2019 Bill Tracker | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

2019 Bill Tracker

KFTC Supports

Black Lung Benefits

House Bill 75
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Angie Hatton, Robert Goforth & Travis Brenda
Additional Information

HB 75 and HB 350 were assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House leaders did not allow either to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

Read: Black lung is surging, but bill to undo limits on doctors stalls without a hearing

KFTC Supports

Clean Energy Opportunity Act

House Bill 213
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Mary Lou Marzian + 3 cosponsors
Additional Information

KFTC's platform supports the development of a clean energy economy in Kentucky. HB 213 would be an important step toward implementing the Empower Kentucky Plan.

HB 213 was assigned the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee but House leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Statewide Fairness

House Bill 164
Senate Bill 166
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Mary Lou Marzian + 18 others; Sen. McGarvey + others
Additional Information

KFTC’s platform opposes and condemns discrimination.

HB 164 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

SB 166 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Death Penalty Abolition

House Bill 115
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Chad McCoy + 15 others
Additional Information

KFTC's platform supports the abolition of the death penalty.

HB 115, with 30 cosponsors from both parties, was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Public Utilities

House Bill 16
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Chris Harris, Angie Hatton & others
Additional Information

When dealing with utilities, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is required to determine that the utility's rates are "fair and reasonable," and the PSC does that by looking at all of the utility's expenses and then setting a rate that guarantees utilities a 12% profit.

There is no provision in the law for the PSC to take into account whether customers in the service territory can afford that rate. This law would add setting "rates that include affordability and balancing of interests of various parties affected by the rate" to their mandate. This bill sets a method for determining what the fixed rate should be.

HB 16 was assigned to the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Minimum wage

House Bill 182
Senate Bill 51
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Reginald Thomas & Gerald Neal; Rep. Mary Lou Marzian
Additional Information

SB 51 was assigned to the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. HB 182 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC's platform calls for a living wage for all Kentuckians.

KFTC Supports

Ban the Box

House Bill 90
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. George Brown
Additional Information

KFTC’s platform opposes discrimination based on current or former incarceration status.

HB 90 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Ban Conversion Therapy

House Bill 211
Senate Bill 248
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Lisa Willner + 17 other Democrats
Additional Information

HB 211 was assigned to the House Health & Family Services Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. SB 248 was assigned to the Senate Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Youth Voting in Local Elections

Senate Bill 48
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Reggie Thomas
Additional Information

SB 48 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Extended Voting Hours & Days

Senate Bill 63
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Reginald Thomas & Gerald Neal
Additional Information

SB 63 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Extended Voting Hours

Senate Bill 134
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Adams, McGarvey, Alvarado, Thayer
Additional Information

SB 134 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Election Day holiday

Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Charles Booker
Additional Information

HR 85 was assigned to the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Youth Homelessness Prevention

House Bill 466
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Charles Booker
Additional Information

HB 466 was assigned to the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Officer Shooting Review

House Bill 18
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Attica Scott & Kelly Flood
Additional Information

HB 18 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Jail Fatality Review

House Bill 264
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Attica Scott & Susan Westrom
Additional Information

HB 264 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Repeal Charter Schools

House Bill 17
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Attica Scott + 22 other Democrats
Additional Information

KFTC's platform calls for a system of high-quality public education, including pre-school through higher education, that is accessible and affordable for all Kentuckians. Charter schools take resources from public education and do not serve all students.

Both bills were assigned to the House Education Committee. House leaders did not allow the bills to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Landfill monitoring

House Bill 222
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Maddox, Pratt and Hart
Additional Information

HB 222 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

Solar amendment

Senate Bill 100
Additional Information

On February 21, the Senate refused to concur with the House amendment. On March 14, the House voted 50-38 to recede from its amendment, and then passed the original Senate version of the bill, 55-36. On March 26 Gov. Bevin signed SB 100 into law.

KFTC Supports

Criminalize Animal Torture

House Bill 25
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. W. Thomas
Additional Information

HB 25 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

"Klaire's Law"

House Bill 98
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Diane St. Onge
Additional Information

HB 98 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee but did not receive a hearing or a vote. However, the provisions of HB 98 were added as an amendment to SB 67 (see next entry) and became law as part of that bill.

KFTC Supports

Criminalize Sexual Violence Against Animals

Senate Bill 67
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. J. Adams & D. Thayer
Additional Information

Kentucky is one of five states where sexual assault of an animal is not illegal.

SB 67 was passed by the Senate, 35-0, on February 20. The House added an amendment to prohibit cruelty to equines including situations involving abuse and neglect (Klaire's Law, see above) and passed the bill, 97-0, on March 13. The next day the Senate concurred with the House changes. SB 67 was signed into law by the governor on March 26.

KFTC Supports

Hot Car Bill

House Bill 36
Senate Bill 12
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Bratcher, Sen. Carroll + 3 others
Additional Information

SB 12 was approved by the full Senate, 33-1, on February 20. In the House it was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. HB 36 also was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow either bill to receive a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

End Diaper Tax

House Bill 24
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Attica Scott + 20 others
Additional Information

HB 24 was assigned to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to receive a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Supports

End Tampon Tax

House Bill 23
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Attica Scott + 21 others
Additional Information

HB 23 was assigned to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to receive a hearing or a vote.

KFTC Opposes

Anti-rooftop solar

Senate Bill 100
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Brandon Smith
Additional Information

On February 13 morning, SB 100 quickly passed the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee (see how committee members voted), was placed at the last minute onto the Senate agenda that afternoon (after a spur-of-the moment Rules Committee meeting), and passed 23-12 on the Senate floor (see how senators voted). Senate Republican leaders had the bill on the fast track to passage even before it was assigned to a committee earlier in the week. This maneuvering prevented a favorable amendment from Sen. Reggie Thomas from even being considered on the Senate floor.

That same afternoon, the bill was received in the House, and House Republicans waived the 3-day posting rule so it could be heard in the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee the next morning. It was and passed 10-4 (see how committee members voted). Six amendments were offered on the House floor; two were considered and one was adopted. SB 100 then passed the full House, 71-24, on February 15 (see how House members voted).

On February 21 the Senate refused to concur with the House amendment. On March 14, House Speaker David Osborne broke a promise to not allow the bill to go forward without the House amendment; the House voted to recede from its amendment and send the original, deeply flawed bill to the governor. SB 100 was signed into law by the governor on March 26.

KFTC Opposes

War on the Poor

House Bill 3
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Osborse, Meade
Additional Information

HB 3 was assigned to the House Health and Family Services Committee. Strong public opposition kept the bill was getting a committee hearing, although one was twice scheduled.

KFTC Opposes

Public education funding

House Bill 205
Senate Bill 118
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. John Carney + others; Sens. Alvarado & Thayer
Additional Information

HB 118 was assigned to the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee. SB 118 was assigned to the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

There was a hearing on HB 205 in the House committee on March 5. No vote was taken, and the bill was not brought up again because it did not have enough votes to pass..

Also read: Why Catholics should oppose Kentucky private school tax bill

KFTC Opposes

School Principal Selection

Senate Bill 250
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Julie Raque Adams
Additional Information

KFTC's platform calls for support of high-quality public education.

SB 250 was approved by the Senate Education Committee and then the full Senate, 31-6, on February 28 (see how senators voted). In the House it was approved by the Local Government Committee on March 6 and by the full House, 54-42, on March 12 (see how House members voted). SB 25o was signed into law by the governor on March 25.

KFTC Opposes

Weaken Open Records Law

House Bill 387
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Jason Petrie
Additional Information

KFTC's platform calls for easy access and an end to the overly bureaucratic procedures necessary to obtain open records in Kentucky.

HB 387 was approved by the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee, 11-5-3, on February 27 (see how committee members voted). The bill was posted for passage on the House floor but was never called for a vote.

KFTC Opposes

Call for a Federal Constitutional Convention

Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Hornback, Mills, McDaniel
Additional Information

KFTC's platform supports a healthy democracy. A Constitutional Convention would be a huge threat to our democracy. A Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution is unprecedented.

SJR 102 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. HJR 87 was assigned to the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. Neither bill was called for a vote.

SJR 102 / HJR 87 handout

To learn more about this issue, you can like and follow the Kentucky Constitutional Convention Watch page on facebook.

KFTC Opposes

Cutting Unemployment Benefits

House Bill 317
Senate Bill 171
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Webber & Huff; Sen. Robby Mills
Additional Information

HB 317 was approved by the House Small Business & Information Technology Committee on February 21 by an 10-7 vote (see how committee members voted). On March 12, the House Rules Committee reassigned HB 317 to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee, and the bill did not come up again.

SB 171 was assigned to the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee and did not receive a hearing or vote.

KFTC Opposes

Tax giveaways

House Bill 354
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Steve Rudy, Lynn Bechler
Additional Information

HB 354 passed the House, 96-4, on February 21. HB 354 was amended and passed by the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee and by the full Senate, 33-0, both on March 4 (see how House and Senate members voted).

On March 5, the House reject the Senate amendment and the Senate refused to recede. A conference committee was appointed to negotiate differences in the two bills. On March 6, the conference committee reported that it could not reach an agreement. A free conference committee was appointed and added several more special interest tax breaks – including more than $50 million for banks – to the bill, totaling $105 million in lost revenue.

On March 13, both the Senate (34-3) and the House (87-8) approved the free conference committee report. On March 26 Gov. Bevin signed HB 354 into law.

See what else Republicans hid in the bill.

KFTC Opposes

Anti-sanctuary cities

House Bill 38
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Lynn Bechler + 4 others
Additional Information

KFTC's platform supports the right of residents who are undocumented to be treated with the respect and dignity that all human beings are entitled to. We also support open pathways to citizenship for people who are undocumented.

HB 38 was assigned to the House State Government Committee. It did not receive a vote in committee.

KFTC Opposes

Anti-abortion

Senate Bill 9
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Matt Castlen + other Republicans
Additional Information

KFTC’s platform calls for quality, affordable, comprehensive health care including … reproductive health services and access to abortion … for all Kentuckians.

SB 9 passed the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee and the full Senate, 31-6, on February 14. See how senators voted. The House Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee approved SB 9 on February 27 and sent it to the full House (see how committee members voted). On March 14, SB 9 was approved by the House, 70-19. On March 15 it was signed into law by Gov. Bevin.

KFTC Opposes

Anti-abortion

Senate Bill 50
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Robby Mills + other Republicans
Additional Information

SB 50 was approved by the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection Committee on January 10 (see how committee members voted). The full Senate passed SB 50 the following morning, 30-6 (see how senators voted).

The House Health and Family Services Committee amended and passed SB 50, 12-7, on February 21 (see how committee members voted). The full House approved, 75-19, on March 13 (see how House members voted). The Senate later voted, 31-4, to concur with the House changes. On March 26 Gov. Bevin signed SB 50 into law.

KFTC Opposes

Utility Rate Increases

Senate Bill 255
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Brandon Smith
Additional Information

SB 255 is assigned to the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee.

KFTC Opposes

Higher Education Retirement

House Bill 358
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. James Tipton + others
Additional Information

HB 358, as amended, passed the House, 76-21, on February 27 (see how House members voted).

A last-minute committee substitute, first made public on March 12 in the Senate State & Local Government Committee, significantly changed HB 358. It now freezes the pensions of all current employees at all quasi-governmental agencies such as rape crisis centers and health departments, resulting in a huge loss of benefits to their retirement income and likely a violation of the benefits promised at the beginning of their employment. Read more here: Pension Bill Breaks Inviolable Contract, Shifts Contributions from Underfunded Plan.

The Senate passed HB 358 as amended, 25-12, on March 13 (see how senators voted). On March 14 the House voted not to concur with the Senate changes. On March 28, the Senate voted not to withdraw its changes, a conference committee was appointed and reported back that it could not agree, a free conference a committee was appointed and delivered a new version of the bill which the Senate adopted 26-11 and the House adopted 58-39 (see how legislators voted).

The new version of the bill sets a course for the eventual disintegration of defined-benefit pensions for employees of universities and quasi-government agencies, like health departments. See: Breaking Inviolable Contract for Quasi-Governmental Employees Would Result in Massive Loss of Benefits.

On April 9, Gov. Bevin vetoed HB 358. He promised another special legislative session to deal with pension matters.

KFTC Opposes

Unlicensed gun ownership

Senate Bill 150
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Smith, Thayer + 9 Republicans
Additional Information

SB 150 was introduced on February 11 and put on the fast track, passing both the Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committe and the full Senate, 29-8, just three days later. It is now in the House Judiciary Committee.

On February 27, SB 150 passed the House Judiciary Committee, 12-8 with 3 abstentions, after pleas from police and mothers of children killed by guns not to do so (see how committee members voted). After a long debate and the rejection of several amendments that would have made Kentuckians safer, on March 1 the House approved SB 150, 59-37. The bill was signed into law by Governor Bevin on March 11.

KFTC Opposes

Judge Shopping

Senate Bill 2
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, Stephen West
Additional Information

SB 2, as amended, passed the full Senate, 26-9, on February 28. It was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee but did not get out of committee.

KFTC Opposes

Privatization of water

Senate Bill 163
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Jared Carpenter, Paul Hornback
Additional Information

SB 163 was approved by thre Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on February 20 (see how committee members voted). The bill has lingered in the Senate floor until the end of the session and was not brought up for a vote.

KFTC Opposes

Renters' rights

House Bill 437
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Melinda Prunty
Additional Information

HB 437 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a hearing or vote.

Bills to Watch
On Our Radar

Studying Public Water Systems

Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Tipton, Harris + 3 others
Additional Information

From the Kentucky Resources Council (KRC): This resolution seeks to prevent drinking system's decline and failure. KRC would have a seat on the task force.

This editoral from the Lexington Herald Leader highlight issues with drinking water systems in Martin County an in numerous other communities across the state.

"Stirring the Waters" is a series of investigative reports that highlights barriers that communities across Appalachia face in accessing clean water.

On Our Radar

Special Tax Zones

House Bill 203
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Angie Hatton, John Blanton + 4 others
Additional Information

HB 203 passed the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee and was reassigned to the Appropriations Committee, where it died.

News coverage from the Lexington Herald Leader

On Our Radar

Counting Inmate Populations

House Bill 6
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. R. Meeks & K. Flood
Additional Information

Ensuring that folks who are presently incarcerated are accurately counted at their last known addresses is an important piece of ensuring that Kentucky has an accurate 2020 Census count. Accurate Census counts are also important for informing legislative redistricting.

On Our Radar

Earned Income Tax Credit

Senate Bill 241
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. McGarvey
On Our Radar

Forcible Entry

House Bill 297
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. J. Petrie
Additional Information

The Forcible Entry and Detainer process is an expedited process to get possession of real estate. This bill adds getting money from renters to that process.

Presently, there are processes for monetary judgements between landlords and tenants. Those processes include the ability for renters to respond and file counter claims. This bill would remove these normal processes.

On Our Radar

Foster Care & Adoption Discrimination

House Bill 160
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. J. Petrie + 5 others
On Our Radar

Accessible Renewable Energy

House Bill 146
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. R. Meeks
Additional Information

The implications of this bill are that it would greatly expand public access to renewable energy. Individuals, schools, churches, and other institutions could all access solar energy and lowered bills without paying the high upfront cost of a solar installation, by leasing energy from the third-party owner.

On Our Radar

Repeal Youth Incarceration Bill

House Bill 50
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Attica Scott
Additional Information

The 2018 Youth Incarceration bill layered on the punishment against young people who are alleged to have ever had a gang association. It promoted racial profiling and focuses on punishment rather than prevention.

On Our Radar

Medical Marijuana

House Bill 136
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Diane St. Onge + 6 others
Additional Information

The KFTC platform supports the legalization of production, sale and consumption of cannabis and cannabis-based products for medical and recreational use, and amnesty of anyone currently experiencing legal ramifications of cannabis related charges. We support policies that restrict the monopolization of cannabis by corporate entities.

On Our Radar

School Security

House Bill 1
Senate Bill 1
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Carney & Sen. Wise + 45 others
Additional Information

SB 1 passed the Senate, 38-0, on February 8. With some changes, it was passed by the House, 96-3, on February 27. The Senate accepted the House changes the next day. SB 1 was signed into law by Governor Bevin on March 11.

On Our Radar

Hate Crimes and Sentencing

House Bill 145
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. R. Meeks
On Our Radar

Hate Crimes

House Bill 129
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Reggie Meeks
On Our Radar

Voting Rights

House Bill 91
Senate Bill 90
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Brown & Booker, Sens. Neal & McGarvey
Additional Information

KFTC is working to restore voting rights to folks who have been convicted of a felony in their past through advancing a clean restoration bill without exclusions.

To learn more about the movement to restore voting rights in Kentucky as well as KFTC's work on this issue, and to connect with Kentuckians taking action for the restoration of voting rights, contact Dave Newton at: [email protected]

On Our Radar

School Councils

Senate Bill 3
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. John Schickel + other Republicans
Additional Information

School councils in Kentucky are composed of parents, teachers and administrators. They are responsible for establishing school policies that create positive learning environments for students. School councils ensure that the voices of students, parents and teachers are heard in schools' decision-making processes.

SB 3 would dilute the voices of students, parents and teachers in decision making and shift more control to district administrators.

SB 3 was fast tracked and passed the Senate, 23-13, on January 11. It is now before the House Education Committee.

On Our Radar

Limit Death Penalty

Senate Bill 17
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Julie Raque Adams + 3 others
Additional Information

KFTC's platform supports the abolition of the death penalty.

SB 17 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 7. However, Senate Republican leaders refused to allow the bill a vote before the full Senate.

On Our Radar

Recreational Marijuana

Senate Bill 80
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Dan Seum
On Our Radar

Taxing Pension Income

House Bill 15
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. John Blanton + 3 others
On Our Radar

Paid Maternity Leave

House Bill 48
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. McKenzie Cantrell & Joni Jenkins
On Our Radar

Paid Sick Leave

House Bill 47
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. McKenzie Cantrell & Joni Jenkins
On Our Radar

Surprise Medical Billing

House Bill 138
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. John Sims & Cherlynn Stevenson
On Our Radar

Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act

Senate Bill 18
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Alice Kerr + 3 others
Additional Information

SB 18 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 14. It was approved by the full Senate on February 22, 25-7.

The bill was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on March 12, 20-1, and the full House on the last day, 87-5. It was signed into law by Gov. Bevin on April 9,

On Our Radar

Payday Loans

Senate Bill 43
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Dennis Parrett