Frankfort – State Rep. Jim Gooch’s effort to update how the state responds to drug abuse in Kentucky’s coal mines unanimously passed the House of Representatives’ Natural Resources and Environment Thursday afternoon and is poised for quick passage in the full chamber. “House Bill 385 will hopefully ease the minds of those miners who want to…
Rep. Susan Westrom’s bill to open family courts passes key hurdle
By Beth Musgrave, Herald-Leader - FRANKFORT — A bill that would allow a pilot project to open family courts unanimously passed a House panel Wednesday and will likely pass the full House in coming days. House Bill 239 would create at least one pilot project in seven Supreme Court districts to open family court proceedings, including…
House Local Govt. Committee to vote on pro-business bill, Chairman Riggs says
Frankfort – Looking to make it easier to conduct business across Kentucky, state Rep. Steve Riggs said the House of Representatives’ Local Government Committee will vote tomorrow on a bill that would significantly streamline the collection of local business taxes. Under House Bill 277, which Rep. Riggs is co-sponsoring, all local taxing districts would generally be…
Speaker Stumbo files False Claims Act to target fraud across state government
With the two main goals of rooting out fraud and reducing the state’s deficit by potentially millions of dollars, Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo announced today he is filing legislation that would give whistleblowers strong financial incentive to step forward if state tax dollars are being misused. “Kentucky’s False Claims Act would extend far beyond…
Rep. Sannie Overly files bill to strengthen Kentucky’s human trafficking laws
Frankfort, KY: Rep. Sannie Overly, (D-Paris) this week announced that she is filing legislation to strengthen Kentucky’s human trafficking laws to better enforce the rising incidence of the crimes against children throughout the commonwealth. Rep. John Tilley, (D-Hopkinsville), and Rep. Susan Westrom, (D-Lexington), are co-sponsors of the bill and participated in the announcement. The “Human Trafficking…
House Speaker Greg Stumbo files bill to stop epidemic of prescription drug abuse
Frankfort – Building on his previous work as a state legislator and as Attorney General, House Speaker Greg Stumbo filed legislation today that would make it easier for law enforcement to target and then stop prescription drug abuse. “This epidemic truly knows no bounds, and it’s poised to get much worse if we do nothing,” said…
Ky. House passes Rep. Rand’s resolution against federal plan limiting child farm labor
Frankfort – Seeking to stop a federal change severely limiting how much help teenagers could provide on a farm, the Kentucky House of Representatives put its unanimous support today behind Rep. Rick Rand’s resolution calling on the U.S. Department of Labor to rescind its proposal. “This proposed change, however well-intentioned, would have an unnecessary effect on…
Reps. McKee, Denham file bill to honor Ky. soldiers who died in Iraq, Afghanistan
Frankfort – With the goal of permanently recognizing those Kentuckians who lost their lives fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, state Reps. Tom McKee and Mike Denham have filed legislation that would set the stage for a permanent memorial. ”With military operations officially over in Iraq and a timetable set to wind down our presence in Afghanistan,…
Rep. Henderson, Commissioner Comer stand in support of industrial hemp bill
Frankfort – Appearing together in the Capitol Rotunda with dozens of supporters from across the state, state Rep. Richard Henderson and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said today they would work to pass Rep. Henderson’s legislation that would set the stage to make industrial hemp legal to grow in Kentucky. “The time has come for Kentucky…
House Speaker Greg Stumbo sets the record straight on redistricting and minority rights
Frankfort – Calling it a chance to discuss “the hard facts, not political spin,” House Speaker Greg Stumbo issued a memorandum today to all House members that further details the differences between the House redistricting plan that was adopted last week and the proposed Republican alternative. In his memo, Speaker Stumbo pointed out that the…