The Kentucky House voted Thursday to pass a bill that would allow teens who are 15 or older to apply for a driver’s permit. The bill now goes to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk. “With the final passage of HB 15, we are one step closer to lowering the permit age to 15 in Kentucky,” said […]
Category: Frankfort
Posted inPolitics
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 […]
Posted inPolitics
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 […]
Posted inFrankfort
Senate green lights DEI bill following heavy debate
After impassioned debate Wednesday afternoon, the Kentucky Senate adopted a DEI bill that seeks to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public postsecondary intuitions in Kentucky. House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Decker, a Republican from Waddy, advanced off the Senate floor with a 36-6 vote. It was presented on the chamber floor […]
Posted inNews
Covington advocates for local control over short-term rentals
Covington Mayor Ron Washington and the city have spoken out against state-level control of short-term rentals. Specifically, the city is criticizing Kentucky Senate Bill 110, which would prohibit local governments from mandating conditional use permits or density-based restrictions on short-term rental properties, which are private properties that owners rent out to people for short stays. […]
Posted inPolitics
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’ […]
Posted inPolitics
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 […]
Posted inPolitics
Trump has DOGE. Kentucky Senate votes to launch KOGE.
Inspired by Elon Musk’s band of young engineers tasked with finding federal funding cuts, Kentucky Republicans are hoping to replicate their efforts in the Bluegrass state. If passed in the General Assembly this session, Senate Bill 257 would establish the Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency in the auditor of public accounts’ office. The office would be known as KOGE. […]
Posted inPolitics
KY Houses passes bill canceling Beshear’s restrictions on conversion therapy
This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Correction: This story previously misstated how House Bill 495 was changed through a floor amendment. The GOP-controlled Kentucky House approved a bill Wednesday that seeks to invalidate an executive order issued […]
Posted inPolitics
Kentucky lawmakers advance ‘shell’ bill to ban sale of hemp-derived beverages
Kentucky lawmakers advanced a “shell” bill Wednesday evening to ban the sale of hemp-derived beverages in the state until summer of 2026, a move supporters say will allow time to understand how intoxicating versions of the beverages are impacting consumers. But those involved in the hemp industry decried the proposed moratorium on the sale of […]
