FRANKFORT, Ky. — Changes could soon be coming to how Louisville Metro Government candidates run for office after a bill passed the Senate Monday making wide sweeping changes to Louisville Metro Government services and elections.

What You Need To Know

  • House Bill 388 makes changes to Louisville's elections, making races for Metro Council and the mayor nonpartisan 

  • The bill also makes changes to the disciplinary process for Louisville Metro Police officers 

  • The bill passed the Senate with changes and heads back to the House 

  • Supporters of the bill say Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, was involved in discussions on the bill

House Bill 388 makes many changes to Louisville’s government based on a report of the county and city government merger 20 years later. Senate Minority Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, said this bill goes too far.

“You do need to look at things over time; it was not a perfect outcome in terms of merger when we did it the first time, but I think that some of my good friends’ zealousness is taking advantage of circumstances,” Neal said.

The bill makes elections of Louisville Metro Council and the mayor nonpartisan rather than the partisan style based on political parties that is currently used. It also freezes the city from making changes to its zoning ordinances until after next year’s legislative session. Neal said this bill did not come from the majority of citizens in Jefferson County.

“This is a process from top down, not from down up; the original piece we did for merger was generated in the community; it was put together in the community,” Neal said.

Another major provision last week by the House are changes to the disciplinary process for Louisville Metro Police officers. The bill raises the burden of proof for disciplinary action and brings LMPD’s process in line to the state’s police “Bill of Rights.”

“The irony in this whole thing is the party of small government, the party of not meddling into local affairs and deferring to local decisions, just got co-opted by big government, headed by my good friends in the Republican Party,” Neal said.

The bill passed with 25 YAYS and 11 NAYS in the Senate. Four Republicans voted against the measure with all seven Democrats. State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, says there were many provisions she supported in the bill, however, does not support the nonpartisan elections.

“I’m a big fan of partisan races; I would love to see some other elections move to partisanship because it’s really hard for a voter to know who they’re voting for and what they stand for,” Tichenor said.

Supporters of the bill, including Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, say Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, was involved in discussions on the bill and has been working with the general assembly.

House Bill 388 was amended by the Senate, so it heads back to the House for concurrence on the changes.

Related Stories