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In stunning final hour, 3 controversial bills pass Kentucky legislature

And with no transparency, and with no chance for the public to comment.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Some of the most controversial bills of the 2025 General Assembly passed in the final hour before start of the veto period.

After 11 p.m. Friday — just before the deadline to pass bills that could have potential vetoes overridden — the Kentucky legislature passed legislation that prohibits Medicaid from funding hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery, another wide-ranging measure that requires Medicaid recipients to work in order to receive benefits and a third bill that codifies a ban on hormone treatment and gender reassignment operations for people in prison.

It was a stunning finish to a short session that also saw lawmakers ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public universities and make changes to the state’s near-total abortion ban.

House Bill 495, the hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery bill that would also strike down Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order banning conversion therapy, had stalled in recent days before being brought to the floor just after 10:30 p.m.

House Bill 695, the work requirement bill, was significantly revamped after sundown Friday to make several changes to the state's Medicaid program, including a controversial requirement that recipients considered able-bodied will be required to work.

And Senate Bill 2 ensures no money will be spent on gender-affirming care for inmates, a move critics said is aimed at a miniscule population, will open the state up to litigation and is “useless,” according to Rep. Anne Donworth, D-Lexington, after HB 495 was approved. Just 67 inmates in Kentucky are currently receiving hormone therapy, state officials said in December.

Read the rest at the Courier-Journal.



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