Three Republican state lawmakers who represent a district that includes all or part of Christian County — Sen. Craig Richardson, Rep. Walker Thomas and Rep. Jason Petrie — recently received a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce MVP Award.
State lawmakers who received the award following the 2025 legislative session were presented a Louisville Slugger baseball bat that signifies they “went to bat” for business interests.
Richardson and Thomas were recognized for their support for House Bill 398, which dealt with occupational safety and health regulations.
Chamber officials said the legislation “aligns Kentucky’s occupational safety and health standards with federal rules … [and] ensures worker safety while removing burdensome regulatory tape.”
Opponents of HB 398 argued it will weaken health and safety protections for Kentucky workers.
Petrie, who chairs the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, was recognized for his role in passage of House Bill 1, which reduced the state income tax from 4% to 3.5%.
Additional information about the Kentucky Chamber’s stance on business issues during the 2025 legislative session is outlined in its publication, “Results for Business.”
