Legislative activities culminated on April 15 outside the Kentucky State Capitol with the closure of the 60-day budget session, a significant event marked by the phrase “sine die,” or Latin for “without day,” indicating the session’s conclusion without a set date for the next one.
Over 210 bills progressed through the Senate during the last four months, and numerous resolutions were adopted, addressing various critical issues for Kentucky’s residents.
One significant action included the Senate’s vote of 36-1 to appoint Dr. Robbie Fletcher as the new education commissioner for Kentucky. Dr. Fletcher, who was previously the superintendent of Lawrence County Schools and has served in roles ranging from classroom teacher to principal, was selected out of three candidates by the Kentucky Board of Education and examined by the Senate Education Committee last week as part of a unique and rigorous process required by Senate Bill (SB)107, enacted the previous year. He becomes the first commissioner selected through this process, fitting for the vital position he will officially assume on July 1.
Additionally, the Senate moved forward with legislation dubbed the “Momnibus” bill, a comprehensive measure aimed at enhancing maternal health. Originally part of House Bill (HB) 10, this bill was incorporated into Sen. Funke-Frommeyer’s SB 74, which established a state child and maternal fatality review team on the last session day. HB 10 introduces a special enrollment period for pregnant women who previously weren’t recognized for insurance under qualifying life events, a crucial provision among others. These include establishing the Kentucky Lifeline for Moms and expanding access to psychiatric services and breastfeeding support. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 29-5 and is now on the Governor’s desk for his signature approval.
The legislative session saw the governor veto 19 bills and one concurrent resolution, with the General Assembly overriding most of these vetoes subsequently. Notable bills include SB 1, creating an endowed research fund similar to North Carolina’s Research Triangle, and SB 2, which enhances school safety by potentially employing veterans and former police officers as school guardians, broadening options for Kentucky schools to ensure student safety.
Other legislative highlights include:
• SB 11 improves the notification process for schools when a student is charged with serious offenses.
• SB 16 limits drone operations over food production sites.
• SB 20 targets youth gun violence by escalating serious cases to circuit court.
• SB 45 established the Kentucky Ashanti Alert System to help locate missing adults.
• SB 70, known as the Donor Intent Act, enhances transparency in charitable contributions.
• SB 127 supports the aerospace industry through scholarships and a new advisory committee.
• SB 140 offers amnesty for mistakenly-awarded unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
• SB 265 addresses teacher shortages via the Option 7 certification process.
House bills also saw significant developments, including HB 6, which details the biennial executive branch budget with substantial allocations for education and safety, including an allocation to the Attorney General’s office to implement a department focused on human trafficking, which coincides with HB 3, establishing a comprehensive approach to combat human trafficking. HB 829 updates Kentucky’s medicinal cannabis program to allow earlier licensing opportunities from July onwards while maintaining local control over its implementation. The Senate approved this bill, 26-12. HB 278 further defines childhood sexual assault offenses and increases penalties for offenders and sets into place an age-verification system requirement for pornography websites in order to strengthen protections for minors. HB 278 passed through both chambers unanimously.
As these legislative measures move forward, they reflect Kentucky’s multi-faceted approach to addressing statewide issues, ranging from education and health care to infrastructure and public safety, poised to impact various aspects of life in Kentucky. While many important bills did not make it through for final passage, with the legislative interim beginning in June, I’m certain efforts will be underway to readdress many important issues, setting the stage for further policy development and refinement.
If you would like to learn more about any legislation passed this session, visit legislature.ky.gov and KYSenateRepublicans.com for news releases from the Senate Majority Caucus.