This week, legislators remained busy by filing and passing legislation, attending committee meetings, and meeting with constituents.
On Tuesday, the House convened at the Old State Capitol, which was completed in 1830 and used until 1910. The Old State Capitol is the third of four capitol buildings in the state and represents an important chapter in Kentucky’s history and the history of its General Assembly. While at the Old State Capitol, the House passed HB 313, which would designate June as “Kentucky History Month” in Kentucky. The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.
Several other pieces of legislation also passed the House and will now move to the Senate for consideration including:
House Bill 15: HB 15 would allow a person who is at least 15-years-old to apply for a driver’s instruction permit. Currently, Kentucky law allows individuals aged 16 and older to apply for a driver’s instruction permit, which this measure aims to lower to 15. Kentucky’s neighboring states allow teens to apply for instruction permits at 15 or 15 ½. Additionally, this measure would require that an individual be 16 and have held an instruction permit for 180 days before obtaining an intermediate license. They must then hold their intermediate license for 180 days before applying for an operator’s license. Ultimately, this bill would allow an individual to obtain their operator’s license six months earlier, at the age of 16 ½, instead of 17 as allowed under current law. Additionally, the bill would extend the validity of a driver’s instruction permit from three years to four years.
House Bill 44: HB 44, also known as “Landon’s Law”, would address choking incidents in schools by mandating that if a school acquires an anti-choking device, cafeteria staff and other designated users, such as school nurses, must be trained in its proper use. In addition, it would provide civil immunity to any individual who attempts to administer emergency care using an anti-choking device or preforming the Heimlich maneuver. HB 44 applies to both public and private schools across the Commonwealth.
Additionally, several bills and resolutions passed out of committee this week and moved to the House Floor including:
House Bill 161: HB 161 would allow third-party entities to issue driver’s license renewals. This measure would require third-party entities wishing to issue driver’s license renewals to apply to and receive approval from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. A third-party entity could include AAA offices, insurance offices, or other government agencies that wish to participate and are approved by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
House Bill 193: HB 193 would combine the state’s dual credit statutes into a single statute. Students can take eight CTE and four general education dual credit courses throughout their high school careers, which dual credit scholarships would cover.
House Bill 219: HB 219 would require hospitals that offer emergency services to develop and provide training for emergency department staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, protocols, and resources.
House Bill 303: HB 303 would establish an academic career pathway for military healthcare personnel to transfer their skills to a civilian role by directing all public colleges and universities to develop a structured academic track and an integrated bridge program that recognizes the medical training and experience of military healthcare personnel and the value they can bring into the civilian world. HB 303 would require all public colleges and universities to align military medical education with state licensing requirements, and streamline the transition into a civilian career by allowing service members to apply their current skills towards obtaining licensure in healthcare fields such as nursing, paramedicine, occupational therapy, and more.
As the 2025 Regular Session continues, I encourage you to tune in to committee meetings and floor proceedings live on KET.org and follow @KYHouseGOP on social media to keep track of things happening in Frankfort.
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 email at Amy.Neighbors@kylegislature.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)