State Government

Sportsmen previously decried politics surrounding board confirmations.

The new law would allow Kentucky to issue medical cannabis licenses to businesses as early as this summer, increasing the odds that cannabis will be available for patients at dispensaries beginning 2025.

Republican supermajorities in both legislative chambers overrode two dozen vetoes of bills and a resolution, including overriding nearly all line-item vetoes of budgetary bills funding state government.

Westerfield cited polling that found 76% of Republican primary voters “think Kentucky lawmakers should work to prevent gun violence, including working to keep Kentuckians going through a mental health crisis from harming themselves or others.” 

House Bill 509 is “a wink and a nod —  tacit permission for public officials to use their personal devices when they want to keep public business on the down low, just among themselves, the insiders,” writes Jamie Lucke.

In Kentucky, only a simple majority of both the House and Senate is needed to override a veto from the governor.

SB 2 had no additional funding tied to it when it was filed, but the legislature appropriated money for school resource officers in its budget bill.

HB 5, the anti-crime bill, was opposed by a broad political spectrum with conservative and progressive groups saying the legislation needs more fiscal analysis. 

What else could come up as General Assembly wraps up this year’s regular session?

Even if Republicans revive SB 6 in April, they won’t have time to override a Beshear veto.

The budget increases state employee pay by 3% each year but does not specifically dedicate money to raise pay for educators.