# 2024 Kentucky General Assembly

The 2024 Kentucky General Assembly was a meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly, composed of the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives. It convened in Frankfort on January 2, 2024, and adjourned sine die on April 15, 2024. It was the fifth regular session of the legislature during the tenure of governor Andy Beshear.
Republicans maintained their majorities in both chambers following the 2022 elections for the senate and the house.
During this session, the General Assembly approved two constitutional amendments that were voted on in November 2024, including the School choice amendment.

## Major legislation
### Enacted
#### House bills

* HB 1: An act relating to government agencies, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency (passed over veto)
* HB 2: 2024 Kentucky Amendment 2: An act proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to education funding
* HB 5: An act relating to crimes and punishments (passed over veto)
* HB 6: An act relating to appropriations measures providing funding and establishing conditions for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its various officers, cabinets, departments, boards, commissions, institutions, subdivisions, agencies, and other state-supported activities (passed over veto)
* HB 7: An act relating to autonomous vehicles (passed over veto)
* HB 11: An act relating to nicotine products
* HB 18: An act relating to the rights of property owners and declaring an emergency (passed over veto)
* HB 44: An act relating to voter registration (passed over veto)
* HB 53: An act relating to elections and making an appropriation therefor (without signature)
* HB 142: An act relating to products that contain nicotine
* HB 278: An act relating to the protection of children
* HB 388: An act relating to local government and declaring an emergency (passed over veto)
* HB 513: An act relating to the New State Capitol campus (passed over veto)
* HB 535: An act relating to civic education
* HB 561: An act relating to child care
* HB 611: An act relating to truancy (without signature)
* HB 622: An act relating to elections and declaring an emergency (passed over veto)
* HB 752: An act relating to disaster recovery, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency

#### Senate bills

* SB 2: An act relating to student safety (without signature)
* SB 20: An act relating to crimes and punishments (without signature)
* SB 143: An act proposing to amend Sections 145 and 155 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to persons entitled to vote
* SB 198: An act relating to nuclear energy development (passed over veto)
* SB 215: An act relating to motor vehicles (without signature)

### Passed both houses
#### Senate bills

* SB 6: An act relating to postsecondary institutions

### Passed one house
#### House bills

* HB 96: An act relating to moments of silence and reflection
* HB 227: An act relating to school districts
* HB 255: An act relating to employment of minors
* HB 300: An act relating to the profession of education
* HB 367: An act relating to public benefits
* HB 463: An act relating to the protection of children using social media
* HB 465: An act relating to worker benefits
* HB 509: An act relating to access to the records and meetings of public agencies
* HB 575: An act relating to the acquisition of agricultural land
* HB 626: An act relating to interference with a legislative proceeding
* HB 829: An act relating to medicinal cannabis

#### Senate bills

* SB 3: An act relating to the Department of Agriculture and declaring an emergency
* SB 4: An act relating to sick leave for members of the Teachers' Retirement System and declaring an emergency
* SB 8: An act relating to the Kentucky Board of Education
* SB 10: An act proposing to amend Section 95 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to the election of state officers
* SB 23: An act proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to property exempt from taxation
* SB 25: An act relating to local landlord and tenant ordinances
* SB 80: An act relating to elections
* SB 126: An act proposing to amend Sections 77 and 240 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to limiting the Governor's ability to grant pardons and commute sentences
* SB 142: An act relating to paid parental leave
* SB 147: An act relating to adult-oriented businesses and declaring an emergency
* SB 167: An act relating to public school students' communication skills
* SB 344: An act relating to vapor products and making an appropriation therefor

### Proposed
#### House bills

* HB 4: An act proposing to amend the Constitution of Kentucky relating to sessions of the General Assembly
* HB 9: An act relating to postsecondary education and declaring an emergency
* HB 94: An act proposing to amend Section 42 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to sessions of the General Assembly
* HB 102: An act relating to housing opportunities
* HB 208: An act proposing an amendment to Section 183 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to education funding
* HB 228: An act relating to postsecondary employment
* HB 259: An act relating to concealed deadly weapons
* HB 304: An act relating to education and declaring an emergency
* HB 500: An act relating to wages and hours

#### Senate bills

* SB 61: An act relating to elections
* SB 77: An act relating to elections
* SB 99: An act relating to exceptions to restrictions on maternal healthcare
* SB 203: An act relating to early childhood education
* SB 205: An act providing maternity leave for public school employees
* SB 300: An act relating to elections

## Major resolutions
### Adopted
#### House resolutions

* HR 45: A resolution expressing support for the State of Israel and the Israeli people and condemning the violent events on October 7, 2023
* HR 57: A resolution urging Governor Andy Beshear to express support for Governor Greg Abbott and the State of Texas in their efforts to secure the border

#### Senate resolutions

* SR 29: A resolution honoring the life and accomplishments of former Kentucky Governor Brereton Chandler Jones
* SR 77: A resolution expressing support for the State of Israel and the Israeli people and condemning the violent events on October 7, 2023
* SR 94: A resolution honoring the 20th Black History Celebration and recognizing that Black history is American history
* SR 123: A resolution calling upon Governor Andy Beshear to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott in securing the Texas border
* SJR 140: A joint resolution directing the Public Service Commission to make all staffing, organizational, and administrative preparations necessary to be ready to discharge its regulatory duties relating to applications for the siting and construction of nuclear energy facilities in the Commonwealth
* SJR 149: A joint resolution directing the Energy and Environment Cabinet to provide guidance and consultation on best management practices for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to entities that discharge directly or indirectly into Kentucky's waterways

### Proposed
#### House resolutions

* HJR 121: A joint resolution declaring the Commonwealth of Kentucky a sanctuary state from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's overreaching regulatory actions on fossil fuel-fired power plants

#### Senate resolutions

* SR 50: A resolution acknowledging the events of January 6, 2021, at the United States Capitol and recognizing the citizens who have been held without due process

## Party summary
### Senate

Overview of Senate membership by party :
| | Party(shading shows control) | Party(shading shows control) | Total | Vacant |
| | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous session | 7 | 30 | 37 | 1 |
| Begin (January 2, 2024) | 7 | 31 | 38 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 18.4% | 81.6% | | |
| Beginning of the next session | TBD | TBD | 38 | 0 |

### House of Representatives

Overview of House membership by party :
| | Party(shading shows control) | Party(shading shows control) | Total | Vacant |
| | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous session | 20 | 80 | 100 | 0 |
| Begin (January 2, 2024) | 20 | 79 | 99 | 1 |
| January 15, 2024 | 20 | 78 | 98 | 2 |
| March 25, 2024 | 20 | 80 | 100 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 20.0% | 80.0% | | |
| Beginning of the next session | TBD | TBD | 100 | 0 |

## Leadership
### Senate
#### Presiding

* President: Robert Stivers (R)
* President pro tempore: David P. Givens (R)

#### Majority (Republican)

* Majority Leader: Damon Thayer
* Majority Whip: Mike Wilson
* Majority Caucus Chair: Julie Raque Adams

#### Minority (Democratic)

* Minority Leader: Gerald Neal
* Minority Whip: David Yates
* Minority Caucus Chair: Reggie Thomas

### House of Representatives
#### Presiding

* Speaker: David Osborne (R)
* Speaker pro tempore: David Meade (R)

#### Majority (Republican)

* Majority Leader: Steven Rudy
* Majority Whip: Jason Nemes
* Majority Caucus Chair: Suzanne Miles

#### Minority (Democratic)

* Minority Leader: Derrick Graham
* Minority Whip: Rachel Roberts
* Minority Caucus Chair: Cherlynn Stevenson

## Members
### Senate

Senators in odd-numbered districts were elected in 2020, while senators in even-numbered districts were elected in 2022.

### House of Representatives

All 100 house districts were last up for election in 2022.

## Changes in membership
### Senate changes

There were no changes in Senate membership during this session.

### House of Representatives changes
## Committees
### Senate committees

| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair |
| Agriculture | Jason Howell | Gary Boswell |
| Appropriations and Revenue | Christian McDaniel | Amanda Mays Bledsoe |
| Banking and Insurance | Jared Carpenter | Rick Girdler |
| Committee on Committees | Robert Stivers | none |
| Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor | Max Wise | Phillip Wheeler |
| Education | Steve West | Gex Williams |
| Enrollment | Amanda Mays Bledsoe | none |
| Families and Children | Danny Carroll | Julie Raque Adams |
| Health and Services | Stephen Meredith | Donald Douglas |
| Judiciary | Whitney Westerfield | Phillip Wheeler |
| Licensing and Occupations | John Schickel | Mike Nemes |
| Natural Resources and Energy | Brandon Smith | Johnnie Turner |
| Rules | Robert Stivers | none |
| State and Local Government | Robby Mills | Mike Nemes |
| Transportation | Jimmy Higdon | Brandon J. Storm |
| Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection | Rick Girdler | Matthew Deneen |

### House of Representatives committees

| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair(s) |
| Agriculture | Richard Heath | Daniel Fister |
| Appropriations and Revenue | Jason Petrie | Adam Bowling and Josh Bray |
| Banking and Insurance | Michael Meredith | Matt Lockett and Michael Pollock |
| Committee on Committees | David Osborne | David Meade |
| Economic Development and Workforce Investment | Josh Branscum | Thomas Huff |
| Education | James Tipton | Shane Baker and Timmy Truett |
| Elections, Const. Amendments, and Intergovermental Affairs | Kevin Bratcher | Josh Calloway |
| Enrollment | Thomas Huff | none |
| Families and Children | Samara Heavrin | Steve Riley |
| Health Services | Kimberly Poore Moser | Ryan Dotson |
| Judiciary | Daniel Elliott | Jennifer Decker |
| Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations | Matthew Koch | Tom Smith |
| Local Government | Randy Bridges | Ken Fleming |
| Natural Resources and Energy | Jim Gooch | Billy Wesley and Richard White |
| Rules | David Osborne | David Meade |
| Small Business and Information Technology | Phillip Pratt | William Lawrence |
| State Government | David Hale | Mary Beth Imes |
| Tourism and Outdoor Recreation | Kim King | Shawn McPherson |
| Transportation | John Blanton | Jonathan Dixon |
| Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection | Walker Thomas | Scott Sharp |