Updates on Major Legislation
Sen. John Schickel, District 11
Below is a list of major legislation passed in the recent session of the Kentucky General Assembly.
A major win for working Kentuckians was the legislature approving an additional half percentage income tax decrease. An additional tax decrease is coming at the start of 2024. This is all part of the General Assembly’s commitment to strengthen Kentucky’s economy, which largely depends on a competitive and modern tax structure that makes Kentucky an attractive place for businesses to flourish and families to reside. I was a proud co-sponsor of this legislation.
As Senate Licensing and Occupations chair, my priority will continue to be to support small businesses. I am happy to have supported further reductions of the state income tax and bills that will strengthen workforce development because these will contribute to further success for Kentucky small businesses. We also made progress in easing workforce shortages that challenge the health and education sectors.
I listened to and agreed with the concerns of most of my constituents and voted to ban permanent surgical and hormonal gender transitioning in minors. This is a growing trend nationwide, causing irreparable physical and mental harm to children. The bill also addressed gender-neutral restrooms in schools by requiring students to use the restroom matching the gender of their birth.
The General Assembly addressed the growing concerns over minors being exposed to adult content in schools. We voted on and passed a bill expanding parental rights over the quality of literature found in schools and providing a framework to oust sexually explicit materials. In protecting the rights of teachers and students, we included a provision to prevent mandated non-conforming pronoun usage along with giving parents a chance to review sexual education curricula and opt their children out if a parent finds it offensive.
Highlights of Legislation Enacted in the 2023 Legislative Session
Senate Bill 4 prevents the retirement of fossil fuel-fired coal plants unless utility companies demonstrate that taking them offline will not harm Kentucky residents or increase their energy cost.
Senate Bill 5 establishes a process by which parents can challenge questionable sexually explicit materials in their children’s schools.
Senate Bill 12 is a measure to address workforce challenges in the health care industry. The bill establishes a physician wellness program, which would provide counseling, coaching, or similar services to address issues related to career fatigue.
Senate Bill 37 modernizes the expertise available to the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy by establishing a broad range of knowledge in pharmacy practice within the board’s advisory council. It also specifies the advisory council’s membership and responsibilities to the Board of Pharmacy.
Senate Bill 47 legalizes the use of medical marijuana beginning January 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 49 seeks to alleviate teacher workforce challenges by extending how long a provisional teacher certificate lasts. This bill provides more time for candidates with baccalaureate degrees to complete alternate teacher certification.
Senate Bill 80 prohibits those on the sex offender registry from loitering or operating a mobile business within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, and public playgrounds or swimming pools. It also charges individuals who causes or attempts to cause physical injury to health care workers of third-degree assault.
Senate Bill 156 is a follow-up to the Read to Succeed bill that establishes a statewide Reading Research Center. The bill would set a process to find a new entity to run the state’s reading center and require that organization to update lawmakers on their impact on state reading and writing test scores.
Senate Bill 162 would place all eight of Kentucky’s juvenile detention centers under one office with a lead supervisor who reports directly to the commissioner. The bill would increase staffing and training, enhance mental health interventions, and provide better segregation of violent offenders among many other changes.
Senate Bill 229 would ensure law enforcement, social services and other authorities are properly notified and communicating in child abuse cases. It calls for people reporting child abuse to immediately notify the proper authorities along with leaders of institutions, schools and other agencies where the allegations occurred, regardless of the internal chain of command. Authorities include the Kentucky State Police, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, a Commonwealth’s attorney or a County Attorney. The bill would also allow the Department for Community Based Services to initiate an assessment or an investigation.
House Bill 1 drops the state’s individual income tax rate beginning on January 1, 2024, from 4.5% to 4%.
House Bill 3 seeks to reopen the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center and expand options for mental health care.
House Bill 5 relates to the bourbon barrel tax. The bill will phase out the tax between 2026-2043.
House Bill 39 changes the governance of the Kentucky Horse Park by amending statutory provisions governing the Kentucky Horse Park Commission.
House Bill 200 is an effort to address the nursing shortage by creating public-private partnerships to support scholarships and growing high-need health care programs.
House Bill 264 is an economic development measure designed to attract new and maintain existing innovative companies. The bill removes burdens and red tape from companies and allows them to develop innovative products and processes in Kentucky and test those products for a year from overly restrictive laws and regulations. The companies will be supervised during this developmental period by the Kentucky Office of Regulatory Relief created within the Office of the Attorney General.
House Bill 319 seeks to ease teacher shortages. It would clear the way for Kentucky to participate in the Interstate Teachers Mobility Compact, if it is created. It would also allow someone with at least a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of experience in their field to teach that subject under the supervision of a certified teacher.
House Bill 538 enhances the school board’s and principal’s authority, to ensure order and establishes procedures for the removal of a disruptive student from the classroom.
House Bill 551 (sports betting) would allow for the legal wagering on sporting events in Kentucky.
House Bill 594 outlaws “gray machines” within the state and defines that they are not games of skill but games of chance.
A complete list of legislation can be at legislature.ky.gov.