As we head into the home stretch of this year’s General Assembly, the pace of legislation has picked up dramatically. Of all the bills getting hearings and votes, here are some of the more important ones and where they stand. Explanations added if needed.
Passed both chambers
✅ HB 208 – Reopening of schools – Large number of provisions related to schools and COVID; requires all school systems to be open to at least hybrid learning model by the end of March. Signed by the governor on 3/4.
Passed one chamber
❌ HB 4 – Remove end dates for General Assembly – This constitutional amendment allows the legislature to add up to 12 days to its calendar, and removes the required end dates so they can use those days any time during the year. Posted for passage in the Senate, but not scheduled.
❌ HB 10 – Liability protection for businesses – Puts in place broad protections for businesses and organization from lawsuits due to persons getting COVID in that establishment.
✅ HB 25 – Remove felon prohibition on KEES scholarships
✅ HB 126 – Raise felony threshold – Raises the threshold for “illegal taking” to be charged as a felony from $500 to $1000, which is still lower than surrounding states.
✅ HB 148 – Mental illness exemption to death penalty – Removes possibility of death penalty for persons suffering from certain mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia
❌ HB 272 – Water bill late penalties – Allows utilities to add a 10% penalty for late payments on water bills
✅ HB 309 – Subpoena power for civilian police review board – Gives indirect subpoena power to the Louisville civilian police review board. House removed the “non-partisan mayor race” provision before passing
❌ HB 312 – Damage open records laws – Allows LRC to be the final arbiter on what records may be released, without appeal to AG or courts; puts residency requirement in place
✅ HB 574 – Election improvements – A number of popular improvements to voting and elections, including early voting, absentee ballot portal, vote centers, and paper ballots
✅ SB 4 – Limits on no-knock warrants – Bill sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers that puts limits on no-knocks but doesn’t eliminate them
❌ SB 5 – Business liability limitations – Puts in place broad protections for businesses and organizations against lawsuits from people who got COVID in that place
✅ SB 7 – Waiver of UI overpayments
✅ SB 10 – Race and Access Commission
✅ SB 36 – Stop automatic transfer of juvenile cases from District to Circuit court
✅ SB 84 – Treatment of pregnant inmates – Puts in place various requirements for better treatment of pregnant inmates
In committee or reported out
✅ HB 21 – Breonna’s Law – Bans no-knock warrants, but also includes other policing and criminal justice reforms. Finally posted in committee.
❌ HB 217 – Limit funding for emergency orders
❌ SB 83 – No healthcare if violates conscience – Allows healthcare providers to refuse service if the service requested or needed offends the conscience of the provider
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