2022 Bill Tracker | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

2022 Bill Tracker

KFTC's Priority Legislation
KFTC Supports

Teaching African-American and Native American history

House Bill 88
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Scott
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee

One-page handout here

KFTC Supports

Teaching history of racism

House Bill 67
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Scott
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

One-page handout here on Rep. Scott's pro-education bills, HB 88 and HB 67

KFTC Supports

Black Lung Benefits

House Bill 166
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Ashley Lafferty Tackett
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Abolish the Death Penalty

Senate Bill 47
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Steven Meredith
Additional Information

This bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty released a report that shows the racial bias in the application of Kentucky's death penalty, covered here in the Herald-Leader. From ACLU's Twitter: "Death sentences are arbitrary and fueled by racism. Since 1975 in Kentucky, Black men were 20x more likely to receive a death sentence when the victim was a white female. It's time to end this barbaric practice once and for all." For more information, track the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

KFTC Supports

Extended Voting Hours

House Bill 68
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Buddy Wheatley
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

Take action! Sign up for the Virtual Lobby Day for a Healthy Democracy here, Tuesday, Jan 25.

On Tuesday, January 25, we'll gather online to push for the democracy Kentucky deserves, with convenient, fair, and accessible voting. We'll lobby for voting rights for people with felonies in their past, fair redistricting, longer polling hours, voting by mail, and more. The day will start with a training at 9am ET on Zoom. We’ll break into groups to talk virtually with our legislators about this issue, leave messages on the legislative message line (and encourage our friends to do the same), have a virtual rally, spokesperson training, workshops on social media and letters to the editor, and other events throughout the day.

KFTC Supports

Ban Conversion Therapy

House Bill 12
Senate Bill 137
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Wilner, Sen. Kerr + 20 Reps and 7 Senators
Additional Information

SB 137 has been assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare committee.

HB 12 has not been assigned to a committee.

KFTC Supports

Fairness Act

Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Minter, Willner and several others
Additional Information

HB 11 and HB 15 have not been filed in committee.

SB 171 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee.

KFTC Supports

Comprehensive Tax Reform

House Bill 201
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Willner, Scott, Brown, Kulkarni, Raymond
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

This year, we have a real opportunity in Kentucky. We have the dollars we need to make the investments that we deserve in housing, schools, public health, and advancing racial equity across the board. We call on the legislature to use all of these dollars this year, and we support comprehensive tax reform to ensure that we can continue to thrive.

KFTC Supports

Ban the Box

House Bill 293
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Brown and 10 other Democratic Reps.
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to a committee.

KFTC Supports

The CROWN Act

House Bill 31
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Scott, Flood, Raymond, and Wheatley
Additional Information

This bill has not yet been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Make Juneteenth a state holiday

House Bill 133
Senate Bill 22
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Neal and Reps Brown, Flood and Gentry
Additional Information

SB 22 bill has been assigned to the Senate State and Local Government committee.

HB 133 has passed out of the House and is awaiting committee assignment in the Senate.

KFTC Supports

Expanding Hate Crime laws

House Bill 236
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Kulkarni, Scott, and Flood
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Assessing health impacts of legislation

Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Neal
Additional Information

This bill has been introduced to the Senate Health and Welfare committee

KFTC Supports

Racial discrepancy in perinatal care

House Bill 37
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Scott, Flood, and Raymond
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Felony Expungement

House Bill 218
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Huff, Nemes, Fleming, Massey, and Miller
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Student Mental Health

House Bill 44
Bill Sponsor(s):
Bipartisan group of 17 Representatives
Additional Information

This bill passed out of the House with a bote of 94-0 and has been sent to the Senate Education committee.

KFTC Supports

Authority to raise the minimum wage

House Bill 424
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Raymond
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Expanded access to voting and same day registration

House Bill 407
Senate Bill 159
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Wheatley and Sen Thomas
Additional Information

HB 407 has not been assigned to committee.

SB 159 has been assigned to the Senate State & Local Government committee.

KFTC Supports

Limiting Utility Shutoffs

House Bill 478
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Willner
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Right to a Healthy Environment

House Bill 471
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Raymond, Cantrell, and Scott
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Education funding for people with felonies in their past

Senate Bill 163
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Storm
Additional Information

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Education committee.

KFTC Supports

Expanding Medicaid eligibility for pregnant people

House Bill 535
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Kulkani
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Supports

Waiving expungement fees

Senate Bill 182
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Yates
Additional Information

This bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee.

KFTC Supports

Restoration of Voting Rights

Senate Bill 223
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Neal, McGarvey, Harper Angel, Higdon, Hornback, and Thomas
Additional Information

This bill is in the Senate State and Local Government committee.

KFTC Supports

Right to record police officers

Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Willner and Herron
Additional Information

Neither of these bills have been assigned to committtee.

KFTC Supports

Harm Reduction

House Bill 776
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Herron
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Kentucky House Redistricting Plan

House Bill 2
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Jerry Miller
Additional Information

The House and Senate have overriden Governor Beshear's veto and the bill is law. It faces a legal challenge.

Take Action: CALL 1-800-372-7181 before 2:00 p.m. TODAY! LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR ALL LEGISLATORS: DO NOT OVERRIDE VETOES on HB 2 and SB 3 (House and Congressional maps)

KFTC Opposes

Kentucky Senate Redistricting Plan

Senate Bill 2
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Mills and Sen. Stivers
Additional Information

The House and Senate have overriden Governor Beshear's veto and the bill is law. It is likely to face a legal challenge.

KFTC Opposes

Congressional Redistricting Plan

Senate Bill 3
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Mills and Sen. Stivers
Additional Information

The House and Senate have overriden Governor Beshear's veto and the bill is law. It is likely to face a legal challenge.

KFTC Opposes

Punishing teachers for discussing race

House Bill 18
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Lockett and 19 other GOP Reps
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

One-pager about this bill.

One-page handout here about Rep. Scott's pro-education bills, HB 67 and HB 88.

Statement from the Kentucky Student Voice Team

KFTC Opposes

Punishing schools for letting teachers discuss race

House Bill 14
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Fischer and 10 other GOP Reps
KFTC Opposes

Amending the Federal Constitution

Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Lockett, Petrie, Miller, Tate, Thomas
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Mandating cops in all schools

Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Bratcher, Fleming, Miller, Nemes, Sheldon
Additional Information

HB 63 passed out of the House with a vote of 78-17. It is now before the Senate Education committee.

KFTC Opposes

Policing Immigrants

House Bill 231
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Bechler and Reed
Additional Information

Has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Legal challenges to redistricting

Senate Bill 20
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Stivers
Additional Information

This bill has passed both houses of the legislature and has signed by the Governor.

KFTC Opposes

Go to jail for not being nice

Senate Bill 44
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Danny Carroll, Michael Nemes
Additional Information

SB 44 is in the Senate Judiciary committee.

Please enjoy this handout from the Kentucky Conservation Committee.

KFTC Opposes

Trans Youth Healthcare Ban

House Bill 253
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Maddox, Baker, Prunty, and Sharp
Additional Information

HB 253 has not yet been assigned to committee.

SB 84 has been assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare committee.

KFTC Opposes

Anti-Trans Youth in Sports

Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Dotson and 21 other GOP Reps for HB 23; Rep Bechler for HB 247; Sen Mills and 5 other GOP Senators for SB 83
Additional Information

UPDATE: CALL THE LEGISLATIVE MESSAGE LINE AT 1-800-372-7181 (En Español 1-866-840-6574) and leave a message for HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE: OPPOSE HB 23.

UPDATE: CALL THE LEGISLATIVE MESSAGE LINE AT 1-800-372-7181 (En Español 1-866-840-6574) and leave a message for your SENATOR AND SENATE LEADERSHIP: OPPOSE SB 83.

The House Education Committee is scheduled to HEAR HB 23 on Tuesday, Feb 15. CALL THE LEGISLATIVE MESSAGE LINE AT 1-800-372-7181 (En Español 1-866-840-6574) and leave a message for THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE: OPPOSE HB 23.

The Senate Education Committee PASSED SB 83 on Thursday, Feb 10. CALL THE LEGISLATIVE MESSAGE LINE AT 1-800-372-7181 (En Español 1-866-840-6574) and leave a message for your SENATOR AND SENATE LEADERSHIP: OPPOSE SB 83.

1-27 Update: SB 83 was removed from today's Senate Education Committee calendar! Thanks for your calls and communications! Keep them coming!

SB 83 IS UP IN SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE on THURSDAY JAN 27. CALL NOW. 1-800-372-7181, En Español 1-866-840-657. Message: OPPOSE SB 83.

HB 23 and HB 247 have not yet been assigned to committee.

SB 83 has been assigned to the Senate Education committee.

KFTC Opposes

Making it harder to challenge redistricting

House Bill 303
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Fischer
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to a committee.

KFTC Opposes

Giving public tax money to private schools

House Bill 305
Senate Bill 50
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen Alvorado for SB 50; Reps Calloway, Rabourne, Fister, Lockett, and Thomas for HB 305
Additional Information

HB 305 has not yet been assigned to committee.

SB 50 has been assigned to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue committee.

KFTC Opposes

House Budget Proposal

House Bill 1
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of the House 85-8 and is now before the Senate Approrpiations and Revenue committee

KFTC Opposes

Authority over statues, memorials, and plaques at the Capitol

House Bill 134
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Hart, McCool, Reed
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Banning Bail Funds

House Bill 313
Senate Bill 313
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Blanton, Nemes, Huff
Additional Information

SB 313 (an even more punitive attack on charitable bail funds than HB 313) is up for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

The attacks on charitable bail funds in SB 313 and HB 313 miss the point. Kentucky's system of wealth-based detention is wrong. No Kentuckian should be behind bars because of their poverty.

KEJC and The Bail Project have an Advocacy Letter that you can edit and send to legislators. They'll use this information to identify which elected officials represent you in Frankfort and to keep you informed of future developments and opportunities to work together to end wealth-based detention in Kentucky.

An amended version of HB 313 passed out of the House and is now awaiting committee assignment in the Senate. SB 313 (an even more punitive attack on charitable bail funds than HB 313) is up for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

KFTC Opposes

Making it easier to raise utility rates

House Bill 341
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Gooch
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Allow schools to establish police departments

Senate Bill 120
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Carroll
Additional Information

This bill has been introduced to the Senate Education committee.

KFTC Opposes

Making it harder to vote

Senate Bill 122
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. Southworth
Additional Information

This bill has been introduced to the Senate Banking and Insurance committee.

KFTC Opposes

Taking over Clean Water Act permitting

Senate Bill 118
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Smith, Wheeler, Carpenter, and Girdler
Additional Information

This bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee.

KFTC Opposes

Limits discussion of teaching race in schools

Senate Bill 138
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Wise, Mills, and Thayer
Additional Information

An amended version of this bill passed out of the Senate and is awaiting committee assignment in the House.

KFTC's one-pager here

FIND MORE COVERAGE HERE, ON FORWARD KENTUCKY

KFTC Opposes

Juvenile Criminalization Bill

House Bill 318
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Bratcher and Massey
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Reducing unemployment benefits

House Bill 4
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps R. Webber, Pratt, Hart, King, Lawrence, McPherson, Osborne, Tipton
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of both the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor

KFTC Opposes

Anti-abortion bill

House Bill 3
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Tate, King and 18 other GOP Reps
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of the House and is awaiting committee assignment in the Senate.

KFTC Opposes

Advantaging coal power/disadvantaging renewables

House Bill 470
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Gooch
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Criminalizing the teaching of "critical social justice"

House Bill 487
Bill Sponsor(s):
HB 487 Rep. Lockett and 13 other Reps., HB 706 Reps Decker, Lockett, and Heath
Additional Information

Neither bill has been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Can't discriminate against bigots

House Bill 495
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Prunty, Calloway, Hale, Heath, Tate
Additional Information

This bill has not been assigned to committee.

KFTC Opposes

Prohibit mask requirements at schools

House Bill 51
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Bechler and 23 other Reps.
Additional Information

This bill passed out of the House Education committee and is now being discussed and amended on the floor of the House.

KFTC Opposes

Tax cuts for private aircraft

House Bill 477
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. Dixon, Fister, Johnson, Lawrence, Massey, Sharp
Additional Information

This bill is currently in the House Appropriaitons and Revenue committee.

KFTC Opposes

Regressive Tax Rebate

Senate Bill 194
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. McDaniel
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of the Senate and awaits committee assignment in the House.

KFTC Opposes

Divesting from companies that boycott fossil fuels

Senate Bill 205
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Mills, Girdler, Alvarado, Carpenter, Smith, Storm, and Wheeler
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of the Senate and awaits committee assignment in the House.

KFTC Opposes

Tax breaks for corporations

House Bill 379
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Pratt
Additional Information

This bill is currently in the House Appropriations and Revenue committee.

KFTC Opposes

Creating new felonies

Senate Bill 23
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens. Yates, Harper Angel, McGarvey
Additional Information

This bill has passed the Senate and awaits committee assignment in the House.

KFTC Opposes

Repealing the income tax

House Bill 8
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep Petrie and 13 other Reps.
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of the House and is now before the Senate Appropriations and Revenue committee.

KFTC Opposes

Banning abortion after 15 weeks

Senate Bill 321
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sens Wise and Mills
Additional Information

This bill is in the Senate Judiciary committee.

KFTC Opposes

Taking away public benefits

House Bill 7
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps Meade and Osborne
Additional Information

This bill is in the House Health & Family Services committee.

KFTC Opposes

Restricting the power of the governor

Senate Bill 4
Bill Sponsor(s):
Sen. West
Additional Information

This bill has passed out of the Houst State and Local Government committee and awaits a vote on the floor of the House.

KFTC Opposes

Charter Schools

House Bill 9
Bill Sponsor(s):
Reps. McCoy, Koenig, Moser, and Santoro
Additional Information

This bill is in the House Appropriations and Revenue committee.