FRANKFORT, Ky — The Kentucky State Capitol itself is still closed due to the coronavirus, meaning there won’t be large crowds like in years past when the new legislative session starts Tuesday.
“It’s going to look different than it usually does and it’s going to be a challenge to folks who are interested, i think, to participate,” said House Minority Leader Joni Jenkins.
Jenkins, D-Shively, says there’s still a way to bring in people to testify on certain bills.
“Government is not going to be completely dark,” Jenkins said.”We’re going to shine much light into what happens in Frankfort.”
This year’s session won’t be a typical year for lawmakers as they have to pass another one-year budget, and Jenkins says they may go a few extra days in January just to get a proposal out, along with proposals pushed by Republican leaders to limit the governor’s emergency powers.
“We are certainly hearing that that could happen, that we should be prepared to stay for a Saturday session that first week, so we will see,” Jenkins said. “Certainly my caucus is doing the research and we will be prepared to debate this vigorously.”
The House will have new voting procedures in place so lawmakers can vote in their offices, similar to what they did last year when the pandemic started, although they won’t be texting votes directly to Jenkins on the floor.
“Which I will tell you was exhausting in those days because of the responsibility to make sure we got things right,” Jenkins said. “Now we have new technology that has been installed during the interim so that folks will be at their (Legislative Research Commission) computers— its only through their LRC computers that they have this ability— and they will be watching the procedure on their computer screen and being able to vote through that system, so it won’t be me relaying what I can get on my text messages or my cell phone.”
A spokesman for the Senate GOP says lawmakers in that chamber will vote on the floor similar to last year, although the seats will be more spaced out since there are only 38 members.
Masks are required for visitors and staff, but only recommended for lawmakers.
Jenkins says Democrats plan to wear theirs at all times, and she hopes Republicans will too, especially after Rep. Thomas Huff, R-Shepherdsville, spent time in the ICU last month with COVID-19.
“I’m hoping that members of his caucus will see that this is a virus that is so easily transmitted and that there’s no guarantee on how your body is going to react to the virus,” Jenkins said.
Gov. Andy Beshear plans to deliver his budget address and State of the Commonwealth speech Wednesday night. The legislative session is scheduled to end March 30.