Beech Tree News Network

BELTON, KY— To continue a recap of the 2022 Session, I would like to share about legislation that passed related to government and/or the legislative or judicial process. I will report on 14 bills that became law with a brief summary of their significance.

HB 2 provides for the constitutionally required redistricting of State House districts based on population figures from the recent 2020 U.S. Census. As you may or may not be aware, they went into effect essentially upon their passing. Hopkins County is now the 4th District and is being restored to its own single county district. The 15th District now includes all of Muhlenberg and all of Butler Counties. 

The census showed that the population of Kentucky is moving towards the middle of the state. Citizens have moved to the center both from Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. There still remain 100 House Districts; their configurations have changed.

HB 10 repeals the outdated and often misleading process of pre-filing bills. The goal is greater transparency in the legislative process. Moving forward, there will be “working drafts” prior to session that can be modified according to circumstances prior to the start of a legislative session so that a bill will be closer to reality before actually being filed for consideration. 

HB 179 contains the redrawing of the seven State Supreme Court Districts in Kentucky, again, taking place due to the U.S. Census. Butler County was moved from the First to the Second District. Muhlenberg and Hopkins Counties remain in the First Supreme Court District.  

HB 212 grants fiscal courts the ability to move the deadline for magisterial redistricting due to how late the data was finalized from the census that could have resulted in district lines changing after the primary. They will be redrawn as of May 2023. 

HB 214 addresses judicial workload disparities and rebalances those workloads. It specifically addresses shortages in family court judges and adds seats where the data showed the greatest need. The goal is to ensure cases are being heard in a timely manner, especially since family courts hear critical cases pertaining to child custody, domestic violence, and adoption. 

HB 248 prohibits elected state officers, except for the Attorney General, from using appropriated funds (taxpayer dollars) to support a challenge to the constitutionality of any legislative act or resolution of the General Assembly. It protects the constitutional authority of the General Assembly to make laws, the Governor’s constitutional authority to enforce laws, and the public’s confidence in its elected chief legal officer to advise on the constitutionality of legislation.

HB 301 requires all costs and expenses related to election administration be paid with public funds. It also prohibits a state government employee from accepting anything of value to assist with election administration unless entered into as a lawful contract. The goal is to make elections more transparent so Kentuckians can be confident in whom they are voting for and from where contributions for those campaigns are coming.

HB 314 allows governmental entities within Louisville and Jefferson County to oversee certain functions of their operation and creates criteria in the event a community would like to be established as a city.

HB 351 grants local governments the ability to submit an affidavit to the state in the event that certain records were lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. This was prompted by the December 2021 tornadoes that affected multiple cities and counties whose records were destroyed.

HB 372 changes the requirements of financial disclosure reports by eligible local fire departments from every four years to once a year and would be done by the state Fire Fighting Commission. This measure was brought forward due to the high turnover of fire department leadership.  

HB 388 authorizes the state treasurer to make the final decision on state contracts that have been disapproved by the Government Contract Review Committee. 

HB 453 mandates that public agencies holding a meeting grant public access not only in-person but also provide an online option to participate.

HB 564 makes the threatening or intimidation of precinct officers and poll workers a Class D felony. It also sets up security protocols to ensure voting numbers, seals, and equipment have not been tampered with during an election. It prevents voting systems from being connected to an outside network and that polling places use a secure network for that specific location. The bill also strengthens protocols for mail-in and absentee voting. The goal is to increase the security of elections as well as reassure voters that the elections are secure and their vote counts. 

HB 618 allows the State Board of Elections to choose to provide master lists of registered voters in an electronic format to county clerks for use in e-poll books during an election. It will also clean up voter rolls so ballots are not sent to individuals who are no longer registered or eligible to vote and ensures that all those who vote are properly registered to vote in the Commonwealth. 

This past week I was able to attend the Door of Hope annual fundraising dinner in Madisonville, the local officials meeting for the redesign of Dean Road from the by-pass to St Rt 181 in Muhlenberg County (be on the lookout for a public input meeting in the future), as well as the National Day of Prayer in Butler County.  I continue addressing concerns of constituents and local elected officials who reach out for help and make inquiries on their behalf when needed in order to assist them with their issues.  

As always, I welcome your comments and concerns on any issue and can be reached, regardless of if in session or not, through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at-1-800-372-7181, at 502-564-8100, Ext. 59010, or via email at [email protected]

Please follow me on Facebook @melindagibbonsprunty. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation by visiting our website at https://legislature.ky.gov and watch both live and recorded meetings on YouTube at KY LRC Committee Meetings or on Kentucky Educational Television at https://ket.org/legislature.

Note: Representative Melinda Gibbons Prunty represents the 15th House District. She is Vice-Chair of both the Health & Family Services Committee and the Budget Review Sub-Committee on Health & Family Services. She serves on the Appropriations & Revenue, Education, and Natural Resources & Energy Committees as well as Medicaid Oversight & Advisory and the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening & Prevention Advisory Committees.