First District State Senator Jason Howell says some key bills that will impact western Kentucky are awaiting action by Governor Andy Beshear as the Kentucky General Assembly’s veto recess will continues
Senator Howell says as of Friday afternoon, over 100 bills have been delivered to his desk. Under the Kentucky Constitution, he has 10 days–excluding Sundays–to act.
First District State Senator Jason Howell outlined some important bills that are awaiting action by the Governor.
SB 10 enhances retiree health benefits for County Employees Retirement System (CERS) members by increasing health insurance subsidies to $40 per year for non-hazardous retirees and $50 per year of service for hazardous retirees. To support this, hazardous employees will contribute 2 percent of pay, and non-hazardous employees hired after July 1, 2003, will also begin contributing. The change applies retroactively for eligible retirees on Jan. 1, 2026. The bill, developed in collaboration with law enforcement, firefighters, and local governments, strengthens recruitment and retention while keeping the system financially sound.
SB 26 protects parents and prospective adoptive parents with disabilities from discrimination in adoption, parental rights, foster care, and kin placement decisions. It mandates individualized assessments, adaptive services, and documentation, to align state policy with the ADA while prioritizing child welfare.
SB 64 strengthens protections for critical infrastructure by expanding legal safeguards to cable, telephone, and broadband facilities. It also increases penalties for copper theft and related crimes to prevent service disruptions and enhance public safety. The bill carries an emergency designation.
SB 77 updates the membership qualifications for the Education Professional Standards Board, which sets standards for teacher certification in Kentucky. The bill aims to ensure broader representation from independent not-for-profit colleges and universities. The Senate committee substitute clarifies that the governor may appoint either a chief academic officer or the head of an educator preparation program from these institutions, removing the option to appoint a designee.
SB 84 reins in bureaucratic overreach by requiring Kentucky courts to interpret laws independently to prevent agencies from expecting judicial deference. Aligning with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 rejection of the Chevron doctrine, it sets a clear legal standard for reviewing agency actions and limits agency power.
SB 89 reflects a coordinated effort to strengthen regulatory clarity and protect Kentucky’s water resources. It updates key definitions in Kentucky law, including “waters of the commonwealth,” aligning it with the federal definition of “navigable waters.” The House committee substitute adds protections for wellhead protection areas, domestic water springs, and sinkholes with open throat drains. The bill also codifies bonding requirements for long-term water treatment at coal mine sites to ensure environmental accountability.
SB 100 strengthens enforcement against underage vape and nicotine sales by requiring all tobacco and vape retailers to obtain a state license through the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The bill grants ABC enforcement authority, including unannounced compliance inspections, and imposes escalating fines and license revocation for repeated violations. It also prohibits distributors from supplying revoked retailers and directs a portion of fines collected toward youth vaping prevention efforts. It restricts wholesalers from selling vapor products to retailers without a safe harbor certificate, increases penalties for unauthorized sales, and bans the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide products to anyone under 21, with fines for violators.
SB 202 creates regulations for cannabis-infused beverages in Kentucky, limiting them to five milligrams of THC per 12-ounce serving. Oversight is assigned to the distilled spirits administrator, with licenses for retailers and distributors and fees ranging from $100 to $520. The bill allows sales at fairs, festivals, and by the drink until Jan. 1, 2026, and extends sales of higher-potency beverages until June 1, 2025. It requires new regulations by July 1, 2026, and extends reporting deadlines for the UK Cannabis Center and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
A few notable House bills are also on the Governor’s desk.
HB 4 prohibits Kentucky’s public universities from funding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and requires the closure of DEI offices and positions by June 30. It prevents institutions from influencing admissions, hiring, scholarships, and campus programs based on race, religion, sex, color, or national origin. The bill also bans mandatory DEI training and prohibits universities from requiring students or staff to take courses promoting differential treatment based on these characteristics.
HB 10 aims to protect property owners from the unlawful occupation and damage caused by squatters. The bill establishes a streamlined process for law enforcement to remove unauthorized occupants from private property, eliminating the need for lengthy and costly court proceedings. It also increases penalties for individuals who unlawfully occupy or damage real estate, addressing growing concerns from Kentucky property owners facing these challenges on homes, businesses, railroads, and other properties.
HB 15 lowers the minimum age for a driving permit from 16 to 15 and aligns Kentucky with most southern states. Permit holders must maintain it for 180 days before advancing to an intermediate license, which must be held until age 17 before obtaining a full license.
HB 19 protects individuals and private property from unauthorized drone surveillance. It prohibits using drones to record or conduct surveillance without consent while allowing legitimate business uses like utilities, mapping, and insurance. The bill creates a civil cause of action for violations, with remedies including damages and injunctive relief, and sets a seven-year statute of limitations.
HB 38 strengthens protections for victims by enhancing criminal penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection and clarifying what constitutes a repeated offense. It allows petitioners to be excused from court appearances until the respondent has been served, ensuring their safety and reducing undue burden. The bill also broadens the enhanced penalty for a third violation, allowing prior violations against different protected persons to count toward escalation.
HJR 30 authorizes the Office of State Budget Director to release a portion of money appropriated for the Kentucky Water or Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems Fund including $1,800,000 to the City of Columbus in Hickman County for the Columbus water treatment plant rehabilitation.
HJR 32 authorizes the Office of State Budget Director to release certain awards from the School Facility Assistance Fund including $685,000 for Crittenden, Graves, and Lyon Counties:
• Crittenden County: Resurface A. T. Crider Road totaling $114,000
• Crittenden County: Resurface Claylick Creek Road totaling $87,000
• Graves County: Resurface Grace Park Road totaling $90,000
• Lyon County: Resurface Birdie Bannister totaling $224,000
• Lyon County: Resurface Birdie Bannister totaling $170,000
The governor has three choices: sign a bill, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it. Any bill delivered by Friday is eligible for a veto override when lawmakers return for the final two days of session on March 27 and 28.
