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Things have picked up with the session. Today is day 43, which means we have just 17 legislative days until sine die. This year, we have had over 900 bills filed in the House and over 350 in the Senate. The big fight remains over the budget, which is now in the Senate.
The Senate now has the budget bill, and I have met with A & R chairs and am keeping a close eye on money for Frankort. Especially money for the Singing Bridge.
I have received several hundred phone calls and hundreds of emails each week. Mostly on the raises for state workers and teachers, as well as doing something for retirees. I return each call and email. Sometimes it takes a few days, but these communications are important, and I will continue to communicate as best I can.
HB 503
HB 503 is the budget for the Legislative Research Commission. I made an effort to block a pay raise for lawmakers included in the legislative branch budget, as I believe it’s important to prioritize our community’s needs. Unfortunately, a procedural vote in the Kentucky House prevented the amendment from being given a fair hearing. It’s disappointing when such matters don’t get the attention they deserve.
I cannot support a pay raise for lawmakers when many of the people we serve are still struggling to keep up with rising costs. Teachers, retirees, and public workers across Kentucky are already seeing their pay fall behind inflation. That should be a top budget priority.
House Bill 534
HB 534, a bill related to elections, was also hurried through last week to limit amendments. There is a lot to this bill. Some of it is fine, but much of it is a solution in search of a problem. My fear, and the fear of election experts and the County Clerks Association, is that it will create many more problems. It could wrongly take the vote away from tens of thousands of Kentuckians and put a greater financial burden on our struggling counties.
This bill was passed by the House with one of the narrowest margins (53-40) of any bill this session. It’s not too late, reach out to the Senate and let them know you oppose this bill!
Bills
House Bill 5 would establish the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Prison Education Program. It calls on KCTCS to partner with the state Department of Corrections to build and operate a vocational training campus at Northpoint Training Center.
House Bill 246 calls for animal control officers to complete training to help recognize signs of child abuse and neglect. A provision in the bill would allow local governments that employ animal control officers to opt out of the training by providing a written notice before the end of the year.
House Bill 299 would align Kentucky gun laws with federal law related to machine gun conversion devices. Federal law already bans possession of such devices, but supporters say the bill is needed to help law enforcement enforce the ban locally.
House Bill 469 would require candidates for local school board seats to undergo background checks.
House Bill 586 would clarify that sunscreen is not a medication and that students can apply sunscreen at school without a written order from a health care provider.
House Bill 563 takes aim at repeat drunk drivers. Among several provisions, it would prohibit anyone convicted of drunk driving four times within a 10-year period from purchasing alcohol while their license is suspended and for two years after the suspension ends.
House Bill 713 seeks to combat workplace violence in health care facilities. Among several provisions, it calls on health facilities to annually verify that they maintain workplace safety plans and assessments and provide violence prevention training to staff.
