Budget Conference & Remaining Bills
This coming week, the Budget Conference Committee convenes on Monday the 8th for work on the budget. Other legislative committees may meet as needed to complete work on their priority bills. See the upcoming week’s schedule here and note that additional special committee meetings may be called as needed. The General Assembly is scheduled to resume their work on Thursday, March 11th. So the next several days are a great time to make your final calls and emails on bills that are moving before the Assembly resumes. Call the legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181 from 7-9 Monday through Thursday and 7-6 Friday. You can also contact them via email here.
There are six working days remaining on the schedule for the General Assembly to meet between now and March 30. This timeline also includes ten days for the Governor to act on bills he may want to veto.
Bill Review on Podcast. Our thanks to the Kentucky Academy of Science who hosted us for two episodes of their podcast to talk about environmental legislation. You can find part 1 of two podcasts here. We also want to thank Stuart Unger at “Stu’s EV Universe” for hosting KCC to talk about electric car legislation. Link here and read more analysis on these EV/Transportation bills HERE.
Highlight of Bills and Resolutions On the Move:
SB211 (KCC Strong Oppose) (Carroll) Raises prison terms, fines, and allows people to use "defensive force" against those who "riot" without criminal liability. The definition of riot remains ambiguous. This bill is regressive, focuses on poor folks, and is likely unconstitutional. Has passed committee and now on its way to the full Senate. See more about this bill in this Courier Journal article. And then contact your Senator to oppose.
HB4 (KCC Oppose) (Osborne) Proposes to amend Sections 36 and 42 of the Kentucky Constitution to allow the legislature to add up to 10 additional days to a long or short session upon the vote of 3/5 of the membership of each House, with no session to extend beyond December 31. Posted for concurrence with the Senate Committee Substitute on 3/3. Contact House Leadership to oppose.
SB5 (KCC Oppose) (Stivers) Provides liability protection to companies that have to deal with COVID emergencies. Currently posted in House Judiciary. Contact House Judiciary to oppose.
HJR11 (KCC Strong Support) (Osborne) Directs the Energy and Environment Cabinet to study the economic impact and feasibility of adopting an electronic waste disposal program in Kentucky. Posted in House Natural Resources & Energy committee 3/2. Ask your House Representative to co-sponsor.
SB75 (KCC Oppose) (Wheeler) Allows Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on certain designated state roadways under local jurisdiction once approved by the Transportation Cabinet. Slightly improved in the substitute, which adds more requirements for roads to be approved by the Transportation Cabinet. Has passed the Senate and is now in the House. Contact your House Representative to oppose.
HB207 (KCC Strong Oppose) (Gooch) Prohibits local governments from taking any legislative or executive action that impairs a consumer's ability to use a gas service. House Amendment adopted gives local governments more local control, but maintains the obligation to offer fossil fuel utility services. Senate Substitute prohibits any executive, administrative, or legislative action that has the purpose or effect of prohibiting or otherwise limiting in any way a consumer's ability to use liquefied petroleum gas. Has now passed the House and the Senate. Contact Leadership to Oppose.
HB272 (KCC Strong Oppose) (Bray) Allows water districts and water associations to charge a late payment charge of 10% of the amount billed and prohibits the Public Service Commission from modifying, rejecting, or suspending late payment charges established by tariff. Passed House. Contact Senate Natural Resources & Energy to oppose. More info HERE.
HB312 (KCC Strong Oppose) (Rowland) Proposes significant changes to the state's public records law. Creates a residency requirement for open records requests. Allows lawmakers to have a final say over whether to release records relating to themselves. Passed House. Contact Senate State & Local Government to oppose.
A Footnote on Diversity, Equity and Justice: This year, KCC has one of the most diverse boards we have ever had in our long history…diverse in age, professional background, race, gender identification, geographic location and skill sets. Such richness of perspectives has been invaluable and a blessing this session as bills pass though with a speed that can challenge our thinking among our collective experiences and perspectives.
We need to ensure that our laws not only address important issues, but that they also reflect those most affected. As an example, we note that during the pre-file period, Rep. Attica Scott, one of our few lawmakers of color, pre-filed HB21, also known as Breonna’s Law. It was only assigned to committee late in the session and has not been voted on. Meanwhile, Sen Stivers introduced SB4— a similar, but much weakened bill, which was voted out of the Senate in 4 days. While these two bills are not part of KCC’s environmental list, we want to use these as an opportunity to remind ourselves that our job is to continue to advocate for good laws, but also, more importantly, advocate for good processes that truly represent the citizens that these laws are designed to protect. A more diverse legislature can help to ensure that.