2016 Bill Tracker
KFTC SupportsRestoration of Voting Rights AmendmentHouse Bill 70 | Summary House Bill 70, the Restoration of Voting Rights Amendment, would allow voters statewide a chance to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to most former felons upon the completion of their sentence. A KFTC factsheet can be downloaded HERE, and information about why an additional waiting period is a bad idea HERE. | Status HB 70 was approved by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on February 1, and the full House on February 4 by an 82-9 vote. It is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Instead of voting on HB 40, on March 21 the Senate passed a much weaker Senate Bill 299, 36-0. That bill is before the House Judiciary Committee. |
KFTC SupportsTax ReformHouse Bill 342 | Summary House Bill 342, the Kentucky Forward Bill will make Kentucky's tax system more fair, adequate and sustainable with a broad variety of reforms. It will raise $570 million annually in new revenue when fully implemented, mostly from income and transactions that currently go untaxed. Lower income working folks will pay less in taxes, largely due to a 15% refundable Earned Income Tax Credit. | Status The bill is before the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. |
KFTC SupportsUniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA)House Bill 380 | Summary House Bill 380 would apply statewide housing standards to encourage “landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing.” These standards already exist with local governments having the option to adopt them, though many have not. This bill would apply the standards equally all across the state. Learn more with this handout. | Status HB 380 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on March 17, and by the full House, 47-46, on March 22. It is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee. See how House members voted HERE. |
KFTC SupportsClean Energy Opportunity ActHouse Bill 339 Senate Bill 190 | Summary House Bill 339 and Senate Bill 190, the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, will create a Renewable and Efficiency Portfolio Standard requiring utilities in Kentucky to get an increasing share of their electricity from clean, renewable sources and energy efficiency programs. The act also will established a Feed-in Tariff that sets a guaranteed rate for renewable energy producers. The two policies could create 28,000 new Kentucky jobs over the next 10 years. | Status HB 339 has been assigned to the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee. SB 190 is before the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee. |
KFTC SupportsStream Saver BillHouse Bill 152 | Summary House Bill 152 would have provided important protections for our water by prohibiting the dumping of toxic mine wastes, most commonly associated with mountaintop removal, into "an intermittent, perennial, or ephemeral stream or other water of the Commonwealth." These are mostly headwater streams that are essential to the quality of waterways upstream and downstream. Mine wastes could be placed back on the mine site or an adjacent mine site as part of the reclamation process already specified in state and federal law rather than dumped over the side of the hill into the valleys and streams below. Download a handout on HB 152. | Status HB 152 is assigned to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee. |
KFTC SupportsFairnessHouse Bill 155 Senate Bill 176 | Summary House Bill 155 and Senate Bill 176 would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and financial transactions on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. | Status HB 155 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and received a hearing but no vote. SB 176 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee and no action was taken. |
KFTC SupportsExpungementHouse Bill 40 | Summary House Bill 40 and Senate Bill 77 would expand expungement statues to include Class D felonies when certain conditions are met, including a five-year waiting period, and to exclude felonies referred to a grand jury where no indictment ensues. | Status HB 40 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee, 15-3, on January 13, and by the full House, 80-11, on January 15. It was modified and approved with a committee substitute by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 17. It passed the full Senate on March 29, 33-5. The House concurred with Senate changes on April 1 by a 84-13 vote. The governor signed the bill into law on April 12. SB 77 is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. |
KFTC SupportsPipeline SafetyHouse Bill 240 | Summary House Bill 240 sets up a Pipeline Safety Fund in order to equip and train emergency responders for natural gas and hazardous liquids pipeline leaks, spills and explosions. Pipeline operators would be required to submit spill response plans that include evacuation plans and replacement of lost utilities and services. It also directs the Public Service Commission to get certification in order to set up a pipeline safety inspection program within the state. | Status HB 240 is assigned to the House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Safety Committee. |
KFTC SupportsPipeline SafetyHouse Bill 440 Senate Bill 26 | Summary House Bill 440 and Senate Bill 26 are identical bills that would make it a violation to change the direction of flow, substance, chemical makeup, temperature or pressure of any pipeline's contents in such a way that public safety is negatively affected. | Status HB 440 is assigned to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee. SB 26 is before the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee. |
KFTC SupportsKynectHouse Bill 5 | Summary House Bill 5 requires the state to operate and continue to operate a state healthcare exchange that is substantially similar to the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, commonly referred to as "kynect" as it existed on January 1, 2016, within the Commonwealth. | Status HB 5 was approved by the House Health & Welfare Committee on March 17, and by the full House, 52-46, on March 22. On April 11, HB 5 failed to get enough votes to pass out of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee. See how House members voted HERE. |
KFTC SupportsMedicaid ExpansionHouse Bill 6 | Summary House Bill 6 directs the state to expand the Medicaid program to the fullest extent allowed by federal law. | Status HB 6 was approved by the House Health & Welfare Committee on March 17, and by the full House, 54-44, on March 22. On April 11, HB 6 failed to get enough votes to pass out of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee. See how House members voted HERE. |
KFTC SupportsEarned Income Tax CreditHouse Bill 86 | Summary House Bill 86 would have closed several corporate tax loopholes that allow some profitable corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes, and use the revenue to fund a 7.5% Earned Income Tax Credit for Kentucky’s working families. | Status HB 86 was assigned to the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee and received no consideration. |
KFTC SupportsEarned Income Tax CreditSenate Bill 157 | Summary Senate Bill 157 would establish a state Earned Income Tax Credit at 15% of the federal credit. | Status SB 157 is assigned to the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee. |
KFTC SupportsAbolition of Death PenaltyHouse Bill 203 Senate Bill 41 | Summary House Bill 203 and Senate Bill 41 would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without parole for inmates presently sentenced to death, and permitt imprisonment for life without parole and imprisonment for life without parole for 25 years for offenses formerly denominated as capital offenses. | Status HB 203 is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. A hearing and vote took place on March 9 and HB 203 failed to get the necessary 10 votes to get out of committee (receiving only 8 Yes votes). SB 41 is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. |
KFTC SupportsPayday LendingSenate Bill 101 | Summary Senate Bill 101 would limit the abuses of payday lending, including setting an annual cap on interest rates at 36%. | Status SB 101 is assigned to the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee. |
KFTC SupportsCampaign Contribution Limits | Summary House Concurrent Resolution 14 urges Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to allow Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on spending to influence elections. | Status HCR 14 was approved by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on February 29. It is now before the full House but House leaders are not allowing a vote. |
KFTC SupportsRaise the Minimum WageHouse Bill 278 | Summary House Bill 278 would increase the minimum wage for many workers to $10.10 per hour over three years; apply to businesses with at least $500,000 revenue per year for retail stores, service industries, hotels and restaurants. Prohibit wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or national origin. | Status HB 278 was approved by the House Labor & Industry Committee on January 28 by a 14-6 vote. It was then reassigned to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, which approved a committee substitute for the bill on March 8 that raises the minmum wage only to $8.20 in August 2016. It now on the House floor where several amendments to weaken the bill further have been filed. |
KFTC SupportsEarly VotingHouse Bill 290 | Summary House Bill 290 would allow early in-person voting for any reason during the 12 days prior to an election. | Status HB 290 was approved by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on March 7, and by the full House, 57-37, on March 11. It is now before the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection Committee. |
KFTC SupportsBan the BoxHouse Bill 180 | Summary House Bill 180 would prohibit employers from considering or requiring disclosure of prior criminal history as part of the initial job application. | Status HB 180 is assigned to the House Labor & Industry Committee. |
KFTC SupportsWaste to EnergyHouse Bill 449 | Summary House Bill 449 would prohibit a waste-to-energy facility that is or will be located within a certain distance of a school, hospital, place of worship, or residential property. | Status HB 449 was approved by the House Tourism Development & Energy Committee on March 17, and by the full House on March 22, 74-24. In the Senate it was assigned to the Natural Resources & Energy Committee, then reassigned to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee, which approved the bill on March 29. See how House members voted HERE. |
KFTC SupportsCruelty to dogsSenate Bill 14 | Summary Senate Bill 14 would classify the owning, possessing, keeping, breeding, training, selling or transferring of dogs for fighting purposes as an offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree. | Status A committee substitute for SB 14 was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee on February 23 and the full Senate, 36-0, on February 25. It is now before the House Judiciary Committee, which on March 9 skipped over this bill in favor of House Bill 428. |
KFTC SupportsCruelty to DogsHouse Bill 428 | Summary House Bill 428 would make it a Class D felony to knowingly own, possess, keep, breed, train, sell or otherwise transfer a dog for the purpose of that dog or its offspring being used to fight for pleasure or profit; exempt activities of animals engaged in guarding livestock. | Status A committee substitute to HB 428 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on March 9, and was approved by the full House on March 21 with a floor amendment that added some definitions, 97-0. In the Senate, HB 428 received quick approval by the Agriculture Committee on March 24, and by the full Senate, 37-0, on March 25. HB 428 was signed by the governor on April 8 and will become law on July 15. See how House and Senate members voted HERE. |
KFTC SupportsRacial disparity reportingSenate Bill 270 | Summary Senate Bill 270 creates a mechanism for the Department of Juvenile Justice and other agencies that have contact with juveniles to collect data and report findings of juvenile contacts by age, race and gender. Each agency also must create a 3-year plan in accordance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. | Status SB 270 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 14 and has been stuck in the Senate Rules Committee since. |
KFTC SupportsExternal Detainee Fatality Review PanelHouse Bill 400 | Summary House Bill 400 would have established the External Detainee Fatality Review Panel to conduct comprehensive reviews of all facilities of individuals detained in county or regional jails or any facility operated by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or an entity under contract with either department at the time of death or at the time medical assistance was sought for a condition that led to the individual’s death. | Status HB 400 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. and no action was taken. |
KFTC SupportsMarriage Licenses | Summary Senate Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 5 would replace the two separate marriage license forms currently in SB 5 – one for same-sex couples and one for opposite sex couples – with one form allowing parties to check "bride", "groom," or "spouse" on the form. KFTC supports the amendment but not the bill. | Status On February 18, the Senate defeated SFA1 by a 15-23 vote and then approved SB 5, 30-8. SB 5 now goes to the House. See how senators voted HERE. NOTE: On March 23, the House Judiciary Committee amended Senate Bill 216, having to do with interstate family support orders, to create one marriage license form. The amended SB 216 was approved by the full House, 97-0, on March 25. The Senate concurred with House changes, 36-0, on April 1. SB 216 was signed into law by the governor on April 13. |
KFTC SupportsTimber Theft | Summary House Concurrent Resolution 29 directs the Legislative Research Commission to establish a Timber Theft and Trespass Reduction Task Force to study issues regarding timber theft and trespass and to develop consensus recommendations to address those issues by November 30, 2016. | Status HCR 29 was approved by the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee on February 4. It was approved by the full House, 95-0, on February 10. In the Senate it has been assigned to the Natural Resources & Energy Committee. |
KFTC SupportsCommunity Farm Alliance | Summary House Resolution 116 calls for the House to adjourn in recognition and celebration of the Community Farm Alliance on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. | Status After lingering on the House floor for two months, the resolution was adopted by voice vote on April 1. |
KFTC OpposesLocal Option Sales TaxHouse Bill 2 | Summary House Bill 2 would amend the state constitution (if approved by voters) to give Kentucky cities the authority to enact local sales tax increases of up to 1% for specific capital projects, if approved by local vote. Read HERE why the LOST is a bad idea and there are ways to raise local revenue that are more fair. | Status HB 2 was approved by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on March 7, and by the full House on March 11, 60-31. It is now in the Senate Appropriation & Revenue Committee. See how House members voted HERE. |
KFTC OpposesMine SafetySenate Bill 224 | Summary Senate Bill 224 would void the state requirement that foremen receive six hours of foreman-specific safety training annually (in addition to the 16 hours of annual retraining required of all coal miners by state law). Instead foremen may get company training based on a weaker federal program (which does not include specific training for foremen). See a handout from the AFL-CIO on SB 224. | Status SB 224 was approved by the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on March 9, and by the full Senate, 26-10, on March 17. At a specially-called, spur-of-the moment meeting late in the day on March 23, the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee approved SB 224. House leaders had previously given the bill its first reading on the House floor, a maneuver usually used for fast-tracking a bill. In the end, opposition to SB 224 stopped it from getting a vote on the House floor. See how senators voted HERE. |
KFTC OpposesMine SafetySenate Bill 297 | Summary Senate Bill 297 would allow the state of Kentucky to stop inspecting coal mines for safety violations and abolish the Division of Mine Safety’s ability to ensure that Kentucky miners work safely and in a safe place. | Status SB 297 with a committee substitute was approved by the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on March 9, and by the full Senate, 25-11, on March 17. It is now before the House Labor & Industry Committee. See how senators voted HERE. |
KFTC OpposesRight to WorkSenate Bill 3 | Summary Senate Bill 3 would prohibit mandatory membership in or financial support of a labor union as a condition of employment. | Status SB 3 is assigned to the Senate Economic Development, Tourism & Labor Committee. |
KFTC OpposesPrevailing WageSenate Bill 9 | Summary Senate Bill 9 would lower wages for workers at school construction projects. | Status SB 9 passed the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee on January 7, and the full Senate 26-11 on January 14. On February 4, it was defeated in the House Labor & Industry Committee by a 6-15 vote. See how senators voted HERE. Republicans are trying to include a prevailing wage restriction in the state budget. According to the AFL-CIO, "in the governor’s budget proposal and in the Republican-controlled state Senate budget proposal is a prohibition against the use of the Kentucky prevailing wage law in any state expenditures." This is not included in the House budget. |
KFTC OpposesPrevailing WageSenate Bill 94 | Summary Senate Bill 94 would give local governments the option of not paying workers the prevailing wage for public works projects. | Status SB 94 is assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. |
KFTC OpposesFreedom to DiscriminateSenate Bill 180 | Summary Senate Bill 180 would define "protected activities" under the cause of religious freedom and could be used to render ineffective non-discrimination fairness ordinances passed by eight Kentucky cities. | Status SB 180 was approved by the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee on February 25 and the full Senate on March 15, 22-16. It is now in the House and has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee. See how senators voted HERE. |
KFTC OpposesUnmined Coal TaxHouse Bill 23 | Summary House Bill 23 would exempt unmined coal reserves from state and local property tax if the owner does not hold a valid permit to mine. | Status HB 23 is assigned to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. |
KFTC OpposesUnmined Coal TaxHouse Bill 195 | Summary House Bill 195 would reduce tax revenue for schools and county governments in counties where coal is mined by eliminating the unmined minerals tax for coal reserves that haven't been mined in the last 10 years. | Status HB 195 is assigned to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee. |
KFTC OpposesNuclear Power PlantsHouse Bill 103 | Summary House Bill 103 would circumvent Kentucky's existing ban on the construction of nuclear power plants by allowing plants to be constructed within 50 miles of sites previously used for the manufacture of nuclear products. | Status HB 103 is assigned to the House Tourism Development & Energy Committee. |
KFTC OpposesNuclear PowerSenate Bill 89 | Summary Senate Bill 89 would remove the de facto ban on nuclear power facilities by requiring only a plan for storage of nuclear waste rather than a permanent means of disposal. | Status SB 89 was approved by the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on February 24, and the full Senate, 28-6-1, on March 1. It is now in the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee. See how senators voted HERE. |
KFTC OpposesPolluters sanctuaryHouse Bill 104 | Summary House Bill 104 would prohibit the Energy and Environment Cabinet from promulgating administrative regulations or imposing permit conditions to reduce carbon dioxide under federal rules or federal plan, and declare Kentucky a sanctuary state from for all polluters who want to ignore the regulatory authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement carbon dioxide limits under the Clean Power Plan. | Status HB 104 is assigned to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee. |
KFTC OpposesDrug TestingHouse Bill 62 | Summary House Bill 62 would require a substance abuse screening for certain applicants and recipients of public assistance. | Status HB 62 is assigned to the House Health & Welfare Committee. |
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