Government
With bill sponsor absent, House committee expands Senate curbs on diversity in higher education
FRANKFORT —The House Education Committee on Thursday overhauled and expanded Senate-approved restrictions on diversity programs without hearing from the bill’s Senate sponsor. Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, presented a substitute for Senate Bill 6 that goes much further than the version approved by the Senate and sponsored by Senate Republican Whip Mike Wilson. Decker’s substitute would […]
Kentucky Supreme Court tie vote leaves Medicaid managed care contracts in place
In a quick turnaround, the Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that five insurance companies will retain the right to oversee most of the state’s $15 billion annual Medicaid business, appearing to end a long-running court fight. Anthem Kentucky, which had challenged the contract award, will be excluded, according to a Supreme […]
$150 million plan unveiled for biomedical center in Covington, would include new home for NKU law school
A lofty economic development plan for Northern Kentucky was unveiled Wednesday that would create a biomedical center campus in downtown Covington with a new facility for Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in it. Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel of Ryland Heights, chairman of […]
Child labor, food assistance bills stall in Kentucky Senate committee but could get another chance
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee on Thursday blocked House bills that would loosen state restrictions on child labor and tighten eligibility for food assistance, but the measures are not necessarily dead. The committee could consider both bills again at a specially-called meeting Friday, said Sen. Max Wise, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic […]
Senate Judiciary Committee forwards omnibus Kentucky crime bill without chairman’s vote
FRANKFORT — Chairman Whitney Westerfield, a Republican, joined two Democrats in voting against a sweeping crime bill Thursday as the Senate Judiciary Committee approved its version of the controversial measure. Westerfield, who had proposed a rewrite of House Bill 5, said he preferred his version but “I don’t have the votes.”? Instead the committee approved […]
Bill making animal torture a felony on first offense advances
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would make it a Class D felony to torture a dog or cat on the first offense? Doing so is already a felony on subsequent offenses, according to the sponsor, Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville.? She spoke alongside Kentucky Humane Society celebrity rescue Ethan, […]
Bill qualifying more foster parents for child care benefits advances
FRANKFORT — A Louisville Democrat’s bill aimed at getting more foster care parents in Kentucky passed a House committee, placing it two steps from law.? Senate Bill 240 would allow foster parents in Kentucky to qualify for child care benefits while working outside the home or working remotely in the home. Currently they must work […]
Kentucky Senate ups House’s one-time spending on projects by more than a billion dollars
FRANKFORT — The GOP-dominated Kentucky Senate approved budget bills Wednesday funding the state executive branch and upping the House’s proposed one-time spending by almost $1.8 billion for projects across the state, though some advocates say funding for education and affordable housing still falls short.? Republican Senators unveiled their changes to House Bill 6, the state […]
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 […]
Kentucky Senate budget short of what child care advocates say is needed
FRANKFORT — Child care advocates applauded elements of the Kentucky Senate’s budget, unveiled Wednesday, but said lawmakers have not gone far enough to save the struggling industry.? The proposed child care spending is a “monumental investment,” said Sarah Vanover, a policy and research director for Kentucky Youth Advocates.? “We appreciate the fact that this is […]
Kentucky Senate includes UofL Health request for $25 million cancer center in budget proposal?
FRANKFORT — In its newly-released budget proposals, the Kentucky Senate has included a $25 million allocation to UofL Health after the Louisville system asked for help in building a rural cancer center in Bullitt County.? Sen. Chris McDaniel presented the Senate’s edits to the House budget Wednesday in the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, which he […]
Kentucky attorney general among those warning Maine not to enact medical shield law
Kentucky’s Russell Coleman is among 16 state attorneys general threatening legal action if Maine enacts a law shielding its medical providers from penalties for providing reproductive and gender-affirming care to residents of other states. The Republican attorneys general assert such a law would be “extraterritorial bullying” and “could also trigger a rapid tit-for-tat escalation that […]