Legislative Update

The Senate moves to reopen the road around the state capitol, while the House votes to send deficient administrative regulations to the Attorney General’s office and to require health care service agencies to register with the state. Lawmakers also review a resolution on the state’s historic documents and bills on pension spiking and non-partisan elections for certain county offices.

In a recap of week six of the General Assembly session, lawmakers debate changes to jobless benefits, endorsement deals for college athletes, armed officers in schools, transgender athletes in girls’ sports, early childhood literacy, and motor vehicle taxes.

The House passes an overhaul of unemployment insurance. The Senate approves a name, image, and likeness bill for student-athletes. A Senate committee debates whether biological males who identify as females should be allowed to play girls’ sports. Democrats speak against legislation to regulate student instruction on certain subjects.

University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari testifies on name, image, and likeness legislation. Senate panels take up Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services, COVID immunity from natural infections, motor vehicle taxes, and federal funding for childcare centers. House committees discuss deficient regulations and county magisterial redistricting.

Legislators take up bills on school resource officers, motor vehicle taxes and protecting local government documents.

A breakdown of the day's action in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The Senate approves bills to increase child welfare services and to allow expungement of certain misdemeanors. A Senate committee discusses reporting of child fatalities and near fatalities. The House debates public comments at school board meetings, while House panels take up blood tests in DUI cases and a death penalty exemption for people with mental illness.

A House committee approves legislation known as the Read to Succeed Act. Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton testifies on Judicial Branch funding needs. The Senate passes a bill on counseling services for first responders. Sen. David Givens discusses education issues.

The House passes a freeze on the unemployment insurance tax, and a measure to enable the General Assembly to intervene in legal challenges to legislation. The Senate approves a bill requiring death notification training for coroners, while a Senate panel discusses monitoring pharmacy benefit managers. Lawmakers discuss the budget process and spending priorities.

In a recap of week four of the General Assembly session, lawmakers act to ease the isolation experienced by long-term care residents. Sen. David Givens explains why he thinks legislators should be able to call themselves into special session. Western Kentucky school superintendents and Bowling Green Rep. Patti Minter discuss the impacts of recent tornadoes on their region.