KFTC’s Bill Tracker updates

KFTC’s 2021 Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker

For more information about our priority legislation, visit www.kftc.org/bill-tracker

DID NOT BECOME LAW:

HB 19 & SB 30, BAN CONVERSION THERAPY: Prohibit mental health professionals from engaging in efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity • Not assigned to committee

HB 21, BREONNA’S LAW: Ban no-knock warrants statewide, require officers serving a warrant to wear and activate body cameras, and require alcohol and drug testing for officers following any shooting or deadly incident while on duty • Denied a vote in committee

HB 23, HEALTHY DEMOCRACY: FAIR MAPS: Create a nonpartisan Advisory Redistricting Commission to draft legislative and congressional districts • Not assigned to committee

HB 27, MATERNAL HEALTH: Work to close the racial maternal and infant health gap; Require health facilities to implement an evidence-based implicit bias program and to provide patients with written information about their rights; Require the Dept. for Public Health to track data on maternal death and severe morbidity • Not assigned to committee

HB 51, HEALTHY DEMOCRACY: VOTING ACCESSIBILITY: Extend voting hours to 7:00 p.m. • Not assigned to committee

SB 60, DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION: Eliminate the death penalty, to be replaced with life imprisonment without parole • Not assigned to committee

HCR 61, HEALTHY DEMOCRACY: FAIR MAPS: Encourage the Kentucky General Assembly to allow public input during the redistricting process • Not assigned to committee

HB 72, HEALTHY DEMOCRACY: VOTE BY MAIL: Allow “convenience of the voter” as a reason for requesting and casting a mail-in, absentee ballot • Not assigned to committee HB 132, CIVIL RIGHTS: Establish guidelines for dismissing lawsuits designed to intimidate defendants from engaging in constitutionally protected activities like free speech and more • Not assigned to committee

HB 148, DEATH PENALTY RESTRICTIONS: Prevent the execution of someone diagnosed with a serious mental illness • Passed the full House. Denied a vote in Senate committee

HB 182, HEALTHY DEMOCRACY: VOTER REGISTRATION: Allow same day voter registration and make driver’s license applications and renewals simultaneously a voter registration, unless declined • Not assigned to committee

HB 232, VOTING RIGHTS: Respect the voting rights of almost all Kentuckians who have a felony in their past • Not assigned to committee

BECAME LAW:

HB 497, SUPPORT FOR RE-ENTRY: Provide formerly incarcerated, returning Kentuckians and their families and communities a healthy and successful way forward post-incarceration • Signed into law

KFTC’s 2021 Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker

For more information about our priority legislation, visit www.kftc.org/bill-tracker

DID NOT BECOME LAW:

SJR 56, CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Petition Congress to call a convention for the purpose of amending the U.S. Constitution

• Not assigned to committee

SB 83, HEALTH DISCRIMINATION LAW: Protect medical providers who refuse care that they claim “violated their conscience” from liability

• Denied a vote in the full Senate

HB 149 & SB 25, PUBLIC FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS I: Offer tax credits to donors of an “Education Opportunity Account Program”

• Language added to HB 563

SB 211, CRIMINALIZATION OF INSULTS TO POLICE: Make it a crime to insult a police officer; Anti-camping sections in the original bill could target protestors and/or unhoused communities

• Passed by Senate, Not assigned to committee in House

SB 264, RENTER EVICTIONS: Forbid an eviction moratorium during an emergency

• Denied a vote in committee

BECAME LAW:

SB 9, ANTI-ABORTION: Prohibit causing or allowing the death of an infant born alive; Claims to guarantee care to infants who survive an abortion - something the sponsor admits has never occurred in Kentucky; Could criminalize providers and increase health risks, stigmatization, and grief for patients

• Passed by House and Senate (governor cannot veto, because it included an emergency clause)

SB 11, CRIMINALIZING RENTAL DAMAGE: Make damage of $500 or more to rental property a criminal offense

• Vetoed, but overridden

SB 65, CHILD FOOD SECURITY: Take away food assistance from a parent who is behind on child support payments

• Vetoed, but overridden

HB 91, MOBILIZE ANTI-ABORTION VOTERS: Propose a constitutional amendment to deny the right to or funding of abortion in Kentucky; Would have no immediate effect on abortion access due to Roe v. Wade

• Passed by House and Senate (governor cannot veto proposed constitutional amendments)

SB 120, GAMBLING: Legalize pari-mutuel slot machines at a race track or simulcast facility (a.k.a “Historical Horse Racing”) with negligible taxation

• Signed into law

SB 228, U.S. SENATE VACANCIES: Restrict appointment to a vacancy in the U.S. Senate to three individuals nominated by the party of the departed senator; Would grant a chosen successor an incumbency advantage in the next election

• Vetoed, but overridden

HB 272, PENALTIES FOR WATER CUSTOMERS: Prohibits the Public Service Commission from preventing utilities from assessing a 10% late fee to water bills; Prohibits the governor from suspening late fees during an emergency for any city-owned utility

• Vetoed, but overridden

HB 563, PUBLIC FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS II: Began as a bill to allow nonresident pupils to be counted in a district’s average daily attendance; Amended to include school voucher language from HB 149, which was not moving in committee

• Vetoed, but overridden

The General Assembly may be over but there are lots of ways to take action and build grassroots power – and push for better policy – all year round!

TAKE ACTION!

• Contact your local organizer about scheduling an at-home meeting with your legislator during the interim. • Talk to five people about getting involved with KFTC and invite them to an event. • Follow us on social media for up-to-date opportunities and other ways to engage. • Go to www.kftc.org/meetonline to find upcoming chapter meetings, trainings, and phone and text banks across the state.