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FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 15, 2024) — The Kentucky House and Senate are squaring up for a robust end to the 2024 legislation session, moving major bills on crime, school choice and diversity initiatives with only two weeks to go before the veto recess.
Perhaps the most watched bill of the session – the biennial state budget – is also making headway after the Senate unveiled its version of the plan this week. The $130 billion proposal breezed through committee and cleared the Senate floor on Wednesday with near unanimous support.
A conference committee is set to begin negotiating a compromise between the House and Senate in the coming days. The House passed its proposal Feb. 1, and the Senate version includes key changes, including additional money for Kentucky’s school funding formula known as SEEK.
The Senate also proposes to increase performance funding for higher education and jails and provide additional funds to pay down bonds related to the KentuckyWired project.
Lawmakers will need to hammer out an accord by March 28 if they want time to override any gubernatorial vetoes before the general assembly adjourns sine die next month.
Friday marked day 52 of the 60-day session, and lawmakers have revised the legislative calendar to provide two extra days next week for committee meetings. That foreshadows a busy schedule ahead as members continue to grapple with a number of preeminent bills.
One measure moving close to final passage is House Bill 5, an omnibus anti-crime bill that would enhance penalties for some felonies – especially for repeat, violent offenders.
Called the Safer Kentucky Act, the legislation would also allow prosecutors to file a manslaughter charge against anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose. Other provisions seek to curb unlawful street camping and set limits on charitable bond organizations.
HB 5 cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and, after a long debate, won approval on the Senate floor Friday 27-9. It now goes back to the House for a vote on the Senate’s changes.
Meanwhile, a measure on diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses has won support in the House and now moves back to the Senate for consideration.
Senate Bill 6 calls for an end to DEI initiatives at Kentucky colleges and universities. The far-ranging bill would forbid differential treatment of individuals based on protected classes like race and sex. It would also prohibit campuses for expending resources on DEI trainings and offices, among many other provisions.
The House amended the legislation in committee Thursday, expanding significantly on the Senate’s version, which focused more specifically on viewpoint discrimination. Lawmakers voted 68-18 on the House floor after a nearly four-hour debate, and the bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration.
Another major bill related to education, House Bill 2, received final passage in the Senate following several long debates throughout the week. That included a two- and half-hour exchange on the House floor Wednesday and another hour-long match in the Senate on Friday that preceded a 27-8 vote.
The legislation proposes to amend the state constitution and allow the general assembly to provide financial support for education outside Kentucky’s system of public schools. That would allow the legislature to consider funding other types of educational models in future years.
Like all proposed amendments to the constitution, the changes would require ratification by Kentucky voters in an election before taking effect.
Many other bills continued to receive votes this week as they moved through the legislative process. Here’s a look at some of the other measures on the move:
School Bus Cameras: House Bill 461 would allow school districts to install cameras on the side of school buses to catch motorists who fail to stop when the stop-arm is deployed. Offenders would face a $500 fine for the first offense and a $1,000 fine for a subsequent offense. The bill won support on the House floor Monday.
Nicotine Products: House Bill 11 would align state law with FDA regulations regarding the sale of tobacco products. Specifically, it would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. It would also create penalties for retailers who violate the restrictions. The House passed the bill Monday.
Legislative Interference: Under House Bill 626, people who engage in disorderly conduct that prevents the Kentucky General Assembly from conducting business could be charged with a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for a subsequent offense. The legislation cleared the House on Monday.
Civics Education: House Bill 535 calls on the Kentucky Board of Education to create academic standards for civic literacy in high schools. That would include lessons on America’s founding, the U.S. Constitution, principles of government and civil liberties, among others. The House advanced the measure Monday.
Consumer Data Privacy: House Bill 15 would establish new privacy protections for digital consumers. It would allow consumers to review and correct any data that companies collect on them. Consumers could also refuse to have their data sold, and they could demand that their data is deleted. The Senate voted in favor on HB 15 on Monday.
Kindergarten Readiness: House Bill 695 would establish an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project within the Kentucky Department of Education. The program will offer reading, math and science instruction through an online platform. The bill advanced out of the House Education Committee on Tuesday.
Missing Adults: Senate Bill 45 calls on Kentucky State Police and other state officials to operate a new alert system that helps find missing people over the age of 17. The House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection passed the legislation Tuesday.
Aerospace Industry: Senate Bill 127 seeks to support Kentucky’s aerospace and aviation industries by fostering public-private partnerships and enhancing workforce development across the state. The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee advanced the bill Tuesday.
Cancer Detection: House Bill 52 calls for health benefits plans to cover preventive cancer screenings and tests without requiring patients to pay a deductible charge for the services. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee advanced the bill on Tuesday.
Open Records: House Bill 509 calls for public employees to use official agency email accounts when conducting official business, and it would ban the use of private email accounts for such matters. Agencies would only be required to search official email accounts in response to an open records request. The bill cleared the House floor Tuesday.
Medicinal Cannabis: House Bill 829 seeks to update some aspects of Kentucky’s upcoming medicinal cannabis program. It would allow schools to opt out and allow local governments to apply a small fee to the program, among other changes. The House passed the measure Tuesday.
Name, Voice and Likeness: Senate Bill 317 would protect every person’s name, voice and likeness from the commercial use of unauthorized deepfakes. The Senate passed the measure Tuesday.
Pseudoephedrine: House Bill 386 would ease purchase limits on pseudoephedrine to help people with chronic allergies legally obtain enough of the medication to meet their needs. The measure won support in the Senate Committee on Health Services on Wednesday.
Speech Therapy: Senate Bill 111 would eliminate some insurance coverage limits on speech therapy for stuttering. The House Banking and Insurance Committee passed the legislation Wednesday.
Firearms: House Bill 357 would forbid government agencies from creating a list of privately owned firearms – or their owners – unless the information relates to a criminal investigation. The bill also aims to prevent credit card companies from creating unique merchant codes for purchases from gun stores. The Senate passed the legislation Wednesday, and it has been sent to the governor.
School Bus Behavior: House Bill 446 seeks to address disciplinary issues on school buses. Under the bill, every bus rider and at least one of their parents or guardians would need to sign a transportation agreement with the district. The agreement would outline expectations for students and parents and explain the consequences for misbehavior. The bill won passage in the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the governor.
Nuclear Energy: Senate Bill 198 would establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support and facilitate the development of a nuclear energy ecosystem across the state. The House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy passed the legislation Thursday.
Animal Abuse: House Bill 258 seeks to strengthen state laws against torturing a dog or cat. That includes stiffer penalties for first-time offenders, who would face a class D felony rather than a misdemeanor charge under the bill. The legislation won support in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Math Education: House Bill 162 seeks to improve numeracy in Kentucky. It would reform early education math standards and provide more professional development for teachers. The bill would also create multitiered support systems for struggling students. The Senate Education Committee passed the bill Thursday.
Consent for Intimate Exams: House Bill 252 would require physicians to receive informed consent before conducting intimate exams – such as rectal, pelvic or prostate exams – on an unconscious patient. The House Health Services Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
Non-Citizen Voting: Senate Bill 143 proposes changes to the state constitution that would prevent anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from voting in Kentucky elections. The House passed the bill Friday, and it now heads to the governor.
Fish and Wildlife: Senate Bill 3 seeks to move the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. An amendment to the bill would also move the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to the agriculture department for administrative purposes. The legislation cleared the Senate on Friday.
Vintage Alcohol Sales: House Bill 439 would create a regulatory and licensing structure for the commercial sale of vintage distilled spirits in Kentucky. The Senate passed the bill Friday.
Lawmakers are expected to meet in committees on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. However, the chambers will not gavel back into session until Thursday for day 53. The veto recess begins on March 29.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Capitol observers can also track budget bills on the 2024 Budget Bills webpage.
Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the General Assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
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