LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As the 10-day veto period ends, we have a final tally for the number of bills Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear has elected to send back to the legislature.

What You Need To Know

  • This year Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, vetoed 27 bills passed by the state legislature

  • Republican lawmakers hold a supermajority in both chambers, and will probably override most of Beshear’s vetoes

  • Lawmakers return for the final two days of the legislative session on April 12

  • Last year they overrode 15 of Beshear’s 17 vetoes

This year, Beshear has vetoed 27 bills. His first of HB 18 was quickly overridden in early March.

The governor also line-item vetoed several of the state budget bills. One section in the state’s two-year operating budget would limit the amount of emergency funds he can release in the event of a natural disaster, capping it to $25 million.

“In the last three fiscal years, we would have exceeded the amount they had. We shouldn’t have to have a special session just to say, can we please take care of our people? Of course, we should take care of our people. $25 million total, we go through that every year,” Beshear explained Thursday.

Beshear also vetoed House Bill 5, known as the Safer Kentucky Act. Among other things, the bill stiffens penalties for several crimes, creates a three-strikes provision for repeat violent offenders, and criminalizes street camping. Critics have raised concerns about the bill’s financial impact on the state and that it could lead to jail overcrowding.

“And I could not in good conscience with my faith, sign a bill that would virtually criminalize homelessness and would treat an abandoned car better than a car that had a person in it who was suffering from homelessness,” Beshear said.

Beshear stated he agrees with some aspects of the bill, such as the creation of a statewide carjacking statute.

He also vetoed a resolution that would study if Jefferson County Public Schools should be split up.

And a last-minute bill to make the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission a new independent state agency. Taking it away from the executive branch.

“This will fail, not because we won’t try, but you can’t create a new lottery corporation in three months and it be successful,” Beshear said.

Included in the other bills vetoed are one allowing fully autonomous vehicles on certain Kentucky roads, one that would make several governmental changes to Jefferson County, including making the mayor and metro council nonpartisan, and a bill to change how U.S. Senate vacancies are filled.

Republicans hold a supermajority in the state legislature, meaning they have enough votes to override the governor’s veto.

It’s likely most of Beshear’s vetoes will be overridden. Last year lawmakers overrode 15 of his 17 vetoes.

 

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