Kentucky Political News Headlines

Thursday, April 16, 2020

KY Legislative Update - Updated w/ Bill Lists

**We are reissuing our update to make a couple of corrections and add in links to the updated bill lists.

Sine Die

The 2020 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly came to a close this evening on the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of April 15. Each General Assembly session is unique, however this one was stranger than most with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the legislature to shorten the session by seven legislative days, pushing aside many bills deemed too controversial given the crisis, and requiring the adoption of a one-year budget due to an expected drop in tax revenues.

On the session's final two days there was significant legislative action, including:

- Overriding all budget line items vetoed by the Governor in HB 351HB 352HB 353HB 354, and HB 356.
- Overriding five bills vetoed by the Governor, SB 2SB 5HB 150HB 195, and HB 336
- Passage of several COVID-19 matters: 
  • HR 135 that creates an Emergency Preparedness Task Force 
  • HB 387 that allows budget flexibility for the Governor to buy PPE  
- Several constitutional amendments were passed, including SB 15 Marsy's Law
SB 191 that would provide for employer sponsored substance use disorder programs was given final passage
- The Senate confirmed Governor Beshear's appointments to the Kentucky Board of Education, except for the Chair, and the Senate confirmed Sharon Clark as Insurance Commissioner.

Those bills passed the final two days of the session are subject to review by the Governor and potentially could be vetoed, without legislators having the ability to override.

In all, nearly a hundred bills were passed by the General Assembly this session. You can view updated bill lists at the links below.

Transportation Bill List

In the next few days we will be preparing an end of session report summarizing legislative activity of particular interest to you to aide in your compliance efforts.

Updated w/ Bill Lists -- KY Legislative Update - Sine Die


**We are reissuing our update to make a couple of corrections and add in links to the updated bill lists.

Sine Die

The 2020 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly came to a close this evening on the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of April 15. Each General Assembly session is unique, however this one was stranger than most with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the legislature to shorten the session by seven legislative days, pushing aside many bills deemed too controversial given the crisis, and requiring the adoption of a one-year budget due to an expected drop in tax revenues.

On the session's final two days there was significant legislative action, including:

- Overriding all budget line items vetoed by the Governor in HB 351HB 352HB 353HB 354, and HB 356.
- Overriding five bills vetoed by the Governor, SB 2SB 5HB 150HB 195, and HB 336
- Passage of several COVID-19 matters: 
  • HR 135 that creates an Emergency Preparedness Task Force 
  • HB 387 that allows budget flexibility for the Governor to buy PPE  
- Several constitutional amendments were passed, including SB 15 Marsy's Law
SB 191 that would provide for employer sponsored substance use disorder programs was given final passage
- The Senate confirmed Governor Beshear's appointments to the Kentucky Board of Education, except for the Chair, and the Senate confirmed Sharon Clark as Insurance Commissioner.

Those bills passed the final two days of the session are subject to review by the Governor and potentially could be vetoed, without legislators having the ability to override.

In all, nearly a hundred bills were passed by the General Assembly this session. You can view updated bill lists at the links below.

Transportation Bill List

In the next few days we will be preparing an end of session report summarizing legislative activity of particular interest to you to aide in your compliance efforts.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

KY Legislative Update - Sine Die


Sine Die

The 2020 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly came to a close this evening on the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of April 15. Each General Assembly session is unique, however this one was stranger than most with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the legislature to shorten the session by seven legislative days, pushing aside many bills deemed too controversial given the crisis, and requiring the adoption of a one-year budget due to an expected drop in tax revenues.

On the session's final two days there was significant legislative action, including:

- Overriding all budget line items vetoed by the Governor in HB 351, HB 352, HB 353, HB 354, and HB 356.
- Overriding five bills vetoed by the Governor, SB 2, SB 5, HB 150, HB 195, and HB 336
- Passage of several COVID-19 matters: 
  • HR 135 that creates an Emergency Preparedness Task Force 
  • HB 387 that allows budget flexibility for the Governor to buy PPE  
- Several constitutional amendments were passed, including SB 15 Marsy's Law
- SB 191 that would provide for employer sponsored substance use disorder programs was given final passage
- The Senate confirmed Governor Beshear's appointments to the Kentucky Board of Education.

Those bills passed the final two days of the session are subject to review by the Governor and potentially could be vetoed, without legislators having the ability to override.

In all, nearly a hundred bills were passed by the General Assembly this session. In the next few days we will be preparing an end of session report summarizing legislative activity of particular interest to you, which will contain a list of those bills that passed to aide in your compliance efforts.


Legislative Update & Bill Lists - April 14, 2020

From Government Strategies:

The General Assembly met until late yesterday evening and before adjourning they had: 

- Acted to override five bills vetoed by the Governor, SB 2, SB 5, HB 150, HB 195, and HB 336.
- Deliver another 11 bills to the Governor/Secretary of State
- Take floor action on another half dozen bills that will need some additional concurrence today.

The legislature will meet today for the final day of the 2020 Regular Session and we expect them to consider:

- The Governor's vetoes of the budget and revenue bills
- COVID-19 relief/recovery bill
- Possibly a dozen other bills still awaiting final legislative action.


During the General Assembly, you can view the following bill lists updated nightly.