Between legislative committee meetings, House Floor debates, and visiting with constituents, last week was a very busy one in our State Capitol building. However, we still have a great deal of work to do, and the remaining legislative days promise a rapid pace.
As I write this, we only have 12 session days remaining in the 2022 Regular Session. In the next couple of weeks, we will pass legislation on the executive branch budget, tax modernization, child-care assistance, and the transportation budget.
Here are a few examples of the legislation passed this last week:
Lowering Motor Vehicle Taxes: Following unanimous passage in both chambers, legislation that would permanently lower motor vehicle taxes for Kentuckians was signed into law. HB 6 would ensure Property Value Administrators (PVAs) under the Kentucky Department of Revenue only use the average trade-in value, not the clean trade-in value, as the standard when assessing the value of motor vehicles for tax purposes.
Increasing Access to Law Enforcement Training: Members of the House approved HB 565, which would allow 10 percent of basic training and 30 percent of annual training for police officers to be given virtually. This measure will free up class space allowing officers to receive their training sooner. Currently, it takes officers several months to get into training courses due to the backlog.
Tightening Executive Branch Ethics Requirements: Last Wednesday, the House passed HB 334. The measure enhances penalties for ethics violations by increasing fines from $1,000 to $15,000. HB 334 also increases the commission’s size from five to seven members while reshuffling the appointment process to include all of Kentucky’s statewide executive branch offices.
Under these provisions, two members would be appointed by the governor, and the treasurer, the auditor of public accounts, the commissioner of agriculture, the secretary of state, and the attorney general would each receive the authority to appoint one individual.
Scaling Back on Masking: Legislation providing parents the right to opt their students out from mask mandates in Kentucky’s school and child care settings passed the House last week. HB 51 gives parents the option to send their children to school with or without facial coverings at all levels of education, from child care centers and public K-12 schools to public higher education institutions.
Strategy to Recruit and Retain Teachers: Legislation aimed at addressing Kentucky’s teacher shortage passed the House Education Committee last Wednesday. HB 277 creates a new alternative license expediting teaching certification programs in Kentucky. The measure creates a new pathway for recruiting potential teachers outside of the education field to the state’s most under-resourced school districts.
Protecting Second Amendment Rights: Last week, HB 29 passed on the House floor. This measure is meant to prohibit identified entities from enforcing federal firearm bans. HB 29 would prevent any federal firearm regulations enacted after January 1, 2022, from being enforced with Kentucky tax dollars or taxpayer dollars. Across the United States, 15 states have enacted similar legislation.
Boosting Bourbon Tourism: Legislation that would legalize private barrel selections at distilleries and boost Bourbon tourism with new programs to attract repeat visitors and enhance local communities passed the House this week.
HB 500 would establish a legal framework for the popular private barrel selection programs that distilleries have offered for years. The Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control recently acknowledged that such programs need specific guidance in Kentucky law. This measure would also allow distilleries to sell exclusive bottles at their gift shops, a privilege already allowed to Kentucky breweries and wineries as well as distilleries in other states and countries.
In addition, HB 500 would let distilleries open a satellite tasting room at another Kentucky location, potentially bringing investment, jobs and Bourbon tourism opportunities to downtowns and communities across the commonwealth. Kentucky wineries and breweries can already have unlimited satellite experiences.
Protection of Personal Health Information: Last week, HB 28 passed on the House floor. This measure would protect public employees from having to disclose their vaccination status.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. I appreciate that our news outlets are willing to run these columns and, of course, hope you’ll let me know if you have any comments or questions.
I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Samara.Heavrin@lrc.ky.gov.
You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at legislature.ky.gov.
Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield
