Bill Tracker

KFTC's legislative issues during the

2020 Kentucky General Assembly

The 2020 Kentucky General Assembly began on January 7 and adjourned on April 15, meeting for only 53 of the originally scheduled 60 days (reducing its schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic). KFTC monitored legislation throughout the session related to our platform. If you’d like to express your opinion on any of the bills listed in the tracker, contact your legislators at 800-372-7181. Operators will help you find your legislator and it’s very simple to leave a message. The Message Line stays open throughout the year, Monday-Friday.

To read a bill or get additional information, click on the bill number in the Summary column.

You can get additional resources for taking action by visiting KFTC's General Assembly page. Here you will find resources for talking with your legislator, reporting back what you learn, information on lobby days, and more.

Finally, please like us on Facebook. That’s where we will provide the quickest, latest updates on important bills that begin to move or need action.

KFTC Supports Restore Voting Rights House Bill 6 Bill Sponsor(s): C. Booker, C. Stevenson	Summary House Bill 6 proposed amending the Kentucky Constitution to restore voting rights to those who have a felony conviction once their sentence is completed. It would send the amendment to Kentucky voters for ratification. KFTC HB 6 Handout	Additional Information HB 6 was a clean version of the Voting Rights bill with no exclusions based on the kinds of felonies. Everyone would get their right to vote after they’ve completed their prison time, probation, and/or parole. KFTC works to restore voting rights for folks who have a felony conviction in their past without exception. Many of the provisions in HB 6 were included in a House Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee substitute to Senate Bill 62, which had already passed the Senate and made it as far as the House floor. However, House GOP leaders did not call SB 62for a vote. To learn more about the movement to restore voting rights in Kentucky as well as KFTC's work on this issue, and to connect with Kentuckians taking action, contact Dave Newton at: dave@kftc.org
KFTC Supports Restoration of Voting Rights Senate Bill 62 Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Jimmy Higdon	Summary As originally introduced, Senate Bill 62 proposed to allow the legislature to decide at some point in the future whether to give some people their right to vote back, though with numerous restrictions. Almost all of the people who possibly could get back the right to vote that way already got back their right to vote through Governor Beshear's Executive Action. A committee substitute approved by the House Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee, 15-0, on March 12, improved the bill in significant ways. This House committee substitute provided for automatic restoration of voting rights with only a couple of exclusions for voter fraud and treason, and voting rights restoration would be automatic and immediate after completion of sentence, probation and parole. There is a 5-year waiting period for the restoration of all other civil rights, such as serving on a jury, holding public office, etc.	Additional Information KFTC supports a "clean" voting rights bill (such as HB 6) that excludes no one and includes no waiting period. SB 62, as originally filed and KFTC opposed, was approved by the Senate State & Local Government Committee on February 19 (see committee vote tally), and by the full Senate, 29-7, on February 27 (see Senate vote tally). On March 12, a committee substitute (see column to the left) to SB 62 was approved by the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. However, House GOP leaders did not bring the bill to a vote before the full House before the session adjourned.
KFTC Supports Tax Reform House Bill 416 Bill Sponsor(s): L. Willner + 19 others	Summary House Bill 416 included a broad ranging tax reforms that to require corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share of Kentucky's taxes. In this way, Kentucky's budget would be able to provide for goods and services all of our state's communities depend on. Learn more about the variety of provisions contained in this bill in this blog post from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.	Additional Information House Bill 416 was assigned to the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Study Renewable Energy Bill Sponsor(s): T. Bojanowski, M. Marzian, C. Cantrell	Summary House Joint Resolution 91 would have directed the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet to study renewable portfolio standards and make recommendations based on its findings.	Additional Information HJR 91 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the resolution.
KFTC Supports Statewide Fairness House Bill 225 Bill Sponsor(s): M. Marzian, P. Minter, M. Cantrell, L. Willner	Summary House Bill 225 would have expand anti-discrimination protections to Kentuckians based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, public accommodations and financial transactions.	Additional Information House Bill 225 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Declare Emergency in Martin Co Water Crisis Bill Sponsor(s): C. Harris	Summary House Resolution 122 asked the governor to declare a state of emergency in Martin County due to the ongoing drinking water crisis. If the governor declares an emergency, new funds could be freed up to use in efforts to address the crisis.	Additional Information HR 122 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the resolution.
KFTC Supports Wage Bonds for Mining Permits Senate Bill 27 Bill Sponsor(s): J. Turner, C. Embry Jr., D. Harper Angel	Summary Senate Bill 27 would have prohibited the approval of mining permit applications for coal companies that are not compliant with the wage performance bonding requirements in state law. Penalties collected for violations of this requirement would be paid to employees harmed by the employer's failure to post the required performance bond. As we saw over the summer when Blackjewel declared bankruptcy, the state of Kentucky didn't enforce the already existing bond law to ensure that miners would receive severance pay. SB 27 tried to prevent that from happening to other workers by ensuring coal companies cannot get or maintain a permit to mine coal unless they have a bond to pay severance pay to their workers.	Additional Information SB 27 was approved by the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on March 18, by an 11-0 vote (see how committee members voted). However, Senate GOP leaders did not allow the bill to be voted on by the full Senate and eventually killed the bill.
KFTC Supports Net Metering House Bill 323 Bill Sponsor(s): J. DuPlessis + 5 others	Summary House Bill 323 would have amended various provisions of the anti-solar energy net metering law that passed in 2019. It also would have provided more time before the full provisions of the 2019 law are implemented. HB 323 would have slowed some of the damage impacting the solar energy industry in the state from the 2019 legislation. KFTC HB 323 handout	Additional Information HB 323 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jim Gooch, who is a strongly anti-renewable energy. House GOP leaders did not push for a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Utility Rates House Bill 126 Bill Sponsor(s): A. Hatton + 5 others	Summary House Bill 126 called for the Public Service Commission to consider rate affordability when determining fair, just and reasonable utility rates. When dealing with utilities, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is required to determine that the utility's rates are "fair and reasonable," and the PSC does that by looking at all of the utility's expenses and then setting a rate that offers utilities a 9.5 - 10.5% profit. There is no provision in the law for the PSC to take into account whether customers in the service area can afford that rate. This law would add setting "rates that include affordability and balancing of interests of various parties affected by the rate" to their mandate. This bill sets a method for determining what the fixed rate should be. KFTC HB 126 handout	Additional Information HB 126 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Fair Maps Act House Bill 326 Bill Sponsor(s): J. Graviss, J. Jenkins + 29 others	Summary House Bill 326, the Fair Maps Act, is a redistricting bill that would have made redistricting less partisan in Kentucky. It set clear standards for maps and moved decision-making away from partisan decisions of the legislature. Legislative and congressional districts will be re-shaped after the 2020 Census. This effort to make redistricting nonpartisan is being spearheaded by the League of Women Voters of Kentucky.	Additional Information HB 326 was assigned to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Hairstyles & Civil Rights House Bill 33 Bill Sponsor(s): A. Scott + 12 others	Summary House Bill 33 would have provided definitions of "protective hairstyle" and "race" that include traits historically associated with race to various civil rights protections.	Additional Information House Bill 33 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Pre-Existing Conditions House Bill 21 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. P. Minter + 39 others	Summary House Bill 21 would have prohibited pre-existing condition exclusion and higher premiums based on health status in health insurance plans offered in any market. It also protected folks from possible changes to federal law.	Additional Information House Bill 21 was assigned to the House Banking & Insurance Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Raise Minimum Wage House Bill 39 Senate Bill 13 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. K. Hinkle + 13 others, & Sen. R. Thomas	Summary House Bill 39 and Senate Bill 13 would have raised the state minimum wage to $8.20 per hour in 2020 with annual increases until it reached $15 in 2027; also raised the minimum wage for tipped employees to $2.13 and incrementally until it reached $4.90 in 2023; the bills included language permitting local governments to establish minimum wage ordinances in excess of the state minimum wage.	Additional Information KFTC's platform calls for a living wage for all Kentuckians. House Bill 39 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. Senate Bill 13 was assigned to the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House and Senate GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bills.
KFTC Supports Black Lung Benefits House Bill 239 Senate Bill 215 Bill Sponsor(s): A. Hatton, B. McCool + 12 others, P. Wheeler	Summary House Bill 239 and Senate Bill 215 would have repealed language in the 2018 workers' comp law limiting who can perform evaluations in occupational disease claims; this law has been used to make it much harder for miners with black lung disease to qualify for compensation. Ensuring that folks who've worked in the mines have the health care, income and retirements they deserve requires a Just Transition. KFTC members and allies have been working at the state and federal levels to ensure that the epidemic in black lung disease is properly addressed. You can learn more about the work at the federal level at fixwhatsbroke.org. To learn more about ways you can help at the state level, email Lisa Abbott at: lisa@kftc.org.	Additional Information Senate Bill 215 was assigned to the Senate Economic Development, Tourism & Labor Committee. House Bill 239 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. Senate and House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bills.
KFTC Supports Limit Death Penalty House Bill 237 Senate Bill 154 Bill Sponsor(s): C. McCoy & others; J. Adams & others	Summary House Bill 237 and Senate Bill 154 would have prohibited application of the death penalty if the accused has a diagnosis of serious mental illness.	Additional Information KFTC's platform supports the abolition of the death penalty. Senate Bill 154 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 27, by a 8-3 vote (see how they voted). A vote by the full Senate was denied by Senate leaders and the bill reassigned to the Judiciary Committee and killed on March 17. House Bill 237 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Maternal Health Bill House Bill 138 Bill Sponsor(s): A. Scott, C. Booker + 9 others	Summary House Bill 138 required the Department for Public Health to track data on maternal death and severe morbidity, and other provisions.	Additional Information House Bill 138 was assigned to the House Health & Family Services Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Ban Conversion Therapy House Bill 199 Senate Bill 85 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. L. Willner, P. Minter, + 15 others, Sens. A. Kerr, M. McGarvey + 2 others	Summary House Bill 199 and Senate Bill 85 would have banned LGBTQ "conversion therapy" for minors. CT, sometimes called "reparative therapy," is a practice that falsely claims to change folks' sexual orientation and gender identity.	Additional Information Senate Bill 85 was assigned to the Senate Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee. House Bill 199 was assigned to the House Health & Family Services Committee. Senate and House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bills.
KFTC Supports Voter Registration House Bill 81 Bill Sponsor(s): M. Sorolis, T. Bojanowski, G. Brown Jr., C. Stevenson, B. Wheatley	Summary House Bill 81 would have allowed each application for a driver's license a simultaneous application for voter registration, unless the applicant declined.	Additional Information House Bill 81 was assigned to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Same Day Voter Registration House Bill 80 Bill Sponsor(s): M. Sorolis, T. Bojanowski, G. Brown Jr., N. Kulkarni, C. Stevenson	Summary House Bill 80 would have allowed Kentuckians to register to vote at their polling location on election day.	Additional Information House Bill 80 was assigned to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Campaign Finance House Bill 111 Bill Sponsor(s): D. Graham, G. Brown Jr., C. Stevenson	Summary House Bill 111 would have required candidates for statewide offices to publically release five years of tax returns. This bill would help with transparency during election season as candidates would identify any financial conflicts of interest.	Additional Information House Bill 111 was assigned to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. House GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.
KFTC Supports Early Voting House Bill 78 Senate Bill 43 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. M. Sorolis, T. Bojanowski, + 4 others, & Sen. R. Thomas	Summary House Bill 78 and Senate Bill 43 would have allowed early, in-person voting on three Saturdays prior to any election.	Additional Information House Bill 78 was assigned to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. Senate Bill 43 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. House and Senate GOP leaders did not allow a hearing or a vote on the bill.

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Bill Tracker