Government
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 […]
Ban on child sex dolls clears Senate, goes to governor
FRANKFORT — A bill felonzing the intentional ownership of a child sex doll has now passed both the Kentucky House and Senate and is on its way to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk.? Sen. Chris McDaniel presented the bill, sponsored in the House by Edgewood Republican Rep. Stephanie Dietz, on the Senate floor. It passed unanimously […]
Prospects for freestanding birth centers clouded despite committee advancing bill
FRANKFORT — A bill paving the way for freestanding birth centers in Kentucky was approved by a committee Wednesday despite concerns — but the sponsor says he won’t take it to the House floor without amendments addressing some of those worries.? House Bill 199 would, among other things, remove the certificate of need requirement for […]
McConnell endorses Trump as former president wraps up GOP nomination with Super Tuesday wins
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, often at odds with former President Donald Trump, endorsed him Wednesday for president. Trump sewed up the Republican nomination the day before with multiple victories in Super Tuesday primaries. Trump’s remaining GOP challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, announced Wednesday morning that she was leaving the race. Shortly after, […]
Senate approves retroactive child support for months of pregnancy
FRANKFORT — A?bill that would allow Kentuckians to collect child support payments for fetuses as long as there is an order in place within a year of birth passed the Senate 36-2 Tuesday.? Senate Bill 110, sponsored by Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, can now go to the House side for consideration.? “I believe that […]
Kentucky state employees would gain parental leave under bill approved by Senate
FRANKFORT — State employees could take up to four weeks of paid parental leave under a bill that the Kentucky Senate approved 28-10 on Tuesday.? Senate Bill 142 would entitle state government workers who’ve held their jobs for at least a year to take up to four weeks of paid leave after birth or adoption. […]
‘This is clearly the session for child care.’ Or is it?
FRANKFORT — As the Kentucky legislative session approaches “late in the game,” Sen. Danny Carroll said Tuesday the status of his Horizons Act is a “little concerning.”? The bill, which proposes Kentucky spend $300 million over the next two years to stabilize the child care industry, passed out of the Senate Families and Children Committee […]
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 […]
Momnibus bill drives forward in Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT — A maternal health bill nicknamed “Momnibus’ was unanimously approved by the Kentucky House Tuesday after about 20 minutes of discussion.? The bipartisan Momnibus came out of a working group of Republican and Democratic women in the House and the Senate.? The Momnibus legislation would expand the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program […]
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 […]
Beshear’s first veto would protect local housing discrimination laws
FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear told a crowd gathered to commemorate a historic civil rights march that he has vetoed a bill that would preempt local anti-discrimination ordinances.? It’s the governor’s first veto of this legislative session. Critics have warned the bill would preempt local ordinances in Kentucky’s largest cities prohibiting discrimination against tenants […]
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 […]