Beech Tree News Network

Week 15

This week marked the official end of the 2022 Regular Session, the veto period and the two subsequent days for the General Assembly to override Governor Andy Beshear's vetoes. In addition to the overrides, we were able to pass a few additional bills, which we expect to be signed into law.

With a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly, the Republican Party currently represents the conservative values of the majority of the commonwealth’s voting residents. Multitudes of vetoes from the Governor speak to social and cultural issues, but also to the commonwealth’s morality. These policy initiatives included pro-life measures, protecting the integrity of women’s sports, strengthened oversight of state government

In the latest effort of the General Assembly to champion pro-life legislation and be a leading national voice for the voiceless, we passed House Bill 3, banning mail-order abortion-inducing pills and requiring a judicial review for all minors requesting an abortion. House Bill 3 also included language from Senate Bill 231 banning abortions after 15 weeks. The Governor chose to veto this pro-life bill, but fortunately we were able to override and enact the bill into law.

It’s likely that allies of the Governor opposing Kentucky’s pro-life legislation will file a lawsuit against House Bill 3 as they have against past bills aiming to protect the unborn. A previously passed pro-life bill currently sits before the US Supreme Court and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; he, along with our large coalition of pro-life advocates, are eager to continue defending these measures with the potential of overturning Roe v. Wade.

In addition to pro-life legislation, the Governor vetoed the Senate’s bill ensuring fairness in women’s athletics. Senate Bill 83 requires those competing in female-sanctioned sports must be biologically female, which applies to all sports from the sixth grade through collegiate level athletics. Under Title IX, women have worked incredibly hard to have equal opportunity in sports, and allowing biological males to compete against females negates their many years of sweat and time investment. The Senate stands in solidarity with dedicated female athletes, which is why we overrode the Governor’s veto.

Riley Gaines, a female swimmer for the University of Kentucky, attended Senate proceedings on Wednesday and was given the opportunity to speak on her experience competing and losing a trophy to a transgender female. Sen. Robby Mills held a press conference along with sponsors of the bill, showing support for Gaines and other female athletes across the state. Her visit highlights the importance of this legislation and its goal to protect Title IX and the Kentucky girls and women competing under it.

It has been a tremendous session and I have strived to serve you and our district well. This was my final regular session following twenty years of service in the General Assembly. It’s been my pleasure to work for and serve you for the past twenty years.

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].