With the Home and Senate adjourning Friday, the 2025 Legislative Session has entered the veto interval. As of Friday afternoon, over 107 further payments had been delivered to the Governor’s desk. Beneath the Kentucky Structure, he has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to behave.
The countdown for payments delivered final week is already underway, whereas these handed in week seven may have not less than per week earlier than gubernatorial motion is required. The governor has three decisions: signal a invoice, permit it to turn into legislation with out his signature, or veto it. Any invoice delivered by Friday is eligible for a veto override when lawmakers return for the ultimate two days of session on March 27 and 28.
A number of notable Senate payments (SB) had been delivered to the Governor.
I’m proud to say SB 100 handed. It’s my invoice that strengthens enforcement in opposition to underage vape and nicotine gross sales by requiring all tobacco and vape retailers to acquire a state license by the Kentucky Division of Alcoholic Beverage Management (ABC). The invoice grants ABC enforcement authority and imposes escalating fines and license revocation for repeated violations. It additionally prohibits distributors from supplying revoked retailers and directs a portion of fines collected towards youth vaping prevention efforts. It additionally bans the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide merchandise to anybody beneath 21, with fines for violators.
I’m additionally glad to report that SB 136, one other invoice I launched, was despatched to the Governor. It modernizes Kentucky’s car registration system, ensures honest insurance coverage valuations for totaled automobiles, and expands entry to REAL IDs. It enhances the Kentucky Automated Car Data System (KAVIS) for extra environment friendly processing and requires insurers to make use of nationally acknowledged valuation guides. The invoice additionally expands the Kentucky State Police driver’s testing pilot program to 10 counties. The invoice requires most lienholders to make use of the digital title system for lien administration beginning July 1, 2026 however exempts these not recurrently engaged in car financing or granted a cupboard exemption.
SB 43 is a invoice I co-sponsored that reforms the Medical Assessment Board to make sure a related medical knowledgeable is concerned in license opinions and permits people to current medical proof. It eliminates license suspensions for delinquent taxpayers and expands id doc entry by allowing third-party processing beneath Transportation Cupboard oversight. The Kentucky State Police and Transportation Cupboard should report on driver testing and ID growth wants by October 31.
SB 2 prohibits taxpayer funds from getting used for transgender surgical procedures and hormone remedy for inmates in Kentucky correctional amenities. It ensures inmates proceed receiving vital medical look after situations like thyroid or hormonal issues, whereas clearly distinguishing between important healthcare and elective gender transition procedures.
SB 26 protects dad and mom and potential adoptive dad and mom with disabilities from discrimination in adoption, parental rights, foster care, and kin placement selections. It mandates individualized assessments, adaptive providers, and documentation, aligning state coverage with the ADA whereas prioritizing little one welfare.
Quite a few others had been handed. Go to legislature.ky.gov to seek out the entire listing of payments.
The Senate gave closing passage to quite a few Home payments (HB) and despatched them to the Governor.
HB 6 was mirror laws to SB 20, which I sponsored. It bars state companies from imposing laws with prices exceeding $500,000 over two years, with some exceptions. The invoice contains different necessities that have to be met earlier than a regulation may be created with out the directive of the legislature.
HB 10 streamlines the elimination of squatters, eliminating prolonged court docket proceedings and growing penalties for unauthorized occupation and property harm.
HB 15 lowers the driving allow age to fifteen, aligning Kentucky with most Southern states. Allow holders should keep it for 180 days earlier than advancing.
HB 54 permits twin credit score commerce college students to depend on-the-job coaching towards licensure in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC fields, with set hour equivalencies. It additionally requires industry-aligned reporting requirements.
HB 441 expands trainer rehiring flexibility, growing the proportion of full-time retired academics a district can rehire. It eliminates essential scarcity hiring restrictions and the pension waiver program, permitting present contributors to proceed.
HB 546, which I labored on as Senate Transportation Chair and carried within the Senate, outlines funding for Kentucky’s Native Help Street Program, which supplies almost $24 million for native tasks, with county matches based mostly on inhabitants. HB 546 allocates $1.147 million for six precedence transportation tasks and preserves funding for the Interstate 69 bridge. The invoice additionally directs Kentucky and Indiana to reaffirm their toll income settlement by July 1.
We are going to monitor the governor’s selections within the week forward and return on March 27 to reply accordingly.
Thanks for permitting me to serve you within the Kentucky Senate. Please contact my workplace at 502-564-8100 or [email protected] when you have any questions, issues, or concepts.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, together with LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. Higdon serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, overseeing efforts to craft biennial highway plans, advance Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure, and enhance public security. He additionally serves as Senate co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, specializing in stabilizing and strengthening Kentucky’s pension programs by reform and surplus funding. Moreover, Higdon is a member of the Senate Committees on Schooling; Veterans, Navy Affairs, and Public Safety; and Licensing and Occupations. Through the 2024 interim, he served as a Kentucky Housing Job Drive member.
Public Safety; and Licensing and Occupations. Through the 2024 interim, he served as a Kentucky Housing Job Drive member.
