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College photo IDs would no longer suffice to vote in Kentucky under bill moving in Senate
FRANKFORT — A bill that would block Kentuckians from using university-issued IDs to vote has passed out of a Senate committee, prompting the Republican secretary of state to warn members of his party to “be careful not to gratuitously alienate young voters.”? Identification cards issued by universities and colleges to students and employees would no […]
Senate OKs expanding KEES eligibility to homeschool students, including those who take alternative entrance exam
FRANKFORT — Kentucky senators approved a bill that would make homeschool students eligible for a state-funded scholarship, but some raised concerns over the inclusion of a Christian-backed alternative college entrance exam as an equivalent test.? The Senate passed Senate Bill 7 with a vote of 33-4 on Tuesday. The GOP legislation would make students from […]
Discussion, no vote on bill mandating how academics in Kentucky would be evaluated
The Kentucky House Education Committee discussed but did not vote on a bill Tuesday that would allow public universities and colleges to remove faculty who fall short of “productivity requirements.”? Rep. James Tipton, the Republican chairman of the committee and the sponsor of House Bill 228, said the agenda was changed Monday night. Originally, the […]
House education chair says professor review bill is not aimed at limiting tenure in Kentucky
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s public universities and colleges could remove faculty who fall short of new “productivity requirements” under a bill sponsored by the chairman of the House Education Committee. Rep. James Tipton’s House Bill 228 would require the boards of Kentucky’s public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to establish a process […]
House anti-DEI bill would increase government oversight of Kentucky’s public universities
A House Republican is broadening her party’s attack on diversity, equity and inclusion frameworks in Kentucky higher education with legislation that would bar universities and colleges from expending “any resources” to support DEI programs or DEI officers. The bill mandates annual assessments of “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” at each of the campuses, based on […]
GOP bill stiffening criminal penalties, targeting homeless campers clears House committee
FRANKFORT — Lawmakers moved a Republican anti-crime bill out of committee Thursday afternoon after hearing more than two hours of testimony, including support from crime victims and warnings from opponents that the measure “criminalizes poverty” and will drive up Kentucky’s already high rate of incarceration. The committee adopted a substitute version of House Bill 5 […]
Effort to move Kentucky’s statewide elections to presidential years moves forward in legislature
FRANKFORT — The Senate passed legislation Wednesday that moves the state a step closer to holding its elections during presidential election years. Senate Bill 10 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Kentucky elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and other constitutional officers, in even-numbered years. Senators voted 26-9, with Republican Sens. Adrienne Southworth, of Lawrenceburg, […]
CPE ‘not aware’ of bill that would dissolve it before the legislation was filed
FRANKFORT — The group that oversees the state’s public universities and community colleges were unaware a Northern Kentucky Republican planned to file a bill that would dissolve the council.?? Officials with the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) officials said in a statement to the Kentucky Lantern they were reviewing the legislation Wednesday morning. Rep. Steven […]
Advocates oppose Louisville anti-crime bill, saying it would increase incarcerations
Critics of an omnibus anti-crime bill filed by Louisville GOP lawmakers said on Tuesday the state should instead make investments to help keep Kentuckians out of jail — not send more of them to prison.? House Bill 5, dubbed the “Safer Kentucky Act” by sponsors, is a priority piece of Republican legislation that has undergone […]
Anti-DEI bill seeks to remove ‘trauma-informed approach’ for Kentucky schools from state law
FRANKFORT — A bill aimed at preventing education funding to go to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging frameworks in K-12 schools would also remove language protecting “trauma-informed” methods in Kentucky schools if the bill remains unchanged as it makes its way through the General Assembly.? Part of recently-filed Senate Bill 93 from Sen. Stephen Meredith, […]
Moving Kentucky governor’s races to presidential election years gets nod from Senate committee
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians would begin electing their governors in presidential election years under a proposed constitutional amendment that advanced from committee Wednesday.? Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, sponsored? Senate Bill 10 — a measure that would set the stage for moving Kentucky elections for constitutional officers, including governor, to even-numbered years.? If the General Assembly […]
Kentucky Senate leader proposes partisan elections for state school board
FRANKFORT —? Senate Republican Whip Mike Wilson wants voters to begin choosing Kentucky Board of Education members in partisan elections.? Wilson, of Bowling Green, filed Senate Bill 8 Tuesday. The legislation “would change the selection of Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) members from a unilateral appointment by the governor to an election by voters across […]