State Government
Our primary focus is at the state level, where we advocate for responsible policies that protect our environment
About the General Assembly
The Kentucky General Assembly meets annually in “Regular” sessions that begin the first week of January. Its sessions extend to the end of March in even-numbered years, when it must develop a Biennial (two-year) Budget. In odd-numbered years, sessions are shorter. Between sessions, the Governor may call the General Assembly into “Special” sessions on issues he identifies.
About the Executive Branch
The executive branch of Kentucky's state government includes appointed and elected officials.
The following is a list of state executive offices in Kentucky:
Democracy, Equity and Justice
Environmental justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are principles that are core to our work. We recognize that environmental pollution disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable communities, including women, communities of color, and income-challenged communities.
We work in a nonpartisan manner to ensure that our democracy works for all citizens, particularly those who are not able to advocate for themselves.
Who Represents Me?
There are two “Houses” of the General Assembly: the Senate, which has 38 members elected to six-year terms, and the House of Representatives, which has 100 members elected to two-year terms. Every Kentuckian is represented by a Representative and a Senator.
To find out who your State Senator and State Representative are, go to http://votesmart.org
To learn more about your Senator or Representative, you can also go to the Legislative Research Commission website here.
How Do I Contact My Legislators?
Legislators are “people persons” and want to hear from their constituents, so don’t be bashful. There are several options, depending on the urgency and your comfort level.
Leave a message: 1-800-372-7181. This is painless and effective. Operators accept a message that you dictate, no questions asked, from 7 am to 9 pm ET Monday to Thursday, and 7 am to 6 pm ET Friday, during sessions. You can leave a message for only one legislator, a list of legislators, all members of a committee you name, or all members of the House and/or Senate.
Send a fax: 1-502-564-6543. You can address single or multiple legislators, like the message line.
Send postal mail to a legislator to the Capital Annex, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Send email to a legislator using email address: firstname.lastname@lrc.ky.gov
Call direct: 1-502-564-8100. Legislators are very busy during sessions, but many will try to take time to talk to a constituent.
How a Bill Becomes Law
Introduction and Committee Referral:
A bill may be introduced in the House or Senate.
Each bill is assigned a number, read by title and sponsor, and referred to a standing committee by the Committee on Committees.
Committee Consideration:
Committee meetings are open to the public.
When there is sufficient interest in a subject, a public hearing is held.
A bill may be reported out of committee with one of the following reports: favorable, favorable with amendments, favorable with committee substitute, unfavorable, or without opinion.
A committee can kill a bill by failing to act on it.
First Reading:
When a committee reports a bill favorably, the bill is given its first reading and is placed in the Calendar for the following day.
Second Reading and then To Rules:
The bill is read by title a second time and sent to the Rules Committee.
The Rules Committee may recommit the bill or place it in Orders of the Day for a specific day.
Third Reading and Passage:
“I move that House Bill 100 be taken from the Orders of the Day, read for the third time by title only, and placed upon its passage.” This motion, usually by the majority floor leader, is adopted by voice vote, and the floor is open for debate.
Following debate and amendments, a final vote on the bill is taken.
To pass, a bill must be approved by at least two-fifths of the members of the chamber (40 representatives or 16 senators) and a majority of the members present and voting.
If the bill contains an appropriation of funds or an emergency clause, it must be approved by a majority of the members elected to each house (51 representatives and 20 senators).
What Happens Next?
If a bill is defeated, another vote is not likely unless two members who voted against it request its reconsideration, and a majority approves.
If a bill passes in one house, it is sent to the other chamber, where it follows much the same procedure.
Both houses must agree on the final form of each bill.
If either house fails to concur in amendments, the differences may be reconciled by a “conference committee” of senators and representatives.
Changes agreed to by this conference committee are subject to approval by both houses.
Enrollment:
After passage by both houses, a bill is read carefully to make sure the final wording is correct.
The bill is signed by the presiding officer of each house and sent to the Governor.
Governor’s Action:
The Governor may sign a bill, permit it to become law without signature, or veto it.
The Governor has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to act on a bill after it is received.
The bill may be passed over the Governor’s veto by a majority of the members of both houses.
How KCC Tracks Legislation
During sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly, and throughout the year, we scrutinize legislation and policies and inform voters, in a timely fashion, of the choices their elected officials are making. KCC is the eyes and ears to the public regarding environmental concerns and plays an active role in connecting the public and those who make decisions on their behalf.
KCC reviews every bill and resolution, and selects those that fall within our mission. Legislation is then reviewed by our legislative agents, and our full board of conservation and sustainability experts.
Bills that are central to our mission are prioritized for advocacy in our weekly alerts. High priority legislation is actively championed by our legislative agents.
During the session, we post robust analysis on key bills, with recommendations to support or oppose. We summarize this information each week in our blog, The KCC Guardian. To receive our analysis and bill review by mail or email, Join KCC!
You can also track legislation yourself using the web pages of the Legislative Research Commission. You can browse the final “Bill Status Information” on the Legislative Research Commission website.
Legislative Reviews
The Kentucky Conservation Committee has been a trusted voice of the public in Kentucky’s capital for over forty years, effectively advocating for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of Kentucky’s natural resources.
KCC monitors the Kentucky’s legislature year-round as a responsible steward of the Commonwealth’s land, air, water, and biota, during the General Assembly and Interim working sessions. We work to help Kentuckians understand that the health of their families, communities and economy depends on the conservation of these resources.
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