Government
Beshear blames ‘extremism’ for threats to reproductive options in Kentucky, Alabama
FRANKFORT — Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday called out Kentucky lawmakers for wasting time on “culture war type issues” and denounced “extremism” that he said is limiting reproductive options. The Democratic governor said he is “100% for” protecting access to in vitro fertilization and called an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children […]
If Kentucky had an empty U.S. Senate seat, voters not governor should fill it, House panel says
FRANKFORT — The day after Mitch McConnell announced he is stepping down as the U.S. Senate’s Republican leader, Republican lawmakers in his home state were working to trim the Kentucky governor’s role in filling future U.S. Senate vacancies. A state House committee on Thursday approved a bill that would require the governor to call a […]
Thayer seeks to end Kentucky’s limits on political giving, require more frequent reporting instead
FRANKFORT — Senate Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer is seeking to eliminate state limits on donations to political campaigns and committees while increasing the frequency of campaign finance reports to every two weeks.? Thayer, of Georgetown, told the Kentucky Lantern after filing Senate Bill 100 that he is “making a few statements on my way […]
‘This year’s anti-drag bill’ on its way to full Senate
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee on Thursday approved new restrictions on “adult-oriented businesses” that opponents describe as “this year’s anti-drag bill.”? Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, filed Senate Bill 147 in late January, saying it was “not intended to impede on any First Amendment rights of free speech, nor to impose limitations on reasonable access to […]
Ban on child sex dolls, using AI to make child porn clears hurdle
FRANKFORT — A House bill that would make it a felony to knowingly own a child sex doll in Kentucky passed the Senate Judiciary committee unanimously Thursday morning. House Bill 207 passed the House in early February and is making its way through the Senate. It can now go to the floor for consideration. Should […]
Kentucky Senate passes Stivers’ endowed research bill
FRANKFORT — Most Kentucky senators expressed support for legislation from Republican Senate President Robert Stivers to encourage Kentucky universities to work together on cutting-edge research projects.? Stivers, of Manchester, is backing Senate Bill 1, which would set up endowed research funding for research consortiums between two or more public universities.? Thirty-six Republican and Democratic senators […]
Bill easing job hunt for ex-offenders clears Kentucky legislative committee
Kentuckians who have been convicted of crimes would get a better shot at a second chance under a bipartisan bill that cleared a House committee Wednesday, its supporters say. House Bill 124, sponsored by Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, would allow individuals to find out in advance if their criminal records would disqualify them from receiving […]
Republican files bill to protect in vitro fertilization in Kentucky?
FRANKFORT — Republican Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a staunch opponent of abortion, filed a bill Wednesday aimed at protecting access to in vitro fertilization in Kentucky. Senate Bill 373, which is not yet online, says any facility or “procedure related to in vitro fertilization shall not be liable” for damages “to a patient or patient’s surviving […]
Physicians bring message to Frankfort: Abortion bans forcing us to violate our oath to do no harm
FRANKFORT — Saying that abortion bans handicap their ability to provide comprehensive care, nearly 300 Kentucky health care providers and medical students have signed a letter asking lawmakers to restore abortion access in the state.? While unveiling the letter Wednesday, Louisville’s Dr. Marjorie Fitzgerald said abortion bans in Kentucky cause “devastating consequences” for patients.? “We […]
Committee-approved bill would remove requirement Kentucky employers give lunch breaks, rest periods
Employers in Kentucky would no longer be required to give employees a “reasonable” amount of time for lunch or rest breaks under a committee-approved bill passed Wednesday by Republicans.? HB 500, sponsored by Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, would repeal state statutes that require lunch breaks between three to five hours into a work shift and rest […]
Republicans move forward with partisan state school board elections
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee forwarded a bill on a party line vote Wednesday that would establish partisan elections for the Kentucky Board of Education — a proposal previously called a “terrible idea” by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.? Senate Bill 8 would allow Kentucky voters in each of the seven Supreme Court districts to elect […]
Kentucky reacts to McConnell stepping down as U.S. Senate GOP leader
FRANKFORT — As news in Washington broke that Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving floor leader of the U.S. Senate, planned to step down from that role this November, eyes in Kentucky turned to the senator’s legacy.? McConnell, also Kentucky’s longest-serving U.S. senator, is routinely credited by Republicans for building the current state party, which […]