Beech Tree News Network

The 60-day legislative session is moving right along here in Frankfort as the General Assembly begins to advance 2020 legislative priorities this week. 

First, allow me to offer my congratulations to our newest colleague, Senator-elect Mike Nemes, who was elected with an overwhelming majority in the 38th Senate District, which encompasses Bullitt County and part of Jefferson County. I look forward to welcoming him to our caucus. 

I spent much of my week meeting with some wonderful people and organizations like teachers from Dawson Springs, the Hopkins County Teachers Association, The Barren River Health Department, Feeding Kentucky, the Alliance for Innovative Medicine, and several others. I’m grateful for the input I receive from these meetings and look forward to many more productive meetings throughout the rest of the 2020 Session.

On Tuesday, Kentuckians and legislators from both sides of the aisle listened to Governor Beshear propose policy goals and recommendations to the Kentucky General Assembly in his first State of the Commonwealth Address. The Governor also noted his legislative priorities for 2020, which included fully funding pension obligations, criminal justice reform, and plans to improve Kentucky public education, starting with a statewide teacher salary increase. As the legislature begins to prepare the biennial budget, Governor Beshear will also be delivering a budget address on January 28. Both of these addresses are customarily presented by the governor and serve as a beneficial element in our state’s separation of powers. We eagerly await to hear how the Governor plans to execute the ideas he has laid out.

Crafting a budget will not be an easy task. Demands placed on state government by our priorities, and other costs continue to outpace revenue growth. In the coming weeks, legislative branch staff and other resources will be utilized to help the General Assembly better determine a path forward for this year’s budgetary balancing act. Per the Kentucky Constitution, budget bills must start in the House. I will keep you informed as the Senate begins to deliberate budgetary matters in the coming weeks. 

While the new administration formulates its agenda and presents it to the legislature, the majority leadership in the General Assembly is continuing to move forward with a legislative agenda supported by Kentucky voters. Committee meetings are now in full swing, as this past week legislators began discussing bills recently assigned to their respective committees. The committee’s in which I am a member of did not hold meetings this week.

However, there is some notable legislation that has made some traction through their committees. A prime example is Senate Bill 56 (SB 56), which passed unanimously out of the Health & Welfare Committee on Wednesday. That committee heard student testimony as well as a presentation from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. SB 56 ensures Kentucky complies with the federal minimum legal age for the sale, purchase and use of tobacco products. It also eliminates possession penalties for youth up to age 21. As a medical professional, this is a bill I am proud of. It will make tremendous progress in keeping tobacco products out of the hands of our students.

The full Senate body also passed two pieces of legislation this week. Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) and Senate Bill 11 (SB 11). SB 3 a great bill that proposes a constitutional amendment to the voters of Kentucky. If adopted, the amendment would move Kentucky’s statewide elections to even number years, in unison with Presidential elections. This would save the state approximately $3.5 million dollars and counties $13 million dollars each election. It’s a fiscally responsible measure that will both alleviate voter fatigue, and increase voter engagement in the election of our state Constitutional Officers. SB 11 also passed favorably on the Senate floor this week. That bill provides recourse for property owners to pursue legal action for intentional damages done to residential rental property. It would classify intentional or wanton destruction, defacement, or damage to such property as criminal mischief under Kentucky Law. 

I was happy to vote yes on both of these pieces of legislation. SB 3 and SB 11 will now head over to the House for consideration. I co-sponsored both bills.

As we head into the third week of the 2020 Regular Session, your input is greatly appreciated. Kentuckians have many avenues to follow the General Assembly throughout the session, including seeing legislative action in person here in Frankfort, or viewing online at KET.org/legislature. 

If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at [email protected]. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent you in the 6th District and welcome your feedback throughout the 2020 Session.

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Note:  Senator C.B. Embry, (R-Morgantown), represents the 6th District including Butler, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Ohio Counties. He is vice chairman of Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee and co-chairman of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee. He also serves as a member of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee; the Transportation Committee, and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education.