.
Physician Wellness: Senate Bill 12 would allow physicians to participate in wellness and career fatigue programs without disclosing their participation to employers. Supporters say it will help physicians deal with job-related burnout without fear of retaliation. The bill was signed by the governor on Friday.
Postpartum Depression: Senate Bill 135 calls on the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create a panel focused on perinatal mental health disorders and provide related information and assessment tools online.
Postsecondary Education Study: Senate Joint Resolution 98 would direct the state Council on Postsecondary Education to study the placement and services of public colleges and universities in Kentucky.
Public Employee Payroll Deductions: Senate Bill 7 would cease most automatic payroll deductions that public employees might use for paying union dues or dues to other organizations.
Religious Freedom in Schools: House Bill 547 would codify religious freedoms for public school teachers, faculty and staff, including the right to engage in religious expression and prayer during breaks and to display religious items in personal spaces.
School Staffing: House Bill 32 would allow school districts to hire classified personnel, such as cafeteria workers and bus drivers, without a high school diploma or GED. The school district must provide those employees an opportunity obtain a GED or earn relevant licenses or credentials at no cost.
Sex Offenders: Senate Bill 80 would prohibit registered sex offenders from loitering or operating a mobile business within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, and public playgrounds or swimming pools.
State Education Commissioner: Under Senate Bill 107, the state education commissioner would be subject to Senate confirmation before taking office. The bill also sets a four-year term for the position.
Student Discipline: Under House Bill 538, school boards would be required to adopt policies related to expelling students who pose a threat to the safety and wellbeing of others and disciplining students who have physically assaulted, battered or abused personnel or other students off school property — if the incident is likely to disrupt the educational process. It would also provide more flexibility to place students into alternative learning programs.
TikTok Ban: Senate Bill 20 would ban nearly all employees in the state executive and legislative branches from using the social media app TikTok on government-owned networks and devices. The app — owned by the Chinese company ByteDance — is considered a threat to the state's data security.
Unemployment Insurance: House Bill 146 would make technical updates to an overhaul of unemployment insurance that lawmakers passed last year. Among the changes, the measure sets the minimum duration of benefits to 16 weeks, instead of 12, and calls on state unemployment officials to advise claimants on educational and training opportunities.
Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Frankfort on March 29 for day 29 of the 30-day session.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to follow a bill's 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.
Medicinal cannabis bill makes history after several attempts to gain approval
Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, speaks on the Senate floor. A high-res version can be found here.
FRANKFORT — After failing to gain much support in the Senate in past years, a medical cannabis bill won approval on the chamber floor Thursday.
Senate Bill 47 calls on the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to implement, oversee and regulate a medicinal cannabis program, which would be clear to launch in January 2025.
The bill's primary sponsor, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said the bill is not actually his — it is the work of many people who have contributed over time. The measure passed off the chamber floor with a 26-11 vote.
"I didn't intend to get into this issue," West said. "I'm now convinced that medical marijuana, if provided to our citizens through a tightly regulated system, can provide some important relief to our constituents in dealing with numerous horrendous conditions and those with conditions in which pharmaceuticals do not provide relief or cause serious side effects."
SB 47 has been vetted possibly more than any other bill in the history of the commonwealth, he said, adding that "this is a very complex issue and if passed, will be a work in progress."
The legislation gives officials at the health cabinet latitude to develop regulations and implement the legislation. The use of the product will be tracked through Kentucky's controlled substance monitoring system, which is known as KASPER.
Several medical conditions could qualify someone to use medicinal cannabis, including cancer, chronic and other types of pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, chronic nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Before accessing the product, patients would have to register and receive approval for a special identification card. Patients under 18 years old would not be allowed to possess, purchase or acquire medicinal cannabis without the assistance of a designated caregiver.
The bill would also create separate licenses for cultivators, dispensers and producers.
"Persons shall not operate cars, vessels or aircraft under the influence. Smoking is not allowed in this bill," West said.
While the Senate was divided on the measure, debate over SB 47 was amicable.
Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, voted against the measure, but said he has been impressed by impassioned advocates who fought for the bill.
Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, also opposed SB 47, citing concerns about the lack of assessment, review and reporting of data on medicinal cannabis. He also noted that the federal Food and Drug Administration has not formally approved marijuana for any medical use.
"A recent study that was done in Colorado suggested that for every dollar gained in taxes, it cost them about $4.50 just to mitigate the other issues that occur as a result the marijuana, and we're not even taxing this because it's medical someone says," Douglas said.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he's been called one of the strongest opponents of medical marijuana. However, he said many people over the years have had an effect on him, including some of his relatives.
"I vote yes. And this is not an easy vote for me. I'm not the kind of guy who changes his mind very easily," he said.
Thayer said he does support the pain relief medicinal cannabis can offer.
"On behalf of those who suffer and can find some relief, I've come to this decision. And people have asked me why because they know I'm a stubborn guy. Why did you change your mind? One word: compassion. I proudly vote yea," he said.
Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, said she is proud to support the legislation.
"It is an historic moment, and I think we can make it a good moment as we utilize an option for a population in Kentucky that needs it and that we can do it in a responsible manner. And I look forward to doing that," she said.
Kentucky General Assembly sends juvenile justice reform bills to governor's desk
Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, presents one of two juvenile justice reform measures, House Bill 3, on the House floor. A high-res version can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly gave final approval to two bills geared toward juvenile justice reform on Thursday.
House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 162 are the byproduct of multiple months of discussions between lawmakers and juvenile justice stakeholders. Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher, R-Louisville, is the primary sponsor of HB 3, and Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, is the primary sponsor of SB 162.
SB 162 passed off the House floor on Thursday unanimously, and did the same in the Senate last week.
Carroll said last week that SB 162 is based on the efforts of a legislative work group that began meeting in January to review ongoing issues in the state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The group has toured facilities throughout the state and met with numerous officials from all levels of the government, including former employees.
"Senate Bill 162 will not solve all these issues within DJJ," Carroll said. "But it will address the most pressing issues, and it will lay a foundation for additional changes to occur in the near future."
SB 162 would:
- have all eight juvenile detention centers report to one supervisor,
- establish a centralized DJJ tracking system to monitor the location of each detained juvenile,
- appoint one non-voting member from the House and one from the Senate to the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council,
- allow the DJJ to enter into a contract with a third party organization to work with juveniles with severe emotional or mental illnesses
- allow DJJ to be given pepper spray and tasers to use during violent incidents at detention centers,
- appropriate millions toward salary increases, security upgrades at DJJ centers, and a diversionary program for youths suffering from a severe mental health crisis.
Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said SB 162 is a bill she and several others worked "very hard" on. Herron said she has concerns about some aspects of the bill, like the provision to provide DJJ workers with pepper spray and tasers.
However, Herron voted "yes" on the legislation on Thursday and said she was "thankful" to see the bill has a specific appropriation for severe mental health issues.
"I know that next year is going to be an official budget year. I hope that we can put more resources into the prevention, intervention, reentry and alternatives to detention as well," Herron said.
SB 162 now heads to the governor's desk for his signature or veto.
Also on Thursday, the House concurred on changes the Senate made to HB 3, sending the legislation to the governor's desk.
On the House floor last month, Bratcher said HB 3 will not "lock (children) up and throw away the key."
HB 3 would:
- require children taken into custody for a violent felony offense be detained a maximum of 48 hours before receiving a detention hearing and an evaluation on mental health and substance use disorders beginning July 1, 2024,
- allow members of the clergy, family and other verified support persons to visit a juvenile during the 48-hour holding period,
- enhance access to mental health care and restorative justice programs,
- appropriate $13.2 million toward the renovation of the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center and $2 million toward operating costs, and
- appropriate $4.5 million toward the renovation of the Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Center at Lyndon.
The House approved HB 3 by a 79-18 vote on Feb. 28, and the Senate approved the legislation by a 29-7 vote on Tuesday.
Bill to regulate coal-fired plant retirements heads to governor's desk
Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., R-Providence, speaks on Senate Bill 4 on the House floor. A high-res version can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Utility companies planning to retire coal-fired generating units may soon have to ask the Kentucky Public Service Commission for permission first.
The Kentucky House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 4 by a 66-28 vote on Thursday. The bill's primary sponsor is Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson. Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., R-Providence, carried the bill in the House.
Under SB 4, retirement of a fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit would not be approved if that retirement would compromise the quality of service to customers or negatively impact the electric grid.
Gooch called the legislation a "consumer protection bill."
"It's also a bill so that we can push back a little bit and say to people who want to force changes on us that we have a say," Gooch added.
While discussing SB 4, a few lawmakers shared stories of the impact the decline of coal has had on their communities. Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, said coal helped bring stability to a struggling community in Pike County, but now the economy has collapsed because of "the war on coal."
"I have seen firsthand the harm and damage that the undue regulatory hardships passed down to my people, my family, from Washington D.C. that has taken jobs and destroyed the vitality of my hometown of Phelps, Kentucky, in Pike County," Dotson added.
Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, said SB 4 violates the free market.
"Coal plants are not economical," Grossberg said. "They are not environmentally friendly. They are not reliable, and they are not the future."
Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, said she does believe the "war on coal" is a real concern, but she would vote "no" on SB 4 for her district.
"I'm voting 'no' because we shouldn't refuse to pursue any economic development and other sources of energy because extreme measures are being implemented in other places," Callaway said. "For my district, LG&E is doing the right thing, and this is unnecessary overreach based on the evidence I've seen."
Rep. Jacob Justice, R-Elkhorn City, also spoke on the impact of the decline of coal in his community. He said people in his district struggle to afford their utility bills.
"Take it from us in Eastern Kentucky who are getting hosed by these high utility bills," Justice said. "Once the coal plants are torn down, they're gone forever. And for all of you, not just Eastern Kentucky, will be put in a quote 'untenable situation.'"
SB 4 will now go to the governor's desk for his signature or veto. An emergency clause in the bill would make it go into effect immediately upon his signature.
Bill addressing public employee payroll deductions for organizations advances
FRANKFORT — A bill restricting some types of payroll deductions for public employees may soon become law.
The Kentucky House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 7 on Wednesday by a 66-33 vote. Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, presented the bill on the House floor on behalf of the bill's primary sponsor, Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson.
Under SB 7, Bray said public employees, except for first responders, would not be allowed to deduct union dues or dues from other organizations from their paychecks.
"Several courts have ruled, including the U.S. Supreme Court, that there is no constitutional right to a payroll deduction system for political fundraising," Bray said.
If SB 7 becomes law, payroll deductions could continue until existing agreements have expired.
Bray said SB 7 would not prevent public employees from being in unions or other organizations or prohibit them from contributing to collective bargaining agreements.
"What this bill does is it severs the relationship between the government payroll system and the union," Bray said. "It makes that relationship solely between its members and the union."
Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, attempted to amend the bill to remove the emergency clause and set the effective date to July 1, 2024. The amendment failed.
During discussion, Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, asked Bray why the bill exempts labor organizations for law enforcement. Bray said the bill exempts law enforcement, fire and EMS because of the hazardous nature of the profession.
"We treat them differently throughout the statutes," he added.
Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty, D-Martin, asked Bray how unions qualify as being "political in nature." He said it is because unions often make contributions to political action committees.
Laferty then spoke in favor of payroll deductions on the House floor.
"If you truly want to protect the paychecks of hardworking Kentuckians, then you will vote to allow them to use the money that they earn in the way they want to spend it," she said.
Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, said SB 7 does not stop anyone from joining a union.
"I believe that having and using public funds to withhold PAC dues and then sending those to particular races to influence those one way or the other is extremely inappropriate as well," Lockett said.
SB 7 will now go back to the Senate for concurrence.
Bill prohibiting state enforcement of federal gun bans wins final passage
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, speaks on House Bill 153, a measure that would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies and other public officials from enforcing federal firearms bans or regulations enacted after Jan. 1, 2021. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.
Audio: An audio version of this story is available here.
FRANKFORT — A measure that would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies and other public officials from enforcing federal firearms bans in Kentucky is now headed to the governor.
House Bill 153 — sponsored by Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon — cleared the Senate with a 27-9 vote Wednesday following a lengthy debate over constitutional law and the relationship between state and federal government.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, presented HB 153 on the chamber floor, saying that nothing in the bill would prevent the federal government from enforcing its own firearms restrictions or prohibit the General Assembly from enacting new gun laws in the future.
"What is in this bill is the affirmation that Kentuckians, and only Kentuckians, should decide the future of our Second Amendment rights," she said.
HB 153 applies to federal laws or regulations that have been enacted on firearms, ammunition and accessories since Jan. 1, 2021. Violators could face misdemeanor charges under the bill and termination from their jobs.
Tichenor said any federal laws enacted prior to 2021 could still be enforced by Kentucky law enforcement. She noted that 14 other states have passed similar legislation and 115 Kentucky counties have adopted similar resolutions.
But lawmakers debated the measure on the Senate floor for nearly an hour, sparring over how it would impact police and how it would conform to the U.S. Constitution.
One opponent, Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, said the measure would make those who enforce the law into criminals.
"We're going to make police officers who do this criminals and jail them. Is that what this body's going to do today?" he said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, voted against the bill, citing similar concerns.
"To say that our police departments, our police forces or police, if they try to enforce that legal constitutional law are going to be criminalized, I'm opposed to that. And that's why I'm voting no," Thomas said.
The majority of lawmakers supported the measure, including Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris. He called some of the main arguments against the bill "patently absurd."
"The state of Kentucky does not have the responsibility to enforce any federal law," West said. "That responsibility resides in Washington. It is a federal responsibility. The enforcement of federal law, and when we help the federal government when we cooperate with them, it is at our sole discretion as a state. We are a sovereign state."
West said if the law is to be enforced, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives could be used.
"Plenty of federal tax dollars go to Washington to fund the ATF, and if they want to enforce, they can use the ATF," he said.
Senate committee advances sports wagering bill
Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, speaks during Wednesday's meeting of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. Meredith testified on House Bill 551, which would create a regulated marketplace for sports wagering in Kentucky. A high-res version of the photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee on Wednesday advanced a bill that would create a legal marketplace for sports wagering and establish a sports wagering fund that pays for the regulation of the industry.
House Bill 551, presented by primary sponsor Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, would also establish a fund for problem gambling, and much of the tax revenue would benefit Kentucky's pension fund.
"It takes this activity out of the darkness, out of the shadows and into the light in a regulated format," he said.
The measure, which passed with a 9-1 vote, would make the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission the exclusive regulator of sports wagering, and it would have exclusive jurisdiction over wagering and licensing. The nine horse racing tracks in Kentucky have an opportunity to be licensed for an upfront initial fee of $500,000 and a $50,000 renewal fee, Meredith said.
"As far as broadening that beyond the racetracks, each racetrack can contract to up to three service providers that would provide either onsite wagering technology or technology for mobile and internet applications that can contract with those tracks," he said. "To be a service provider, you pay a $50,000 initial fee and a $10,000 annual renewal fee."
The racing commission must establish a system within six months of the effective date of the bill.
Other provisions in HB 551 would make tampering with the outcome of the sporting event a Class D felony. It would also prohibit employees of tracks or service providers from betting with the company they work for and sports event participants from wagering on events in which they participate.
Meredith said that, according to estimates, the state should bring in about $22.9 million annually in taxes and licensing fees. He added that recent polling showed strong support for a sports wagering law, especially if the revenue benefits public pensions.
"Six of the seven states that border Kentucky already have a legal program of sports wagering," Meredith said. "And if you look at the geography of our state, 46 counties in Kentucky border one of the states that already has a legal program, meaning the citizens in those 46 counties only have to cross a county line, which is a state border, or cross a river, and they can legally bet in the other jurisdictions that are already legal."
David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, spoke against the measure, arguing that legalized sports wagering harms children and leads to gambling addiction.
Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, said the issue is a tough one for him and mentioned how more discussion would be a good thing.
"I do realize the seriousness of the issues. I do realize the need to get a handle on some of the regulation, but should this go to the Senate floor? I likely will be looking at some other issues surrounding this whole area here," he said.
However, Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, said it's time for Kentucky to benefit from sports wagering revenue.
"We've been leaving money on the table for far too long, and I really, really hope we cross the finish line with this legislation," she said.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said six several states that surround Kentucky are already actively engaged in sports betting, including Tennessee, which brought in $68 million for its general fund last year alone.
"The public wants this. We can't stop people from doing things that are bad for them. There are a lot of behaviors out there that if done in excess are bad for people, but my constituents want this. The people of Kentucky want this. It's time that we give them the choice for free will, God-given free will to engage in legal sports betting," he said.
Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said he agrees with others who testified that Kentucky is losing money to other states.
"We're in day two of March Madness. How many people do you think here in Kentucky are going to place a bet on the NCAA tournament? I would say there are going to be millions that are going to be finding a bet to place on the NCAA tournament. I think we've just got to be realistic here," he said.
HB 551 now heads to the full Senate.