Updated: Here are Kentucky’s newest laws enacted with — or without — Gov. Beshear’s signature
More than 100 bills and resolutions passed by the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly have become law with — or in a few cases, without — the signature of Gov. Andy Beshear.
The legislative session ended March 30, but not before lawmakers made one last push to give more bills final passage and the Republican supermajority rallied to override Beshear’s vetoes on some of their priority pieces of legislation.
Here’s a rundown of Kentucky’s newest laws. This story may be updated.
What has Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law?
House Bill 1: This measure will lower the state’s personal income tax rate from 4.5% to 4% and was a major priority of Republicans in the statehouse. Beshear said that he had concerns about “long-term repercussions for potentially funding state services,” but appreciated that the bill would “put at least a couple hundred dollars in the pockets of most Kentuckians.”
House Bill 5: This bill will completely phase out a tax on distilled spirits by 2043, one that many bourbon-producing communities argued is a vital source of revenue.
House Bill 157: This bill creates the Urban Search and Rescue Program in Kentucky, to be housed under the Division of Emergency Management.
House Bill 331: This law requires all middle and high schools in the commonwealth have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) and at least three employees and all athletic coaches be trained on how to use it. Additionally, all coaches maintain CPR certification.
House Bill 448: This allocates $20 million to the Rural Housing Trust Fund in the wake of natural disasters in Eastern and Western Kentucky, both of which created their own housing issues. The money comes from already-established WKSAFE and EKSAFE funds formed after tornadoes wracked Western Kentucky and historic floods ravaged Eastern Kentucky.
House Bill 551: Sports betting will soon be legal in Kentucky, thanks to this bill. Sports betting would be taxed 9.75% at horse racing facilities and 14.25% online and will be regulated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission “which has demonstrated a long and successful history of regulating wagering.” According to a fiscal note to the bill provided by the Legislative Research Commission, the bill is projected to bring in almost $23 million per year once fully implemented.
House Bill 594: ’Gray machines’ will soon be banned in Kentucky following Beshear’s signing of House Bill 594 from Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Lexington, making the ban take effect ninety days after session ending.
House Bill 3 & Senate Bill 162: Two measures aimed at improving Kentucky’s troubled Department of Juvenile Justice. House Bill 3 would allocate almost $20 million for renovating and reopening a juvenile detention center in Louisville, following the city’s closure of its facility at the end of 2019 due to budget cuts. Senate Bill 162 raises the starting DJJ security worker salary to $50,000, and does the same for prison security staff in the Department of Corrections. The laws also require greater care be paid to the mental health of youth in the system.
Senate Bill 9: Called “Lofton’s Law” after University of Kentucky student Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, this measure will criminalize hazing, making it a Class D felony to intentionally or wantonly engage in hazing if it results in death or serious physical injury to a minor or a student. It would also be a Class A misdemeanor to recklessly engage in hazing, punishable by up to a year in jail. Hazelwood, 18, died of alcohol toxicity in 2021 after he was found unresponsive in the FarmHouse Fraternity house after drinking approximately 18 one-ounce shots of bourbon within 45 minutes.
Senate Bill 20: TikTok is banned from state-owned devices and networks following this bill becoming law, adding Kentucky to the ranks of states cracking down on the popular social media app due to security concerns.
Senate Bill 47: Medical marijuana will be legal in Kentucky for a limited number of conditions in 2025, due to this new law. Users will not be allowed to smoke marijuana under the guidelines set forth in this law. Eligible medical conditions include cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Senate Bill 79: Backed by Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, and Secretary of State Michael Adams, this creates the “Safe at Home” program to allow victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault to conceal their addresses in public documents.
Senate Bill 99: Following reports that charitable donations to the commonwealth were distributed to people unaffected by the December 2021 tornadoes in Western Kentucky, this law requires a report and analysis of all relief funds to the Legislative Research Commission at the end of each fiscal year.
Senate Bills 268 and 282: These bills increase financial support for victims of crime. SB 268, sponsored by Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville, allows restitution to be ordered by the court in the form of child support if a defendant convicted of DUI kills or permanently disables a minor’s parent or guardian. SB 282, sponsored by Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, increases crime victim compensation payments and expands eligibility to include victims of hit-and-run accidents.
What became law without Gov. Andy Beshear’s signature?
- Senate Bill 5: Opponents have called Senate Bill 5 a book-banning bill, while it’s supporters say it’s about protecting kids from obscene, sexual materials in school. Beshear allowed this controversial bill to become law without his signature Monday, which requires schools put a complaint resolution policy in place for parents who allege that materials taught in school are harmful to minors.
- Senate Bill 4: A GOP priority piece of legislation, Senate Bill 4 would create obstacles for utilities asking the Kentucky Public Service Commission for permission to replace coal-fired power plants.
- House Bill 153: A so-called “Second Amendment sanctuary” bill, House Bill 153, would prevent local law enforcement from enforcing federal firearms bans and would not allow tax dollars to be spent enforcing such federal bans. Any official violating this law would be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a Class A on future offenses. Speaking about HB 153 earlier in March, Beshear said bills like that one don’t hold up to scrutiny in courts.
This story was originally published March 28, 2023 at 12:36 PM.
