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We are now in the "Veto Recess" , but these bills have passed both chambers and will likely become law.
My 2 top priority bills passed:
HB10 Gubernatorial Transition - puts additional legal guardrails and records retention policies in place for the last days of a Governor's administration, to ensure that executive powers are not abused. PASSED BOTH
Video of hearing
HB58 ALPR Limitations: limits use, retention, and sale of Automated License Plate Reader data VIDEO HERE
PASSED BOTH, after 4 years!
HB59- outlaw "Balance billing" by labs and other providers when patient has already paid insurance negotiated rate. (Certain providers seek payment they are not legally owed via overbilling). I know many folks who have been turned over to collection agencies by this shady process. VIDEO HERE - May be heard this summer in interim committee
HB60 Geoengineering Ban - outlaw risky government experiments in climate modification. Short video here. We got an interim hearing on Aug 29: Committee hearing Long video here PASSED COMMITTEE
HB61 KY Emergency Volunteer Corps - Creates a structure for organized and trained emergency volunteers in every county to respond to floods, tornados, and other civil emergencies to offload simpler tasks from the KY National Guard. Added benefit is training and fitness and community involvement for young (and older) volunteers. May be heard this summer in interim committee
HB66 - Virtual Board Meeting Limitations: allow government agencies and boards to meet via video conference and save taxpayer funds, while requiring in-person public meetings where laws, regulations, taxation, and awards of $100,000 or more are decided. PASSED HOUSE UNANIIMOUSLY - no Senate action yet, maybe at the end?
HR7- Resolution affirming Election Integrity principles PASSED HOUSE UNANIIMOUSLY
Other good bills did not get any attention - I will try again in the future.
Key Bills that passed both houses: Link - more details in future newsletters
SB4 - Restructures JCPS elected School board - 7 members will go to 5, all will be elected this November for staggered terms.
HB1 - Federal Education Opportunity Tax Credit - Kentuckians can donate up to $1700 a year to a local SGA (Scholarship Granting Organization) to pay education expenses for eligible students in public or private schools, or for services like tutoring or transportation. The IRS will credit up to $1700 back to the donor on each year's tax return. This is a HUGE benefit for KY student, and costs $0 in KY taxes.
HB4 - Criminalizes "grooming" of minors by sexual predators - define and criminalize behavior commonly referred to as “grooming.” Under provisions of HB 4, grooming refers to the manipulative and deceptive process by which a predator builds a relationship with a vulnerable person, such as a child, to gain their trust and access for abuse or exploitation.
HB 5 expands prison-based education and job-training programs proven to reduce crime by developing a model vocational campus at a state prison offering intensive education and workforce training while completing their sentences.
HB 6 expands safe, affordable child care for working parents, removes barriers for children with disabilities, and promotes community-based innovation.
SB 2 caps pay increases for superintendents and school administrators to no more than those awarded to classroom teachers, and tie a district’s SEEK eligibility to this limit.
SB 104, the HALO Act, would establish a 25-foot safety zone around first responders while they are lawfully performing their duties, preventing interference in high-risk situations while protecting lawful public activity.
SB251 - Streamlines procedures for the Death Penalty - while retaining the role of the courts and the Governor
The Budget Bills
HB 500 provide $32 billion in funding for executive branch agencies and programs for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
HB 502 provide a $4.6 billion two-year roadmap for the construction and maintenance of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure.
HB 900 allocates $1.7 billion in one-time funds from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for infrastructure, economic development, and quality of life improvements across the state.
"In case you missed it" section:
Bills I have authored and passed into KY law in previous years:
2025 (Short session)
SB129/HB18 Limits on Zoning Board Approvals Passed 76-12 watch video
HB19 Drone Privacy Passed 90-1
HB45 Ban Foreign Donations for Ballot Measures Passed 85-12
2024 (long session)
HB5 -Safer Kentucky Act I was a primary co-sponsor along with 6 others. Passed 75-23
HB43 : requires Fire Districts to notify homeowners and local elected officials before downgrading fire protection services in a way that impacts insurance rates. passed 93-0
HB44 Voter roll cleanup Bill passed 75-17 watch video here.
HB53 Post-election "eyeball" audits passed 87-8 watch video here.
2023 (short session)
HB 144 Ban on warrant-less government surveillance on private land Passed 81-13
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