FRANKFORT, Ky. — In just over a month, the Kentucky House and Senate will gavel in for the 2025 legislative session. Both chamber parties are selecting their leaders and outlining their priorities before the 30-day legislative session begins in January.
Kentucky House Democrats will have new faces leading the party in the upcoming legislative session. At the top, State Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, will serve as the party’s leader. She is the first Black woman to lead a party in either chamber.
“What it means to me is the door is open and more can come through," she said. "We can all begin to see that everybody is qualified to do certain things."
Stevenson, a retired Air Force colonel, represents part of Louisville. She said her goals this session are ensuring all Kentuckians have access to food, shelter and health care while also keeping tabs on new tech.
“Those are the things that are of immediate interest," Stevenson said. "The second is, I was on the AI task force, and man, oh man, that’s a whole new world that we have to get our arms wrapped before people get hurt."
Republicans will have a supermajority, with 80 seats in the 100-member House, compared to 20 Democrats. Stevenson said she hopes to work across the aisle to find common ground on some issues.
“In every founding document, it talks about the greater good," Stevenson said. "And we, in the legislature, represent that for everyday people, so all of our decisions should be what would help Kentucky families thrive and then do that."
Republican leaders said they expect the 30-day legislative session to focus on a few big issues and make tweaks to previous legislation.
“Let’s talk about tax consequences, let’s talk about housing, let’s talk about artificial intelligence," said Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. "Let’s talk about those issues that are the big important issues."
House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said he expects conversations surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at college campuses to continue into 2025, a hot topic in 2024.
"The universities have made quite a few changes as a result of that conversation that's been ongoing, but I think there will be some additional legislation that will ensure those changes remain permanent as opposed to reverting back," Osborne said.
Stevenson said while Democrats may face a disadvantage against the Republican majority, it won't change her plans to push legislation to help Kentuckians.
“Eighty is always bigger than 20, last time I checked," Stevenson said. "But when you run for something bigger than (yourself), you focus on the issue you’re trying to resolve."
Both chambers of Kentucky’s General Assembly gavel in Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Stevenson is one of three new faces helping lead Kentucky House Democrats. Rep. Al Gentry, D-Louisville, is the new caucus chair and Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, is the whip.