kentucky legislature
Kentucky legislature overrides veto of anti-trans bill
This story discusses suicide and anti-LGBTQ attacks in Kentucky. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at […]
How one Northern Kentucky family prepares for potential passage of ‘anti-trans’ legislation
This article is republished from Link NKY. When Nancy Bardgett’s daughter came out as transgender, she was thankful that Jordan was able to receive the care she needed. In addition to having a supportive family, Jordan, a student at Northern Kentucky University at the time, received mental-health support. “She had supportive friends and she sought […]
Veto overrides and sine die: What to expect the final two days of Kentucky’s legislative session
The Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes Wednesday for the last two days of this year’s session with some closely-watched bills still to consider and a chance to override more than a dozen vetoes of Republican-backed legislation by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Since March 17, Beshear has had a ten-day period to consider whether to veto legislation […]
Beshear vetoes bill allowing ‘random’ venue changes in cases challenging Kentucky laws, decisions
Calling it an “unconstitutional power grab,” Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a Republican-backed bill Friday that allows a court case challenging the constitutionality of Kentucky laws and orders to be moved at random to a new courtroom across the state. Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, would give plaintiffs, defendants and the […]
SB 150 will harm military families and their missions
No matter how you feel about trans health care, we can all agree that soldiers defending America’s interests abroad shouldn’t have additional, unnecessary worries about their families at home. That’s exactly what’s happening with the movement of Senate Bill 150. SB 150 is one of the most extreme attacks on transgender health that we’ve seen […]
Kentucky lame-duck lawmakers flew to Hawaii on taxpayers’ tab
Seven lame-duck lawmakers were among 26 members of the Kentucky General Assembly who attended a conference last December in Hawaii. The trip cost taxpayers more than $86,000. The conference of the Council of State Governments in Honolulu, which attracted more than 1,000 state legislators from across the country, offered workshops on various governmental issues. It was […]
Beshear vetoes anti-trans, ‘parents rights’ bill
Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday vetoed a bill that would, among other things, ban gender-affirming care for Kentucky’s transgender minors. The legislation, Senate Bill 150, was passed by the Kentucky legislature in mid-March. Beshear’s veto was not surprising – in 2020 he became the first sitting Kentucky governor to attend an LGBTQ+ fairness rally. […]
Child care — the ‘workforce behind the workforce’ — is in crisis in Kentucky
Kentucky lawmakers, concerned that the state has half the workers it needs, cut unemployment benefits to force those who lose jobs to get back to work quicker and set up a program to get ex-inmates directly from prisons into jobs. But a direct, long-overdue way to beef up the workforce would be to provide affordable […]
Can’t find the word? Try ‘bigotry’
In the penultimate courtroom scene in 1993’s “Philadelphia,” Denzel Washington’s character demands the court acknowledge the subject they have danced uncomfortably around throughout the trial. “Your honor, everybody in this courtroom is thinking about sexual orientation, sexual preference, whatever you want to call it,” he says. “Who does what to whom and how they do […]
Limits on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland gain support in Congress, despite skepticism
WASHINGTON — Bipartisan momentum is building in Congress to restrict China and other foreign adversaries from purchasing U.S. farmland, a reflection of a similar push by some states as well as apprehension over Chinese spy balloons, rising land prices and growing international competition. “Foreign ownership of agricultural land threatens small family farms and the overall […]
Republicans push back against education commissioner’s criticism
Two Republican office holders on Monday slammed Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass for his criticism of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation enacted by the General Assembly. House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, said in a statement that Glass “once again makes it abundantly clear that it is not the legislature that is politicizing the state’s classrooms and […]
Legislature approves ‘random’ venue changes for Kentuckians challenging state laws, decisions
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians challenging the constitutionality of state laws and executive branch decisions could move their lawsuits across the state at random, under a Republican-backed bill approved by the legislature last week. Lawyers representing the state also would be entitled to random changes of venue. The sponsor, Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, called Senate Bill 126 […]