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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 10, 2025) — Kentucky lawmakers spent the first week of the 2025 legislative session electing leaders, adopting rules for the chambers, and advancing a high-priority bill on tax reform close to the finish line.
Friday marked day four of this year’s short, 30-day session, and winter weather hasn’t hampered the action in Frankfort. Legislators have filed more than 200 bills since the chambers gaveled into session on Tuesday.
The proposals touch everything from education and crime to more specific topics like water fluoridation, and they offer a glimpse of the issues lawmakers might look to tackle in the coming months.
Majority lawmakers in both chambers have been signaling for weeks that tax reform would receive focus early in the session, and that proposal – House Bill 1 – was the only measure to begin moving this week.
The legislation is part of a multi-year effort to gradually reduce and eliminate Kentucky’s income tax – so long as the state continues to meet certain revenue thresholds.
HB 1 would cut the state income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% starting in 2026. It cleared the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on Wednesday and advanced off the House floor Thursday with a 90-7 vote after proponents staved off nearly a dozen floor amendments.
During the hour-long debate, supporters said the change will encourage more growth in Kentucky while helping ease the burden on taxpayers. Critics, however, raised concerns that it will mostly benefit high earners and rob the state coffers of important revenue.
The Senate received the bill late Thursday, and the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee took up the measure Friday morning, voting 11-0 to send HB 1 to the chamber floor for consideration during Part II of the session.
In addition to the tax discussion, the House and Senate welcomed a new class of legislators this week. Twenty-two new members were sworn into the General Assembly on Tuesday, including 16 in the House and six in the Senate.
Both chambers also saw a handful of leadership changes.
In the House, Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, will now serve as minority floor leader; Rep. Al Gentry, D-Louisville, will serve as minority caucus chair; and Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, will serve as minority whip.
In the Senate, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, was elected as majority floor leader; and Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, will serve as majority caucus chair.
Other leadership roles remained unchanged from last year.
Under the state constitution, the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in short sessions during odd-numbered years. The calendar calls for four session days in January. Then the chambers gavel out until Part II begins in February.
This year, lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 4 and gavel out sine die on March 28.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
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
