Government
Bill curbing fines for Louisville air pollution raises questions about sponsor’s self-interest
FRANKFORT — Louisville’s air pollution authority would lose the power to issue fines in some circumstances under a bill that has Democratic lawmakers asking if the Republican sponsor’s employer stands to benefit from the proposed change in the? law. House Bill 136, sponsored by Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, would bring the Louisville Air Pollution Control […]
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 […]
Spending to lobby Kentucky legislature hit all-time high in 2023, spurred by gambling bills
FRANKFORT — Gambling interests drove lobbying spending in Frankfort to a record level in 2023. More than 800 corporations, associations and other groups reported spending $24.7 million to influence the Kentucky General Assembly last year, according to data posted Thursday on the Legislative Ethics Commission‘s website. That breaks the prior record of $22.4 million spent […]
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 […]
New online help available to Kentuckians handling legal affairs without an attorney
Kentuckians handling legal affairs without an attorney have a new online resource. A Legal Self-Help Portal has been added to the Kentucky court system’s website. An interactive program helps users complete forms for common legal situations including uncontested divorce, probate, child support, small claims, name change, expungement and more, says a news release from the […]
Kentucky’s largest cities are seeking public input to develop climate plans
Kentucky’s largest cities are vying for millions of federal dollars aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are turning to residents of surrounding communities for help. Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green are developing climate plans as a part of the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, something the cities undertook after the state government declined […]
GOP bill would ban KY cities from requiring landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers. None do.
Kentucky cities could not require landlords to take federal low-income housing vouchers, also known as “Section 8” vouchers, for rent under a bill passed out of a Senate committee Wednesday. Housing and tenant advocates, who strongly oppose the proposal, say it could potentially stop efforts by Kentucky’s two largest cities to prevent housing discrimination.? Bill […]
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 […]
House Republicans unveil two-year state budget with over $1.7 billion in one-time spending
Republican leadership in the Kentucky House of Representatives filed bills representing a much anticipated two-year state budget Tuesday with over $1.7 billion in one-time expenditures, legislation that lawmakers in the GOP-controlled legislature will discuss and craft over the coming weeks.? House Bill 1, filed by House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, lays […]
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, […]