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Public money for nonpublic schools amendment meets bipartisan resistance but clears House
FRANKFORT —?After a couple hours of debate, 12 House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing a constitutional amendment that would allow Kentucky lawmakers to give public dollars to nonpublic schools.? However, 65 Republicans supported the priority legislation, House Bill 2, in a 65-32 vote on Wednesday.? If also approved by the Senate, voters would decide this […]
Opponents from across the political spectrum?testify against sweeping crime bill
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday heard a slew of testimony from across the political spectrum opposing an omnibus crime bill.? Senate Judicial Committee Chair Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, said that while House Bill 5 was up only for discussion Tuesday, he expects a committee vote on the legislation Thursday. The bill […]
Kentucky House passes bill that adds loopholes to open records law
FRANKFORT — The House approved a Republican-backed bill that open government advocates have repeatedly warned would add loopholes to Kentucky’s open records laws.? Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, recently said in the House State Government Committee that House Bill 509 seeks to modernize state open records laws, which were established in the 1970s before widespread use […]
House passes bill to make interrupting legislative proceedings a crime in Kentucky
FRANKFORT — A GOP-backed bill that would make interrupting legislative proceedings a crime in Kentucky won House approval Monday.? Members voted 62-31 on House Bill 626, which would add first and second degree offenses to state law. A handful of House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill.? While discussing his bill, Rep. John Blanton, […]
Three finalists named in Kentucky’s education commissioner search
The Kentucky Board of Education has named three finalists in its search for the next education commissioner.? The candidates are Eminence Independent Schools Superintendent Buddy Berry, Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Robbie Fletcher and Kentucky Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Jim Flynn, according to a Monday announcement from the Kentucky Department of Education.? The board […]
Bill could still encourage officials to hide public business on private devices, advocates warn
FRANKFORT — Advocates for open government in Kentucky urged lawmakers Thursday to close anti-transparency loopholes in a bill that Republicans voted out of committee. Despite changes made by the sponsor, the measure still could encourage officials to hide public business on private electronic devices, a Democratic lawmaker and a lawyer for the Kentucky Press Association […]
House committee OKs bill to make interrupting legislative proceedings a crime in Kentucky
FRANKFORT —?Kentuckians could be charged with a new crime — “interference with a legislative proceeding” — under a bill backed Wednesday by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee. The committee’s Democrats passed their votes on House Bill 626.? The bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, said the legislation was written with three scenarios in […]
Senate advances GOP bill paving the way for school ‘guardians’
FRANKFORT —?Despite opposition from Republicans and Democrats, a GOP-backed measure that paves the way for school districts to hire “guardians” to fill vacant law enforcement officer roles on school campuses passed out of the Kentucky Senate Tuesday.? Senate Bill 2, sponsored by? Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville,builds upon his 2019 School Safety and Resiliency Act that […]
Republicans and Democrats futilely oppose partisan Kentucky school board elections bill
FRANKFORT — More than a dozen senators — both Republican and Democratic —?voted against a bill that would create partisan Kentucky Board of Education elections, but the measure ultimately passed the Senate Tuesday.? In a vote of 24-14, the Republican-controlled Senate approved a bill that would transform the appointed board into an elected one. The […]
House Education forwards ideas looking at management of Kentucky schools
FRANKFORT —?The House Education Committee gave approval to two pieces of legislation that would look at the management of public schools in Kentucky.? One bill would take a deep dive into the Kentucky Department of Education’s programming while a resolution opposed by Louisville school officials would create a task force to review Jefferson County Public […]
In bipartisan vote, House passes bill changing how Kentucky fills vacant U.S. Senate seats
With bipartisan support, a GOP-backed bill that would end the governor’s power to fill vacant U.S. Senate seats passed the House Monday.? Instead, voters in a special election would select a successor, if the bill becomes law.? Kentucky House Republican Floor Leader Steven Rudy, of Paducah, has previously said House Bill 622 is aimed at […]
Appeals court sides with GOP constitutional officers on ethics commission power
Republican constitutional officers celebrated a Friday ruling from the Kentucky Court of Appeals that upheld a law allowing them to each appoint a member of the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.? Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who’s office has said it will ask the Kentucky Supreme Court to hear the case, filed a lawsuit in 2022 to […]