With the fourth week of this year’s session in the books, several bills cleared legislative committees and the full House as they continue in the legislative process.
Here is a brief overview of some of the bills we have seen this week:
Supporting veterans: HB 30 would create a state program aimed at preventing veteran suicide by providing resources to our veterans and their families who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Passed House Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee
Over 100 veteran suicides have occurred in Kentucky in each of the last three years, according to statistics from the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health.
The proposal would call for training employees within the Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs to better assist our veterans with connecting to mental health services tailored to their needs.
Ensuring elections are secure: HB 341 would prohibit individuals who are not United States Citizens from voting in Kentucky elections.
Passed House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
Currently, non-citizens are not excluded from voting in Kentucky’s elections.
HB 341 would strengthen the security of our elections, and clarify that only citizens may vote.
Protecting children: HB 207 would criminalize the possession and trafficking of child sex dolls.
Passed House Judiciary Committee
Currently, there are no legal restrictions on the possession, creation, or distribution of these dolls.
Streamlining state grants: HB 299 would require the state to create a grant data base through the Office of Secretary of State and requires agencies to report grant opportunities to the office to be added to the list.
Passed House Education Committee
This measure would allow communities, organizations, and other stakeholders to easily search and apply for grants provided by state agencies.
Providing a moment of silence in schools: HB 96 would instruct school districts to implement a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. It will be considered by the full House in the coming weeks.
Passed House Education Committee
The bill would require local school boards to create a policy for a moment of silence or reflection that will not exceed two minutes.
The policy would ensure that students remain silent and seated, and will not be interrupted by district personnel during this time.
It also includes a notification of parents on the policy, which encourages parents to guide their students regarding the moment of silence.
As legislative committees considered legislation, lawmakers continued filing new bills. House members have until February 26 to file legislation for consideration this session. Here are summaries of a few of the bills filed this week:
Reforming prior authorization: HB 317 revises the prior authorization process to allow Kentuckians better access to medical services.
Under health insurance plans, some treatments and medications may require approval from your health insurer before you receive care. This is commonly referred to as prior authorization.
This measure would shorten the amount of time allowed for insurance companies to complete a prior authorization assessment for medical services and procedures.
Protecting the Second Amendment: HB 357 would prohibit merchant processors from using specific merchant category codes for transactions involving the sale of firearms and/or ammunition.
Ensures that specific merchant category codes could not be used in the sale of a firearm and/or ammunition.
The issue stems from a move by the International Organization for Standardization, a global network of unelected officials based in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2022, the organization created a four-digit merchant category code for firearms retailers in a move that many felt was aimed at tracking purchases.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at amy.neighbors@lrc.ky.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
(Laura Leigh Goins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Media Relations — House Majority Leadership)