With only 19 days remaining, legislators are considering over 1,200 bills and resolutions. Six bills have made it to the governor’s desk and four of those have been signed into law. The House will take up the budget this week, with plans to pass it by Wednesday.
Though all of the details have not yet emerged, public comments suggest it will not be significantly different from Gov. Beshear’s proposed budget.
Last week several measures advanced, while others faltered. The Chamber’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) legislation cleared committee. Another Chamber-supported measure, HB 467, to create a workers’ compensation notification program also advanced. Other legislation supported by the Chamber like theSmoke Free Kentucky bill and a bill to eliminate prevailing wage to save tax dollars on education projects did not fare as well. With 19 days left, the Chamber’s team is at the Capitol daily, working to advance your interests.
To keep you up to date on all of the key business legislation being discussed in Frankfort, the Chamber has significantly upgraded itsPublic Affairs website. The site now includes the bills listed below by category as well as additional information on the Chamber’s legislative priorities and a number of tools to keep you informed and connected. From each bill linked to our Legislative Tracking page, you can read more about the legislation, learn the most recent action and make your voice heard by contacting your legislators directly from that page. On crucial legislation, there is even a “Take Action” button to help you more quickly contact your legislators.
We want to know your opinion on key business issues. Take our featured poll on the main page of our Public Affairs website and tell us what you think of the proposal to raise Kentucky's minimum wage higher than our surrounding states.
Your voice makes a difference! Please take a few moments now to visit our Action Alert page. There are currently three key bills for which we need your help. Click the links below and make your voice heard!
- Protect academic standards by letting members of the Senate Education Committee know that SB 224, a bill to eliminate the common core education standards, would be a huge step backwards for Kentucky.
- Save tax dollars and create jobs by encouraging your legislators to passing P3 legislation.
- Fight frivolous lawsuits by asking your representative to support commonsense medical review panel legislation.
Please join us at the Capitol Tuesday or Thursday to show support for Chamber-supported legislation. Tomorrow, our coalition of partners supporting commonsense liability reforms will rally in the Capitol Rotunda at 1:00 p.m. to support SB 119. On Thursday at noon, we will join the Kentucky Wins coalition in the Capitol to show public support for expanded gaming legislation.
Our key bill list below is color-coded to note the Chamber’s support in green or opposition in red to each measure.
Education & Workforce
SB 211 - Charter Schools Read More
HB 85 - Charter Schools Read More
SB 168 - Tenure Reform Read More
SB 169 - Tribunal Reform Read More
HB 154 - Financial Accountability Read More
HB 261 - University Bonding Authority Read More
SB 89 - Public School Standards Read More
HB 323 - Early Childhood Education Read More
SB 224 - Eliminating Academic Standards Read More
HB 215 - Eliminating Academic Standards Read More
Business Competitiveness
HB 407 - Public-Private Partnerships Read More
SB 33, HB 67 & HB 584 - Expanded Gaming Read More
SB 99 - Telecommunications Modernization Read More
SB 63, HB 504 & 557 - Workers' Comp Special Fund Read More
HB 349 - Workers' Comp Reporting Simplification Read More
HB 467 - Contractor Notification Read More
HB 301 - Small Business Tax Credits Read More
HB 308 - Attracting Data Centers Read More
HB 232 - Data Breach Notification Read More
HB 507, SB 136 & 137 - Workers' Comp Costs Read More
HB 96 - Public Construction Cost Driver Read More
Taxes
HB 37 - Angel Investor Tax Credit Read More
HB 529 - Bourbon Barrel Tax Credit Read More
HB 345 - Taxpayer Fairness Read More
HB 346 - Tax Simplification Read More
SB 135 & HB 399 - Local Option Sales Tax Read More
HB 136 - LLET Tax Reform Read More
HB 493 - Tourism Tax Incentives Read More
HB 516 - Bad Debt Credits Read More
HB 559 - Small Business Tax Relief Read More
HB 220 - Tax Hikes Read More
HB 438 - Tax Bounties Read More
Legal Issues
SB 119 - Medical Review Panels Read More
SB 78 - Commonsense Property Liability Read More
SB 189 - Legal Contract Sunshine Law Read More
SB 214 - Judgment Interest Reform Read More
HB 369 - Lowered Statute of Limitations Read More
HB 304 - Good Samaritan Protections Read More
HB 148 - Increased Employer Litigation Read More
HB 335 - False Claims Act Read More
Health & Wellness
HB 173 & SB 117 - Smoke-free Kentucky Read More
SB 5 - Combatting Heroin Abuse Read More
HB 505 - Kentucky-based Exchange Read More
Labor Issues
SB 81 - Clear Contractor Guidelines Read More
HB 419 - Prevailing Wage Savings Read More
HB 496 - Kentucky Right-to-Work Law Read More
HB 1 & SB 215 - Raising the Minimum Wage Read More
HB 420 - Forced Union Apprenticeship Read More
Government Reform
HB 389 - Public Pension Audit Requirements Read More
SB 142 - Public Pension Reforms Read More
SB 83 - Improved Alcohol Laws Read More
HB 5 - Cyber Security Read More
SB 200 - Juvenile Justice Reform Read More
Energy & Environment
SB 67 & HB 52 - Nuclear Power Read More
HB 388 - Kentucky Environmental Standards Read More
SB 35 - Politicizing the Public Service Commission Read More
HB 31 - Limiting Transport of Energy Read More
HB 195 - Renewable Energy Mandate Read More
HB 241 - Increased Energy Costs Read More
HB 288 - Coal Mining Restrictions Read More
For a complete list of bills and their current status, download our complete BillTrack (PDF).
