Erika’s Update: Part 2 of #KYGA25 is coming next week

Welcome to the second issue of “Erika’s Update.” This is your weekly update on events in the Kentucky General Assembly during the legislative session and monthly afterward.

January Break Ends 

We will return to the legislative session next Tuesday, having been out since January 10th. The January break always occurs during odd-numbered years. Between all the new legislators starting and the session only being 30 days long, the break allows leadership to finalize plans and gives staff an opportunity to catch up on work before we head into the 25 days remaining of the session.

During the break, I have kept busy attending community events like Together Frankfort, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service at First Presbyterian Church, the State of the Community event put on by the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, and a meeting of the Franklin County Democratic Party.

Bridge Update

I have remained in regular contact with the mayor, governor, and the Kentucky Department of Transportation about the future of the Singing Bridge. The good news is that this week, the state brought in independent engineers to evaluate the bridge. The bad news is that they probably won’t be able to return their report until the end of next month. Once we have that information, we can work on allocating the money needed to begin repairs.

I understand how frustrating this has been, especially for merchants and people who live and work in South Frankfort, but it’s critical that this be done correctly and that takes time. As they say, “measure twice, cut once.”

I remain optimistic that we will rapidly proceed with this essential repair work once the engineers and the Department of Transportation deliver the final plans.

House Bill 15

House Bill 15 (HB15) and my support of it has been getting some attention.

Current Kentucky law allows those aged 16 and up to apply for a driver’s permit, requiring an adult over 21 in the passenger seat. After 180 days, they can get an intermediate license and, at 17, a full unrestricted license. HB 15 would lower the age for a permit to 15 and allow full licensing at 16 and a half.

I am co-sponsoring this for several reasons. As a mother of two and someone who employs parents, I know the demands that transporting teenagers can be. It’s especially hard on single parents and those working poor. This bill will help ease the burdens for those folks, and it actually increases the time required for an adult to be in the car before the driver can be on their own.

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Bluesky

In an effort to keep constituents up to date I have added Bluesky to my social media. Links to all my social media is at the bottom of the email. The Bluesky account is: https://bsky.app/profile/erika4ky.bsky.social

Coming Up

I have been working with staff on legislation I plan to file when we return. Two areas I have been working hard on are helping state retirees and current state workers. Since this isn’t a budget session, it requires taking a more creative approach, but it is too important just to wait another year. 

I will also be filing a bill that a young Franklin County man, Ethan Branscum, has fought for since he was six. It would make rescue animals the official pet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Beshear questions legality of Trump’s federal payments pause as confusion reigns

The Trump administration’s temporary freeze on some federal payments sent a wave of confusion across Kentucky Tuesday, sparking criticism from Democrats.

By late afternoon, a federal judge had blocked the funding freeze and the University of Kentucky had created a web site to track how the “flurry of activity and policy actions” could affect UK, where federal funds help pay for student financial aid, patient care and research.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear raised concerns Tuesday morning about the legality and effects of the action, while a spokesman for Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said it’s not unusual for new administrations to review federal grants. 

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Is $227M enough? Lawyer takes aim at pension deal, saying it’s far less than state is owed

A $227.5 million settlement between attorneys representing employees in Kentucky’s public pension system and four hedge funds accused of squandering the money on failed investments is on the verge of approval, with a hearing later this month in Franklin Circuit Court.

Lawyers in a separate lawsuit against the hedge funds, though, believe the deal will bring pennies on the dollar back to Kentucky, with eight-digit fees for lawyers behind the settlement. And in a filing last week, they called on the state to allow their case to continue regardless of whether the deal gets the green light.

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CAUCUS FOCUS

The start of the 2025 Legislative session marks the arrival of five new members of the Democratic Caucus, including yours truly. It has been great getting to know folks and I look forward to working with them more many years to come. 

EVENTS

General Assembly Part 2: Tuesday, February 4th

Frankfort Plant Board Public Hearing: Meeting to discuss a proposed prepaid billing program. 5 p.m. FPB Community Room

Franklin County Democratic Woman’s Club Chili Cookoff & Silent Auction: Thursday, February 20, 5-7 at The Foundry

Sine Die (End of Session): March 28th

If you have an event you’d like in upcoming newsletters, please email me at Erika@Erika4KY.com with the details.

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