Legislative Update

The Senate and House approve a one-year state budget. The Senate agrees to House changes to a bill creating a commission on racial equity, and approves new guidelines for appointments to the Kentucky Board of Education. A Senate committee considers a hybrid retirement plan for future teachers.

The House votes on Open Records Act requests, vaccination opt-outs, police misconduct, and cryptocurrency mining incentives. A House committee approves a new process for filling a U.S. Senate vacancy. Both chambers pass a bill on emergency executive orders. Conversations with new lawmakers Rep. Killian Timoney and Sen. Adrienne Southworth.

The House passes a school choice bill and a limit on pandemic emergency executive orders. The Senate approves a measure on riot-related crimes and insulting police officers, and legislation on Open Records Act requests. A Senate panel discusses Kentucky Board of Education membership

The House approves unemployment overpayment relief, transitional help for the formerly incarcerated, assistance for pregnant inmates, and penalties for rental property damage. The Senate votes on quasi-governmental agency pension obligations and insulin co-payments. A House panel considers a do-over school year. Conversations with new lawmakers Rep. Matt Lockett and Sen. Brandon Storm.

The House gives final passage to a school reopening plan. House committees advance unemployment overpayment relief and exemptions for mandatory immunizations. Senate panels discuss riot-based crimes, the felony theft threshold, and a death penalty exception for those with a mental illness. A conversation with new lawmaker Sen. Karen Berg.

The House approves aid packages for rural broadband deployment and rural hospitals, financial protection for the gun industry, and a tax break for cryptocurrency miners. Senate committees discusses pension relief for quasi-governmental agencies and postpartum care for female inmates, while the full Senate sets a date for schools to restart in-person instruction.

The Senate passes liability protections for some businesses during the pandemic, and approves bills to give the General Assembly more flexibility in the legislative calendar. A Senate panel discusses civilian review boards for police departments. The House acts on water bill late fees and school tax recall petitions.

The House votes to make some new voting options permanent, to rewrite the state’s Open Records Act, and to expand KEES-eligible institutions. The Senate approves unemployment overpayment relief, while a Senate committee discusses how U.S. Senate seat vacancies are filled.

The Senate votes to limit the use of no-knock search warrants. The House approves a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion and a bill to stabilize the state Board of Education. House committees consider reopening unemployment offices, purchases of personal protective equipment, and voting options in elections.