Constitutional Page Isaac Plakosh helps distribute bills on the Senate floor Tuesday – the last day to introduce new bills in that chamber. (Photo by the LRC)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky General Assembly has crossed the halfway point in the 2025 legislative session, and amid a hectic schedule, lawmakers introduced a final barrage of bills this week before filing deadlines took effect in the chambers.
Tuesday was the last day to file new bills in the Senate, and Wednesday marked last day in the House. Overall, legislators have introduced 1,080 bills this year, and close to 60 have received a vote in at least one chamber so far.
Lawmakers have 12 days left on the session calendar to pass bills before they break for a veto recess, and with the calendar getting shorter, the days are only growing more intense.
This week brought action on a raft of social issues, including a much-watched measure that would prohibit public funds from being spent on certain procedures, treatments and surgeries related to gender transition in Kentucky prisons.
The legislation – Senate Bill 2 – sparked impassioned debate on the Senate floor Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over the nature of the services, the results of medical studies and how often the procedures are actually provided to inmates.
Ultimately, the chamber voted 31-6 to move the bill over to the House, which took up another high-profile issue Wednesday – a resolution related to displaying the Ten Commandments at the Capitol.
House Joint Resolution 15 seeks to return a granite monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments to the Capitol grounds for permanent display. It was first gifted to the state in 1971 by the Fraternal Order of Eagles, but was returned to group decades ago following a court ruling.
The resolution cleared the chamber with a 79-13 vote after lawmakers sparred over the symbolism and historical context of the monument and the effect of later court rulings on such displays.
Later in the week, the Senate Education Committee gave a green light to Senate Bill 19, which would require public schools to hold a moment of silence and reflection for students at the start of the school day. The bill received a nod from the committee Thursday.
Meanwhile, a bill designed to help school districts cope with bad weather has been making headway.
House Bill 241 would provide schools districts more flexibility to adjust their academic calendars in response to recent snow and flooding. That includes some options for longer school days and for the state education commissioner to grant up to five additional days of alternative instruction.
The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee passed the bill Wednesday, and the legislation cleared the House floor Friday with an 82-7 vote. It now heads to the Senate.
Two bills on privacy are also gaining momentum.
House Bill 19 aims to protect Kentuckians from unauthorized drone surveillance when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It would allow a person who is subjected to unauthorized surveillance to initiate a civil action in court.
House Bill 20 requires entities that use license plate readers to delete the data within 60 days unless the information is needed for an investigation or for collecting tolls. The bill also seeks to protect Kentuckians from other forms of non-consensual surveillance and tracking.
Both bills cleared a committee vote this week and won support on the House floor Friday.
Many other bills on public safety, religion, education, and other key topics were advancing this week. Here’s a look at some of the bills on the move:
Youth Nicotine Use – Senate Bill 100 seeks to curb underage nicotine use by licensing nicotine retailers and providing more oversight of nicotine sales. Retailers operating without a license could face a misdemeanor charge, and possibly a felony for a third offense. The legislation cleared the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee on Tuesday.
Protective Orders – House Bill 38 would create tougher penalties for people who repeatedly violate protective orders. Offenders could face a class D felony if they violate an order three times within five years and the third violation involves the use or threat of violence. The House passed the bill Tuesday.
Cigar Bars – House Bill 211 would create a regulatory framework for cigar bars and allow the establishments to operate in communities that otherwise prohibit public smoking as long as the establishments meet certain conditions in the legislation. The House voted to advance HB 211 on Tuesday.
Insurance Fraud – Senate Bill 24 would expand the definition of property and casualty insurance fraud to help crack down on unscrupulous contractors and public adjusters who charge unnecessary or fraudulent fees. The Senate passed the bill Tuesday.
Chevron Deference – Under Senate Bill 84, courts could no longer defer to a state agency’s interpretation when dealing with ambiguity in statutes, administrative regulations or orders, a practice known as Chevron deference. The bill won support in the Senate on Tuesday.
School Panic Alerts – House Bill 14 would allow school districts to implement a wearable panic alert system for teachers, administrators and staff. The systems provide a portable panic button that, when activated, sends a silent distress signal to emergency responders. The measure cleared the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday.
Driving Under the Influence – Under House Bill 220, offenders would face a class D felony charge if caught driving under the influence for a third time. The bill would also create escalating fines for repeat offenses. The legislation received a nod from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Sexual Assault Response Training – House Bill 219 would require emergency medical providers to receive sexual assault emergency response training. The House advanced the bill Wednesday.
Juvenile Justice – Senate Bill 111 builds on a multi-year effort to reform Kentucky’s juvenile justice system. The bill aims to strengthen the process for assessing youth with severe behavioral challenges and developing an appropriate treatment and placement plan. It also seeks to establish a specialized detention center for youth with acute mental health needs. The Senate voted in favor of the measure Wednesday.
Family Preservation – House Bill 291 seeks to reduce the impact of incarceration on families. When a nonviolent offender serves as a caregiver of a dependent child, the bill would call on judges to consider that role before imposing a sentence for a felony. The House Families and Children Committee passed the measure Thursday.
Child Protection – House Bill 574 aims to ensure that authorities are notified when a child is born to parents who have lost custody of other children due to abuse or neglect. The notification would create a presumption that the child is in immediate danger, but parents would have a process to rebut that presumption. The bill cleared the House Families and Children Committee on Thursday.
Religious Liberty – Senate Bill 60 would bolster religious liberty protections in Kentucky by raising the legal standards that government actions must meet before curtailing religious practices. It would also clear the way for individuals to sue the government for violations of religious freedom. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
KEES Scholarships – Senate Bill 83 would expand the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship program to provide funds for homeschooled students based on their ACT scores. The Senate Education Committee voted to move the bill forward Thursday.
Antisemitism on Campus – Senate Joint Resolution 55 would direct Kentucky colleges and universities to adopt policies for combating antisemitism. It also calls on campuses to disband and report any student organizations that have provided resources to terrorist organizations. The bill cleared the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.
State Tax Spending – Senate Bill 151 would define “illegal alien” as any foreign national who is unlawfully present in the United States and forbid any use of state tax dollars to compensate an illegal alien for goods or services. The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor passed the bill Thursday.
Fluoride in Water – House Bill 16 would make water fluoridation programs optional for the governing bodies of local water providers. The House Health Services Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
College Credit Transfers – House Bill 427 would create statewide transfer pathways at Kentucky colleges and universities for high-demand degree programs. Supporters say the goal is to ensure college credits, when transferred to another institution, will still apply toward a student’s major. The measure cleared the House Postsecondary Education Committee on Tuesday and advanced off the House floor Thursday.
Homeowner Tax Exemptions – Senate Bill 67 proposes a constitutional amendment that would exempt homeowners who are 65 and older from paying property taxes that result from higher assessments on their permanent residence. The Senate passed the legislation Thursday.
Nuclear Energy Grants – Senate Bill 179 would establish a nuclear energy grant program under the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority and set aside $10 million to support the effort. The legislation won approval from the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Wednesday and passed off the Senate floor Friday.
Lawmakers are scheduled to gavel back in on Tuesday for day 17 of the 30-day session.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the general assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
