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FRANKFORT, Ky. — We now know what bills state lawmakers have sent to the governor ahead of the 10-day veto period. These pieces of legislation can have their vetoes overridden during the last two days of the session, as both the House and Senate are controlled by a Republican supermajority.
Friday was the second and final day of concurrence, which was filled with plenty of back and forth between the two chambers of the General Assembly as lawmakers hashed out the final versions of bills. In some cases, they look much different from they did when filed.
“There’s always a flood of things that come up at the last second. But, by and large, it’s going very much the way we expect it to,” said House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect.
One concern brought up by House Democrats was fast tracked or lumped together legislation that leaves little time for lawmakers and the public to discuss its impact. They raised that concern Friday morning as they debated Senate Bill 25.
“And so I just want to encourage people to really slow down. It doesn’t have to be this way. We say, ‘oh, this is just the way it is.’ But we control those things,” said State Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville.
Over the course of the session, SB 25 grew from a handful of pages to over 70. It now covers the state auditor’s Office, where bills should be delivered to the governor next year and language that would ask each department and cabinet within the executive branch to deliver reports to the legislature for improving government efficiency.
Speaker Osborne told Spectrum News, bills being lumped together is always an issue at the end of session. Lawmakers only meet 30 days during odd-numbered years.
“We want to make sure that those things have a chance to stay alive. The house has voiced their support for those measures, in previous votes. And I think it’s important to keep those things alive so long as we can,” Osborne said.
SB 25 now heads to the governor for action.
Other bills passed Friday:
House Bill 38. It creates stiffer penalties for repeat violators of protective orders.
House Bill 2. The bill would allow school districts to shift their calendar model from instructional days to instructional hours, allowing schools to extend school days to offset lost instructional time caused by school closures. It also creates new regulations for school districts offering virtual schooling.
House Bill 208. This bill directs school districts to create a policy banning cell phone use during instruction time. It would also block social media sites on school internet networks.
House Bill 775. Among other tax related language, would allow the state income tax in smaller percentage increments. Currently the rate can only be lowered by a half percentage point.
House Bill 520. Makes changes to open records for law enforcement agencies.
Senate Bill 1. Creates incentives for Kentucky’s film industry.
Lawmakers return to Frankfort for the final two days of the legislative session March 27 and 28.
