FRANKFORT, Ky. — The 2021 General Assembly session convenes next week in Frankfort where several COVID-19-related legislative measures will be up for discussion. 


What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky lawmakers meet next week for the 2021 General Assembly

  • Democrats and Republicans will discuss revoking of food permits for restaurants who defied indoor dining executive orders in November and December

  • Republicans also seek to limit the governor's executive powers

  • Session begins on Tuesday

This includes the most recent executive orders issued by Gov. Andy Beshear in late November and December which halted indoor dining for almost three weeks.

While the vast majority of restaurants in Kentucky followed the guidelines, at least two restaurants chose to defy the orders and had their food permits revoked as a result.

“This piece of legislations is designed to prohibit the Cabinet of Health and Human Services as well as local health departments from denying, revoking or suspending any food service permit that issued under KRS 217.125,” said State Representative Savannah Maddox (R), District 61.

Maddox filed Bill Request 931 in December to challenge that motion and prevent revoking food permits.

“Never again do I want Kentucky’s business to be held hostage in this way. Because they’re not breaking a law, they’re breaking an executive order and they’re not even being charged under KRS 39-A," Maddox said. "The Governor is using the Cabinet and Health Departments in an ancillary sense as an enforcement mechanism as opposed to the appropriate enforcement mechanisms for his executive orders."

During Monday’s press conference, Beshear addressed the issue and the actions taken to help protect Kentuckians.

“If that’s the case that we can’t stop another wave. We’ve done the same things recommended by the Coronavirus Task Force headed by Vice President Mike Pence in each of our three waves and each time it’s worked. But if we have an inability to do what’s necessary then we can’t stop the next wave and we look like South Dakota,” Beshear said. “So obviously that would not be a good idea in the midst of the Pandemic that is killing more people in Kentucky than we lost in World War 1. I’d like to think that we don’t fight the war against Covid[-19] with one arm tied behind our back pretending it doesn't exist.”

Other bills that are also filed include calling the legislative body back into session during use of emergency powers by the governor and prohibiting the Cabinet for Health and Human Services from mandating a vaccine during a Pandemic.

The new session resumes Tuesday.