Written by Kentucky Lantern’s Liam Niemeyer A bill backed by Kentucky’s coal industry that would make it harder for utilities to retire fossil fuel-fired power plants received final passage Thursday in the Kentucky House of Representatives, sending the legislation for Gov. Andy Beshear’s consideration. Senate Bill 5, primarily sponsored by Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, would […]
Category: Frankfort
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NKY senator on cannabis bill passage: ‘It’s the right thing’
The Kentucky Senate passed a bare-bones medical marijuana bill Thursday night — a momentous occasion, considering a similar bill died in the upper chambers of the Kentucky legislature the past two sessions. Northern Kentucky’s Shelley Funke Frommeyer (R-Alexandria), one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said that voting in favor of Senate Bill 247 is the “right […]
Posted inFrankfort
NKY legislator on ‘anti-trans’ bill: ‘I’m sorry for the actions of this body’
The Kentucky legislature passed a bill that will place a sweeping ban on gender-affirming care for kids in Kentucky after the legislature snuck in language to another bill and then quickly passed it in an unannounced meeting before moving it through both chambers. The legislation — which has switched to multiple bill numbers and took […]
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Lofton’s Law, criminalizing hazing, clears both chambers of Kentucky legislature
Written by Mariah Kendell for the Kentucky Lantern The Kentucky House on Wednesday voted to make hazing that causes a death or serious injury a felony. Lofton’s Law – named after 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, a University of Kentucky freshman who died from alcohol poisoning at his fraternity house – was approved in the House […]
Posted inFrankfort
NKY senator is center stage in push to pass ‘anti-trans’ bill in Senate
A NKY senator is at the center of the strategy to push House Bill 470 — an evolving bill that at its core seeks to ban gender-affirming care for children in Kentucky — through the Kentucky Senate. Standing on the Senate steps late Wednesday night, Sen. Gex Williams (R-Verona) strategized with David Walls, the executive […]
Posted inFrankfort
Sports betting takes major step in Senate
The new sports betting bill cleared the Senate Licensing and Occupations committee Wednesday — marking a significant moment for legislation that died in the Senate last session. When presenting the bill to the Senate L&O committee, the bill’s sponsor Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Oakland), said in 2022 that a poll showed 65% of Kentuckians support sports […]
Posted inFrankfort
Senate passes bill to ban gray-machines, heads to governor
A bill to ban slot-style gray machines passed the Senate and now heads to the desk of Gov. Andy Beshear. House Bill 594 would ban “gray machines” — often referred to by supporters of the machines as “skill games” — throughout the state. Those violating the law would be fined $25,000, with the money going […]
Posted inFrankfort
‘Anti-trans’ bill adds more restrictions, passes Senate committee
This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. A bill that bans gender-affirming care for children passed the Senate Families and Children committee Tuesday, but not before lawmakers added a committee substitute that adds additional language seeking to place […]
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Kentucky House passes tax-relief bill for bourbon industry
Written by Bruce Schreiner for the Associated Press Proposed tax relief for Kentucky’s bourbon makers was fast-tracked Monday in advancing in the state House, but local leaders living near some of the world’s best-known distilleries were in no mood to toast the industry victory. The measure aims to phase out a property tax on the […]
Posted inFrankfort
Sports betting bill clears House, heads to Senate
A bill that would legalize sports wagering in Kentucky passed the House Monday evening and now heads to the Senate, where it’s expected to face a tougher fight. Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Oakland) said that sports wagering is something the legislature has been considering for around four years — Northern Kentucky Rep. Adam Koenig formerly carried […]
