FRANKFORT, Ky. — Lawmakers in Frankfort powered through several pieces of legislation today as the Kentucky House passed five bills this afternoon.

House Bill 1, aimed at allowing schools and businesses to stay open if they meet U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, passed easily in the Republican supermajority. The bill is one of several filed in response to Gov. Andy Beshear's COVID-19 emergency orders.

Rep. Steve Rudy (R-Paducah) said since the CDC says schools should be open, Kentucky should follow suit.

Supporters like Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville) said it helps businesses struggling in the pandemic.

"It was not data driven to shut down gyms and have major restrictions on gyms. It was not data driven to treat all restaurants the same, regardless of whether they could comply with the CDC guidelines," Nemes said.

But opponents like Rep. Angie Hatton (D-Whitesburg) say it takes power from the governor and shifts it to the federal government.

"We have to get our businesses back open by allowing the governor to do his job," Hatton said. "These decisions do not lend themselves to the legislative process."

House Bill 2 also passed on Thursday, a sweeping pro-life measure that would prevent abortion facilities from deeming abortions to be medical procedures that also expands the role of the Attorney General.

"In recent years, this General Assembly has passed some of the strongest pro-life legislation in the nation," Rep. Joseph Fischer (R-Campbell) said. "But unless we have someone to defend and enforce our laws, those laws are rendered meaningless."

Louisville's Rep. Attica Scott staunchley opposed the legislation.

"Some women cannot afford to bear children and yet House Bill 2 is designed to force them to carry a fetus," Scott said. "This is about power, domination and control over our bodies."

The bills now move on to the State Senate.