by on 
Happy President’s Day! There is no session today, but things resume tomorrow. I hope you all had a great Valentine’s Weekend. Things are picking up as we work our way through the 60-day session. The budget remains a major question mark, but I am keeping a close eye on developments.
Erika
HB 500
Like you, I want affordable, stable health insurance for Kentucky’s state employees and teachers who serve our communities every day.
That’s why I support a responsible approach to dealing with rising health-care costs instead of capping the state’s contribution. A cap may sound fiscally cautious, but it shifts costs onto workers and their families through higher premiums and reduced benefits.
There is a better path. Kentucky has built a strong Budget Reserve Trust Fund (rainy-day fund) to help manage economic pressures and unexpected cost increases. Using a portion of those reserves, alongside ongoing revenues, allows us to cover rising insurance costs without placing the burden on state employees.
State employees shouldn’t be balancing the budget with their health coverage. We can be fiscally responsible, protect workers, and use our reserves for exactly what they’re meant for: stabilizing costs when Kentuckians need them most.
When you contact the legislature in support of or in opposition to a bill, the results are communicated to leadership. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE, and I will fight to stop this attack on state workers! If you would rather make a phone call, you can leave a message for any lawmaker through the legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181.
Bills
House Bill 253 would phase out the “three-cuing” reading model by the 2029–30 school year and expand use of a phonics-focused Science of Reading approach.
House Bill 44 would create a Robotics Funding Selection Committee and a trust fund to help expand robotics education opportunities in Kentucky high schools.
House Bill 508 would add transparency and accountability requirements for companies that assist veterans with benefits claims.
House Joint Resolution 25 would establish Kentucky as a “Food is Medicine” state to strengthen connections between health care and agriculture.
The momentum at the Capitol is accelerating rapidly. As crucial decisions loom, it’s vital for Kentuckians to remain informed, actively engage in the process, and ensure their voices are heard. Now is the time to make a difference!
