Bills aimed at protecting Kentuckians from discrimination and sexual extortion have been signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear. Beshear had signed the pair of bills as of Tuesday evening, but is taking his time on some high-profile legislation having to do with health and social services. Lawmakers broke on March 14 for a 10-day […]
Author Archives: Kentucky Lantern
Posted inPolitics
Kentucky lawmakers’ education changes are now on Beshear’s desk
From banning cell phones to banning DEI, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to make changes in public education before breaking last week for a 10-day veto period. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear can now weigh in on bills from the Republican-controlled legislature. However, when lawmakers return to Frankfort on March 27, they can override any vetoes […]
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Final rush of Kentucky lawmaking is on before 10-day break for vetoes
As the 2025 regular session hurtles toward a break for the 10-day veto period, lawmakers are ironing out House-Senate differences and preparing to give bills final approval Friday to ensure Republicans have time to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes. Lawmakers from both chambers planned to meet Thursday night to resolve their differences over House Bill […]
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Kentucky legislature approves late-breaking ‘clarification’ of state abortion law
In response to what one Republican called “a desperate need for clarity” in Kentucky abortion law, the General Assembly has approved language detailing the ban’s “life of the mother” exception and specifying some situations when doctors may end complex pregnancies. Once a bill only to pave the way for freestanding birth centers in Kentucky, House Bill […]
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Trump threatens Massie with primary challenge for opposing spending bill
President Donald Trump is threatening to “lead the charge” against U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection because the Kentucky Republican is opposing a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government open this week. Blasting Massie on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump on Monday night said, “Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic ‘NO’ […]
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Relief for missed school days in doubt after picking up surprise addition in KY Senate
A bill that began as relief for Kentucky schools from weather-related closings was transformed by the Senate Thursday into relief for a controversial virtual school. After the Senate overhauled House Bill 241, its sponsor, Rep. Timmy Truett, an elementary school principal, said he would recommend that the House now kill it. The Kentucky Board of Education […]
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KY senators all agree the state needs to study how it prepares for natural disasters
Kentucky senators voted unanimously to create a task force that would review how the state could become better prepared for natural disasters. Sponsored by Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, Senate Concurrent Resolution 67 would create the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force. If passed by the General Assembly this session, the task force would study disaster mitigation and […]
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KY Senate votes to regulate intoxicating hemp beverages but drops sales ban
The Kentucky Senate advanced a bill Friday that would regulate intoxicating hemp-derived beverages but without banning their sales as first proposed. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, amended Senate Bill 202 after Republicans and Democrats alike expressed skepticism about the ban when the measure was approved by a committee earlier this week. Adams’s floor amendment removed the temporary sales […]
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‘Never alone’: Kentucky marks five years since its first reported case of COVID-19
Prisha Hedau was in fourth grade when Kentucky got its first case of COVID-19. She recalls laughing with her friends at school one moment and being whisked away by her mother the next back in March 2020. “I really regret the fact that I wasn’t even able to say a proper goodbye to so many of […]
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Kentucky advocates rally for kids, urge action on vaping, kinship care
Hundreds rallied in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday for Children’s Advocacy Day, calling on lawmakers to pass youth vaping protections and other policies to improve the quality of life for Kentucky’s kids. Terry Brooks, the executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, which organized the rally, said about 80% of KYA’s legislative priorities are on track to become law […]
