LOUISVILLE, Ky. — State lawmakers are now more than halfway through this year’s 30-day legislative session. Republicans easily moved to lower the income tax, which has since been signed by Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky.
Republicans have again filed bills to eliminate certain diversity efforts for K through 12 and state-run colleges and universities. Similar measures failed last year, but with President Donald Trump in office, the chances of these measures could be higher.
Democrats on have laid out their priorities, such as allocating more money for affordable housing and expanding abortion access. Democrats are in a superminority in both the State House and Senate.
Recently, the State House passed a resolution to return a Ten Commandments monument to the Capitol grounds, which has been in private hands since the '80s. Supporters do not believe there are any legal issues with this measure.
That chamber also passed a bill enhancing penalties for people who continually violate protective orders.
In the Senate, the chamber has moved to bar transgender inmates from receiving gender transition care while incarcerated.
A separate bill with broad support seeks to bring improvements to the juvenile justice system. One aspect of it would create a mental health facility for youth seeking enhanced treatment.
“We're already in the process of separating violent, nonviolent males; do the same with the females, and I think that addresses those issues," said State Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah. "We address the acute mentally ill, which was another issue that DOJ has looked at."
Looking ahead, a pair of bills seeking to mirror the work of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has yet to be heard in committee. Lawmakers and the executive branch must also come to an agreement on how to get financial assistance to people affected by this month’s deadly flooding and extreme cold. As of Monday, Feb. 24, the storms have claimed at least 22 lives, Beshear said at a news conference.
“The nature and extent of the damage has yet to be really cataloged and for us to know," said Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. "I’m going to assume I think it's very possible that we will know before we leave the session. But for right now, we think the governor has close to $75 million to access."
Lawmakers will meet regularly through mid-March before the veto period, where Beshear can take action against bills he doesn't like. The Republican supermajority can easily override him, however.
The last two days of the session are March 27-28.
