The Republican-controlled state Senate passed bills Monday aimed at shining more light on school districts’ spending and shifting the balance of power in Kentucky’s largest school district. The bills, considered top priorities by Senate Republicans, now head to the House, which also has a GOP supermajority, for further consideration. Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate […]
Author Archives: Kentucky Lantern
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Kentucky Democrat Andy Beshear’s super PAC steps up fundraising in its second year
Gov. Andy Beshear’s super PAC, In This Together, raised almost $1.4 million in the second half of 2025, according to its latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. As a super PAC, In This Together can accept contributions of unlimited amounts, and it got some big ones: $100,000 from Churchill Downs, $100,000 from Lexington Trots […]
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Ky. lawmakers renew push to establish statewide residential utility disconnection protections
Last month, on a frigid day in front of the state capitol building in Frankfort, advocates called on Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to halt residential utility disconnections through the winter via executive order. These groups, including the environmental advocacy nonprofit Kentucky Conservation Committee and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, which supports policies and action for […]
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Ky. GOP senators make public education a cornerstone of their priority bills
Kentucky Republican senators have introduced a slate of bills they say show their commitment to bettering public education in the commonwealth. Some of the proposals are getting support from Democrats and educators, but others are more contentious. Two of the priority bills passed out of the Senate Education Committee Thursday. Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate […]
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Advancing bill would remake leadership overseeing broadband network KentuckyWired
A committee-approved bill would remove the executive director for the state’s broadband network KentuckyWired, and remake the board overseeing the network that’s been entangled in litigation over contract disputes and facing scrutiny in previous months from state lawmakers. Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, the primary sponsor of House Bill 314 and a co-chair of the Information Technology Oversight […]
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Kentucky lawmakers again try to make water fluoridation optional
A bill that would make water fluoridation optional in Kentucky, which supporters praise as a way to ensure local control, passed out of the House Local Government Committee Wednesday despite opposition from several health organizations. House Bill 103 would leave the decision on whether to add fluoride to water up to the local water systems’ governing […]
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KY bill paving way for cigar bars, decried by public health advocates, on the move
A bill that would allow eligible businesses in Kentucky to operate cigar bars, which health organizations say could compromise public health, passed the House Local Government Committee Wednesday. House Bill 194 says a person can operate a cigar bar in Kentucky if they hold a valid alcoholic beverage license and patrons could smoke indoors or outdoors. […]
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Ky. House GOP budget takes aim at executive branch spending
The state executive branch would have to significantly cut spending for a number of expenses, including in-state and out-of-state travel, under a “bare bones” budget bill for the state executive branch filed this week by a key Republican committee chair. Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, the chair of the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, told […]
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Ky. Senate approves bill to clarify recent teacher, student electronic communication law
A bill that aims to revise restrictions on how Kentucky teachers communicate electronically with their students has passed out of the state Senate. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, builds on her law from last year that required public school teachers and students to electronically communicate only by traceable forms, like emails and school-approved apps, […]
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Another year, another attempt to push KY’s Juul settlement dollars to prevention, cessation
Millions of dollars flowing into Kentucky from an e-cigarette company settlement go straight to the state’s general fund, mixing with public taxes and other revenue. Republicans in both the House and Senate are trying again this year to redirect that money — and settlement dollars from any future, related litigation — into smoking and vaping prevention […]
