View this email as a webpage. Jan. 5, 2024

First week of 2024 session shows lawmakers plan to make education a priority

After the first four days of the 2024 legislative session, more than 260 bills have already been filed in the House and Senate, dozens of which would directly or indirectly impact Kentucky school districts, ranging from the levying of property taxes and school personnel leave to math education and artificial intelligence in schools. The week also included the governor's State of the Commonwealth Address and a preview of legislation by the majority leadership, including the much-anticipated budget.

Both chambers now stand in adjournment until 4 p.m. (ET) Monday, Jan. 8.

KSBA is working hard to keep members informed on developments in Frankfort. Look for email updates at the end of each week of session as well as periodic alerts on movement of high-priority bills. 

GOP budget proposal coming soon

The legislature’s Republican leadership said this week that their proposed two-year state budget will likely be filed within the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andy Beshear’s budget plan has been filed as House Bill 114 by Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort. Beshear unveiled his plan in mid-December and spoke again about the spending plan on Wednesday in his State of the Commonwealth address.

Beshear’s $136.6 billion overall spending plan would add more than $2.5 billion to public education, including an 11% raise for school employees and an 11% increase in the minimum teacher salary.

The governor’s budget also includes $344 million for universal preschool, which he said would allow 34,000 more children to attend preschool.

However, the General Assembly’s Republican leaders said Wednesday that though they plan to make education a priority, they do not plan to include statewide teacher raises or to fund universal preschool in the two-year budget.

“I don't think there’s much appetite in our chamber,” House Speaker David Osborne said about preschool funding Wednesday during a press conference with Senate President Robert Stivers. Osborne, R-Prospect, also said the GOP would “stop short of mandating raises for particular classes of employees.”

He said those decisions are best made at the local level.

“I do think that you will see us, again, contribute significant funding that local officials will have the ability to utilize that money,” he said. “And I certainly believe and hope that they will use that money to give teachers raises.”

Stivers, R-Manchester, said the Senate agrees with the House’s approach to let local boards decide what to do with increased SEEK funding.

“We all know that we have to be competitive with our sister states. We have to be competitive with the private sector and there will be a need for the local level officials, school boards and superintendents, to have the tools to which to be competitive with,” he said. 

Photo: Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, (left) gives an update on the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly’s agenda during a press conference with House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect. Provided by LRC

Bills to watch after first week of #KYGA24

Below is a sampling of some of the bills KSBA will be watching in the days ahead. The status of bills below were current as of the publication of this newsletter. If available, bill titles are linked to the Legislative Research Commission website.

HB 158: Dyslexia

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, a Jefferson County educator, proposed legislation that would require school boards to develop policies on addressing the needs of students with dyslexia. The bill would also require instruction on dyslexia as part of postsecondary teacher preparation. 

Status: HB 158 has not yet been assigned to committee.

HB 108: English language learners

Filed by Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, a former Warren County school board member, the bill would create a tiered schedule for including English language learner's performance in the state's accountability and assessment system.

Status: HB 108 has not yet been assigned to committee.

HB 162: Mathematics education

Friday morning, House Education Committee chair Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, introduced a mathematics education bill. Tipton had previously hinted at addressing numeracy this session when he discussed the topic with KSBA’s board of directors in September and at KSBA’s Fourth Region meeting in October.

Status: HB 162 has not yet been assigned to committee.

SB 18: School bus equipment

Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, introduced a bill that would amend the laws for the specifications on school bus equipment. The bill would require standards and specifications for accessory equipment, supplies and replacement parts to be “based on federal safety standards and shall not discriminate among manufacturers unless the Kentucky Department of Education finds evidence that a specific manufacturer's product is defective or dangerous to use.” Current law only requires that bids made and awarded on such equipment to meet Kentucky Department of Education specifications.

Status: SB 18 has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

SB 52: Artificial Intelligence in education

The bill, filed by Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, would require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish the Artificial Intelligence (A.I,) in Kentucky’s Schools project. The project, among other things, would require training on A.I. for teachers, administrators, school council members and school board members. It would also require local boards to adopt policies and procedures related to A.I.

Status: SB 52 has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

SB 58: Property tax rate recalls

One of multiple property tax bills proposed by Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, the bill would strip some of the current requirements for recall petition on property tax rates set by school boards, including eliminating the five-person petition committee requirement, instead allowing a single individual to file a signed affidavit with the county clerk. It would also eliminate the requirement of a recall challenge notice in the local newspaper.

Status: SB 58 has been assigned to the Senate State and Local Government Committee 

KSBA in the news

KSBA is often called on by media outlets during legislative session to discuss proposed bills and school-related issues. Below are recent headlines to which KSBA contributed or was featured.

KY School Boards Association members will be keeping an eye on Frankfort during legislative session – WEKU Radio, Jan. 1

KSBA's 2024 legislative priorities

Each year, ahead of each legislative session, KSBA releases a summary of priorities for advancing public education. View a downloadable/printable version of KSBA’s 2024 legislative priorities.

Stay tuned all session long

Watching committee and/or chamber proceedings

Most standing committee meetings and House/Senate chamber proceedings can be viewed live online. Kentucky Educational Television (KET) offers live legislation coverage as well as an archive of past coverage. Many committee meetings are also available (live or recorded) on the LRC YouTube page.

Education leaders should also stay tuned to KSBA e-blasts, publications and social media for frequent updates, alerts and news.

• KSBA on Twitter/X
• KSBA on Facebook

Reviewing bills

Read all bills introduced this session at the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) website. Updated daily, the page also provides summary information and status of each bill before the General Assembly.

Education-related committees

Use the links below to visit pertinent committee homepages on the LRC website. From there, you can access meeting materials and committee rosters (including contact information of the legislators).

• The House Education Committee is scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. (ET) each Tuesday.

• The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. (ET) each Thursday.

• The House Appropriations and Revenue (A&R) Committee is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. (ET) each Tuesday.

• The Senate Appropriations and Revenue (A&R) Committee is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. (ET) each Wednesday.

Find/contact your legislators



• Search legislators by your home address
• Search Senators by county
• Search Representatives by county

KSBA encourages school board members to contact their legislators to let them know how bills will impact their schools and students by calling the free LRC Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. Callers can leave messages for legislators or any group of legislators (such as to "all members of the education committees").

• Tip: When in contact with your legislators, locally elected school board members and their superintendents should clearly note their leadership positions in their districts.

• Tip: Legislators' individual offices in Frankfort can be reached by calling 502-564-8100 and asking for them by name.

Kentucky School Boards Association | 502-695-4630 | ksba.org