As we come to the end of Veto Days, Governor Beshear is busy putting vetoes and signatures on bill after bill.
Yesterday we listed the bills that had been dealt with so far. Here is today’s list.
Vetoed bills
House Bill 2 – No sales taxes on currency and bullion – In his veto message, Beshear noted “At a time when Kentuckians are hurting because of higher prices at the grocery, the pump and for everyday consumer goods, prioritizing tax breaks for purchasers of gold is out of touch with reality for most people in Kentucky.”
House Bill 90 – “Clarification” of state’s abortion ban – Beshear said, “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists shares these concerns in urging me to veto House Bill 90 and clearly stating that it does not support this bill.”
House Bill 136 – Expand recidivism report by corrections dept – Would force the executive branch to breach a contract with a vendor.
House Bill 399 – Make interference with a legislative proceeding a crime – There are already existing laws addressing this issue, making this bill unnecessary.
House Bill 424 – Evaluation/termination of college presidents and faculty – Opposed by most educators due to concerns that this bill could remove tenure protections.
House Bill 546 – Local Assistance Road Program funding – Beshear used his line-item veto to remove tolls on the I-69 Bridge project.
House Bill 566 – Overhaul of Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation – Various line-item vetoes. For one thing, the bill says that the corporation can ignore the Executive Branch ethics code. In his veto message, the Governor noted, somewhat snarkily, that “it appears there may have been a significant conflict of interest in how the corporation went about drafting the bill.”
House Bill 684 – Omnibus elections bill – Makes it harder for Kentucky citizens to vote by removing some of the ID documents they can use.
House Bill 694 – TRS health funds into TRS pension if health at 100% – In 2010, teachers agreed to set aside an additional 3% of their pay in order to fully fund the retiree health plan. The agreement said that once the health plan was fully funded, the teachers would no longer have to pay in that additional 3%. This bill undoes that agreement and keeps pulling the extra 3% from their paychecks. Beshear said, “Breaking this promise is unfair to the teachers we rely on to guide our children and the future of the Commonwealth.
Senate Bill 28 – New agriculture economic development program – Beshear vetoed this because, he said, it mandates that the Secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development seek guidance from the Commissioner of Agriculture, “a duty not imposed on any other constitutional officer.” It also creates a board with no gubernatorial appointments, which is also unconstitutional.
Senate Bill 89 – Limit water pollution laws – This bill says that pollution laws can’t be enforced on smaller bodies of water and streams, thus harming the state’s groundwater supply.
Signed bills
These are bills that the governor actually signed, indicating he either supported them or at least did not have a problem with them. These bills will become law on their effective dates – either on July 1, or immediately if they have the Emergency clause attached.
House Bill 15 lowers the age at which Kentucky drivers can obtain instructional permits from 16 to 15 years old.
House Bill 45 strengthens campaign finance regulations.
House Bill 315 prohibits hostile foreign governments from indirectly owning, leasing or otherwise acquiring an interest in agricultural land in the commonwealth.
House Bill 321 addresses issues related to zoning map amendments.
House Bill 342 requires a financial literacy course in high school.
House Bill 422 makes procedural changes for how emergency regulations are administered through the Commonwealth Office of Technology.
House Bill 443 makes Kentucky Highway 80 in Perry, Knot and Floyd counties part of the Hal Rogers Parkway.
House Bill 537 provides clarity regarding the Opioid Abatement Fund. However, Gov. Beshear continues to raise concerns about how House Bill 6 will impact this bill.
House Bill 682 includes cable operators and broadband providers in the definitions of “utility” for reimbursement of costs associated with relocation of their facilities.
House Bill 701 safeguards the rights of Kentuckians to use and mine cryptocurrencies.
Senate Bill 27 requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create and maintain a Kentucky Parkinson’s Disease Research Registry.
Senate Bill 68 makes several changes aligning with Kentucky Academic Standards. Additionally, it will reduce staff time costs at the Kentucky Department of Education.
Senate Bill 69 creates certification through the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to license qualified candidates to work in animal chiropractic and equine dentistry.
Senate Bill 129 allows governmental, quasi-governmental and nonprofit entities to purchase properties that have been placed in a tax delinquency diversion program.
Senate Bill 145 changes the period of time for which delinquency charges can be collected on vehicle payment installments.
Senate Bill 162 strengthens protections against unemployment fraud.
Senate Bill 179 appropriates $10 million to create the Nuclear Energy Development Grant Program. The measure aligns with the state’s energy strategy and new U.S. Department of Energy priorities.
Senate Bill 202 creates a licensing and regulatory framework for “intoxicating THC infused beverages” within the 3-tier system regulated by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Senate Bill 237 requires certain out-of-state peace officers, who were previously employed in another state for 10 years, to have passed a physical agility test in the state where they were certified.
Senate Bill 244 establishes the Department of Child Support Services and its offices within the Office of Attorney General’s Department of Law.
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