FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on steps he is taking to support economic development, clean water access, infrastructure and legislative action that benefit Kentucky families. He also shared plans for Capitol dome repairs, wished good luck to all Kentucky teams competing in the NCAA tournament and honored Team Kentucky All-Star Shannon Bailes.
Governor Signs Bills into Law
Today, Gov. Beshear signed three pieces of legislation into law that recently were passed by the General Assembly:
Senate Bill 64, sponsored by Sen. Mike Wilson, allows any public agency to establish a peer support counseling program for Kentucky’s public safety officers who have faced a traumatic, emotional, difficult incident while on duty.
Gov. Beshear said: “I can personally attest that for the last two years, this workforce has faced some of the most difficult situations that most of us cannot even imagine, from responding to deadly storms in Western Kentucky, reporting to work every day while the rest of us stayed home to protect ourselves from a national pandemic, to helping rescue Kentuckians from severe snow, ice and rainstorms.”
Senate Bill 140, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise. Gov. Beshear said this bill “allows patients to take the medication that their doctor believes is best for their treatment, rather than the medicine the insurance company – or those who set drug prices – think is best. In times past, patients would have to start with the insurance company’s preferred medication.”
House Bill 284, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, will significantly improve the efficiency of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s vehicle title and registration process by allowing for electronic filing of applications for titles and liens.
Capitol Dome Restoration Project
A project to repair and restore the dome that crowns the Kentucky State Capitol will begin this spring. The work will require the construction of extensive scaffolding that will encircle the dome. Materials for the scaffolding will be delivered in early April, and installation is expected to take two months. The scaffolding will remain in place for approximately two years or until the project’s completion.
The dome restoration will be performed by a team of nationally recognized professionals who have worked on similar projects, including the Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia state capitols and the U.S. Supreme Court Building.
“Our state Capitol building is one of the most significant and recognizable historic landmarks in the commonwealth, and its dome is a visual landmark that has graced and defined the skyline of the city of Frankfort for more than a century,” Gov. Beshear said. “It is our duty and responsibility to ensure it is protected for generations to come.”
The project will replace 80-year-old terracotta tiles, help with waterproofing, make structural repairs and remove algae and other organic material from the dome. With proper periodic maintenance, the refurbished dome will be preserved for at least another 50 years.
In 2020, the Department for Facilities and Support Services began a massive, multiyear renovation and restoration project at the State Capitol. The primary work so far has focused on electrical, mechanical and plumbing system repairs and upgrades inside the Capitol building.
Gov. Beshear Breaks Ground on Consumer Cellular Customer Support Center in Louisville
Last week, Gov. Beshear joined leadership from the city of Louisville and Consumer Cellular to officially break ground on the company’s new customer support center. The $15.5 million investment is Consumer Cellular’s first operation in Kentucky and will create 486 full-time jobs. To learn more, see the full release.
Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Coleman Present Infrastructure Awards to Eight Counties
This week, Gov. Beshear travelled across Kentucky to present $5,209,669 in funding to Crittenden, Graves, Livingston, McCreary and Pulaski counties. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman presented $2,771,935 in funding for Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties. These awards are from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Department for Local Government and the Better Kentucky Plan’s Cleaner Water Program. To learn more about awards in the following counties, see the full releases: Crittenden, Graves and Livingston; McCreary and Pulaski; and Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade.
Governor Wishes Kentucky Teams Good Luck as March Madness Begins
The Governor congratulated four teams from the commonwealth competing in the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, which begin today and tomorrow. University of Kentucky men’s basketball and Murray State University men’s basketball teams both play tonight.
“Should both teams win, they’ll face each other on Saturday in the second round. So, there might be some households divided this weekend,” Gov. Beshear said.
No. 1-seed University of Louisville women’s basketball hosts Albany on Friday night, and the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team takes on Princeton this Saturday.
Severe Weather Possible on Friday
Gov. Beshear said several lines of showers and thunderstorms will move through Western Kentucky on Friday afternoon and evening. Damaging straight-line winds are the main threat, though an isolated tornado or two will be possible. The highest risk of severe weather is in areas west of Interstate Highway 65.
Team Kentucky All-Star
Today, Gov. Beshear honored ATEAM AmeriCorps Program Director Shannon Bailes as today’s Team Kentucky All-Star. Bailes is retiring this year after spending more than 25 years serving communities in Western Kentucky. In her career, Shannon has led over 1,000 AmeriCorps members in service to Kentuckians.
“Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting Shannon and her fellow AmeriCorps members in person during a proclamation signing that proclaims this week as AmeriCorps Week in Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “Shannon says she’s most proud of all the AmeriCorps members who have come through the program and became leaders in their respective communities. Over the years, Shannon’s AmeriCorps program has served during two tornado disasters. And they’re still there, still making a difference and still deeply appreciated by me and everyone across Kentucky.”