Bill Tracker

KFTC's legislative issues during the

2019 Kentucky General Assembly

The session began January 8 and by the deadline in mid-February nearly 800 bills and 300 resolutions had been filed. KFTC will monitor legislation related to our platform. If you’d like to take action on any of the bills listed in the tracker, you can contact your legislators at 800-372-7181. Operators will help you find your legislator and it’s very simple to leave a message.

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 Black Lung Benefits House Bill 75 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Angie Hatton, Robert Goforth & Travis Brenda	Summary House Bill 75 would repeal 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. Learn more about the crisis in black lung in Fixing What's Broke. The provisions of HB 75 also were included in House Bill 350, a broader workers' comp bill.	Additional Information HB 75 and HB 350 were assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House leaders did not allow either to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. Read: Black lung is surging, but bill to undo limits on doctors stalls without a hearing
KFTC Supports Clean Energy Opportunity Act House Bill 213 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Mary Lou Marzian + 3 cosponsors	Summary House Bill 213 would require utilities to use increasing amounts of renewable energy, take energy-efficiency measures and implement energy-efficiency programs. House Bill 213 handout	Additional Information KFTC's platform supports the development of a clean energy economy in Kentucky. HB 213 would be an important step toward implementing the Empower Kentucky Plan. HB 213 was assigned the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee but House leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Statewide Fairness House Bill 164 Senate Bill 166 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Mary Lou Marzian + 18 others; Sen. McGarvey + others	Summary House Bill 164 and Senate Bill 166 would expand anti-discrimination protections to Kentuckians based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, public accommodations and financial transactions.	Additional Information KFTC’s platform opposes and condemns discrimination. HB 164 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. SB 166 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Death Penalty Abolition House Bill 115 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Chad McCoy + 15 others	Summary House Bill 115 would abolish the death penalty and create a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Here's more information from the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.	Additional Information KFTC's platform supports the abolition of the death penalty. HB 115, with 30 cosponsors from both parties, was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders would not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Public Utilities House Bill 16 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Chris Harris, Angie Hatton & others	Summary House Bill 16 would establish pro-consumer provisions to limit fixed costs charged by utilities; these fixed costs hurt low-income ratepayers and disincentivize energy efficiency, reduced energy usage, and rooftop solar. The bill would also require the PSC to take into account if proposed rate changes are "affordable" to Kentuckians when deciding on utility rate cases, and would mandate a periodic management audit of all monopoly utilities, excluding rural electric cooperatives. Although House leaders would not allow a hearing or vote on HB 16, Rep. Hatton introduced a House floor amendment to Senate Bill 256 (another bill dealing with the PSC) to "allow the Public Service Commission to include affordability when determining whether a utility rate is fair, just and reasonable; require the commission to balance utility, investor, and ratepayer interests in setting rates." This amendment was debated and defeated on the House floor on March 13 (see how House members voted).	Additional Information 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 guarantees utilities a 12% profit. There is no provision in the law for the PSC to take into account whether customers in the service territory 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. HB 16 was assigned to the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Minimum wage House Bill 182 Senate Bill 51 Bill Sponsor(s): Sens. Reginald Thomas & Gerald Neal; Rep. Mary Lou Marzian	Summary Senate Bill 51 and House Bill 182 both would increase the minimum wage to $15/hour though some of the particulars and other provisions in the bills differ. SB 51 would increase the the minimum wage incrementally until it reaches $15 by 2026; and the wage for tipped workers to $4.90/hour by 2022; and would allow local governments to pass a higher minimum wage. HB 182 would achieve the $15 rate by 2023 and also has provisions to prevent wage discrimination based on sex, race or national origin. Here's information about a minimum wage increase from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.	Additional Information SB 51 was assigned to the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. HB 182 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. KFTC's platform calls for a living wage for all Kentuckians.
KFTC Supports Ban the Box House Bill 90 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. George Brown	Summary House Bill 90 would make it unlawful to require a job applicant to disclose their prior criminal history as part of the initial job application.	Additional Information KFTC’s platform opposes discrimination based on current or former incarceration status. HB 90 was assigned to the House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Ban Conversion Therapy House Bill 211 Senate Bill 248 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Lisa Willner + 17 other Democrats	Summary House Bill 211 and Senate Bill 248 would would ban LGBTQ "conversion therapy" for minors. CT is a practice that falsely claims to change folks' sexual orientation and gender identity.	Additional Information HB 211 was assigned to the House Health & Family Services Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote. SB 248 was assigned to the Senate Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Youth Voting in Local Elections Senate Bill 48 Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Reggie Thomas	Summary Senate Bill 48 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow 16- and 17-year-old U.S. citizens to vote in school board and local elections; this would go before Kentucky voters in the November 2020 election.	Additional Information SB 48 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Extended Voting Hours & Days Senate Bill 63 Bill Sponsor(s): Sens. Reginald Thomas & Gerald Neal	Summary Senate Bill 63 would allow in-person early voting between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the three Saturdays preceding any primary, regular election or special election; and extend voting hours for election day voting from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.	Additional Information SB 63 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Extended Voting Hours Senate Bill 134 Bill Sponsor(s): Sens. Adams, McGarvey, Alvarado, Thayer	Summary Senate Bill 134 would extend voting hours until 8 p.m. on election day.	Additional Information SB 134 was assigned to the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Senate leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Election Day holiday Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Charles Booker	Summary House Resolution 85 urges Congress to adopt Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, as a national holiday.	Additional Information HR 85 was assigned to the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Youth Homelessness Prevention House Bill 466 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Charles Booker	Summary House Bill 466 would create the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection in the Department for Community Based Services and calls for advisory councils, training programs, grants, emergency shelter and transitional living programs, and a youth and young adult homeless housing strategic plan.	Additional Information HB 466 was assigned to the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Officer Shooting Review House Bill 18 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Attica Scott & Kelly Flood	Summary House Bill 18 would establish an Officer Shooting Review Board to investigate any shooting of an individual by a law enforcement officer or any deadly incident involving law enforcement.	Additional Information HB 18 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Jail Fatality Review House Bill 264 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Attica Scott & Susan Westrom	Summary House Bill 264 would establish the External Detainee Fatality Review Panel to conduct comprehensive reviews of all fatalities in county or regional jails.	Additional Information HB 264 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Repeal Charter Schools House Bill 17 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Attica Scott + 22 other Democrats	Summary House Bill 17 (and the similar House Bill 14) would repeal legislation establishing charter schools in Kentucky.	Additional Information KFTC's platform calls for a system of high-quality public education, including pre-school through higher education, that is accessible and affordable for all Kentuckians. Charter schools take resources from public education and do not serve all students. Both bills were assigned to the House Education Committee. House leaders did not allow the bills to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Landfill monitoring House Bill 222 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Maddox, Pratt and Hart	Summary House Bill 222 directs state agencies to make quarterly reports to local solid waste coordinators and fiscal courts on complaints, investigations and actions against solid waste facilities. The bill is an outcome of the work KFTC's Rolling Bluegrass chapter to stop a local landfill expansion.	Additional Information HB 222 was assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports Solar amendment Senate Bill 100	Summary House Floor Amendement 1 made several important improvements to Senate Bill 100: Allows for third-party leasing of systems; Opens the door for one, rather than multiple, cases before the PSC to set the rate for solar energy credits, and ensures that solar advocates have intervention rights;. Removes language for "instantaneous netting" Requires the PSC to consider a list of identified benefits of solar in setting rates; Adopts clear grandfathering language in SB 100, and provides a 10-year grandfather for anyone opting to install rooftop solar before 2024. However, the amendment fails to correct flaws in the bill in that it continues to define net metering in terms of “dollar value” rather than kilowatt-hour credits. The failed House floor amendment would have fixed this language.	Additional Information On February 21, the Senate refused to concur with the House amendment. On March 14, the House voted 50-38 to recede from its amendment, and then passed the original Senate version of the bill, 55-36. On March 26 Gov. Bevin signed SB 100 into law.
KFTC Supports Criminalize Animal Torture House Bill 25 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. W. Thomas	Summary House Bill 25 would make torture of a dog or cat a Class D felony and also increase penalties for people who harm animals as a part of domestic violence against a person.	Additional Information HB 25 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to be brought up for a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports "Klaire's Law" House Bill 98 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Diane St. Onge	Summary House Bill 98, otherwise known as 'Klaire's Law,' would strengthen penalties for cruelty against horses.	Additional Information HB 98 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee but did not receive a hearing or a vote. However, the provisions of HB 98 were added as an amendment to SB 67 (see next entry) and became law as part of that bill.
KFTC Supports Criminalize Sexual Violence Against Animals Senate Bill 67 Bill Sponsor(s): Sens. J. Adams & D. Thayer	Summary Senate Bill 67 criminalizes sexual violence committed against animals.	Additional Information Kentucky is one of five states where sexual assault of an animal is not illegal. SB 67 was passed by the Senate, 35-0, on February 20. The House added an amendment to prohibit cruelty to equines including situations involving abuse and neglect (Klaire's Law, see above) and passed the bill, 97-0, on March 13. The next day the Senate concurred with the House changes. SB 67 was signed into law by the governor on March 26.
KFTC Supports Hot Car Bill House Bill 36 Senate Bill 12 Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Bratcher, Sen. Carroll + 3 others	Summary House Bill 36 and Senate Bill 12, otherwise known as "Hot Car Bills," would protect animals by granting civil immunity people who break into a car to save pets' and animals' lives. If people make a good-faith effort to save animals, they would not be reqired to pay for damages to vehicles.	Additional Information SB 12 was approved by the full Senate, 33-1, on February 20. In the House it was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. HB 36 also was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. House leaders did not allow either bill to receive a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports End Diaper Tax House Bill 24 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Attica Scott + 20 others	Summary House Bill 24 would exempt child and adult diapers, breast pumps, baby wipes, and other baby products from sales tax.	Additional Information HB 24 was assigned to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to receive a hearing or a vote.
KFTC Supports End Tampon Tax House Bill 23 Bill Sponsor(s): Reps. Attica Scott + 21 others	Summary House Bill 23 would exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax.	Additional Information HB 23 was assigned to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee. House leaders did not allow the bill to receive a hearing or a vote.

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