FRANKFORT, Ky. — This year’s Kentucky Legislative Session is now underway and will last 30 days. Lawmakers will meet through the rest of this week before a three-week break. They will then begin the second half of the session in February.

What You Need To Know

  • The legislative session is now underway

  • It will last 30 days spread across three months

  • More than 100 bills were file on day one

  • The first piece of legislation expected to pass would lower the state income tax

On Tuesday, more than 100 bills were filed across both chambers. Among them is House Bill 1, which seeks to lower the state income tax, a priority of the Republican supermajority. 

“I think we will move it Thursday and get it to the Senate,” said Speaker of the House David Osborne, who has been reelected to his fourth consecutive term as the chamber’s leader.

House members of the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly are sworn in on Jan. 7, 2025 (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

Democrats in the House are hopeful to support legislation that betters the lives of all Kentuckians in 2025. 

“We want to make sure Kentucky families have jobs, we want to make sure children are taken care of, and anywhere we can agree on with the majority we want to accomplish those things,“ said Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson. 

Both chambers have several new faces this year. Old members and new ones were all sworn in together ahead of the day’s first bill filing. 

Osborne expects movement on legislation that got attention during last year’s interim session. That might include housing, artificial intelligence and diversity equity and inclusion programs at colleges. 

He does not believe there will be any big-spending items. 

“I think this is going to be a traditional short session where we use it to tweak and refine,” Osborne said. 

Lawmakers gavel in for day two of the session on Wednesday.

Related Stories