Beech Tree News Network

The Senate advanced three budget-related bills with bipartisan support Wednesday as legislators look toward the next two-year spending cycle for state government.All three bills – House Bill 1, House Bill 6 and House Bill 263 – received unanimous approval from the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee earlier in the day. The Senate approved HB 1 with a 38-0 vote, House Bill 6 with a 37-1 vote and HB 263 with a 37-1 vote in the afternoon.

HB 6, which represents the budget for the state executive branch, cleared the House floor on Feb. 1 and has remained under review in the Senate since then. The Senate Majority Caucus unveiled some key changes to the House plan as the bill was advancing Wednesday. 

Those include close to $100 million in additional money for the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky – or SEEK – funding model for public schools. 

The Senate also proposes to double the amount of money to support the performance funding model for higher education, raising the total appropriation to $201 million. 

Other changes include increased performance funding for jails, more money for Medicaid and $200 million to pay down bonds related to the KentuckyWired project.

Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, chairs the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. He said the budget process has been diligent and fair and provided opportunities for comment from around the state. 

“I think those who have participated in the process and have seen the process will say that they’ve had the opportunity to do just that,” he said. “Thanks to the work of every member sitting in this chamber.” 

Compared to the current state budget, HB 6 would provide: 

--A 2.6% raise for state employees in each year of the budget.

--A 4% increase in SEEK in the first year and a 2% increase in the second year.

--More than $110 million in additional funds for school transportation.

--An additional $460 million to fully fund the actuarially recommended contribution to the teacher retirement system. 

--$250 million in each fiscal year to pay down unfunded liabilities in the state pension system.

--Full funding for the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program.

--Funding for an additional 100 social workers over the biennium. 

--$22.5 million over the two years to enhance salaries at Kentucky State Police, along with enhanced training incentives for law enforcement.

--Millions to support the Child Care Assistance Program. 

The 257-page bill includes many other appropriations, including funds to support education, public safety, workforce development, energy, constitutional offices, and other government services.

Meanwhile, the Senate version of HB 1 proposes a series of one-time appropriations aimed at improving infrastructure, economic development, health care and housing. That includes $890 million for the state road fund, $150 million for the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence, $75 million toward the development of nuclear energy and many more projects. 

“House Bill 1 is about transforming Kentucky, and we start with this bill asking ourselves how do we do transformational things? How do we ensure that we are competitive in the next century,” McDaniel said. 

Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, voted no on HB 6 and HB 263 and explained why. 

“I really think we need to be focused on what we’re spending our money on, and we just voted on all these things. We have money for a lot of these projects. They don’t need to be funded with debt, and we shouldn’t be balancing our budget with debt,” she said.

But Senate Minority Whip David Yates, D-Louisville, commended lawmakers for looking at HB 6 as a document that serves all of the state. 

“I’m greatly appreciative of that, and I look forward to finishing out as we get down to the bottom details. But I just want to take a second to voice my gratitude,” he said.  

All three bills head back to the House for lawmakers to vote on whether they concur with the Senate changes.