Not so fast: Gov. Beshear’s vetoes rarely withstand KY’s Republican legislature
Gov. Andy Beshear always makes a splash around this time of year when he uses his veto power to give a thumbs down to high-priority Republican bills that have passed the state legislature.
But if recent history tells us anything, it’s this: Don’t hold your breath. The Republicans will likely override the governor’s vetoes.
Excluding line-item and partial vetoes, Beshear vetoed 105 pieces of legislation from Senate and House in his first five sessions. Ninety-two of those bills, or nearly 88%, were overridden. In many cases, the vetoes held because the legislature did not have enough legislative days to override them.
In each legislative session, there is a 10-day “veto period” where governors can veto bills they disapprove of. The legislature then gets two days to either pass new bills or override the governor’s vetoes.
The only three of Beshear’s 23 full vetoes that held up in 2024 were passed during those final two days, leaving the bills defenseless to Beshear’s veto pen. Those bills were related to podiatry, spendthrift trusts, and the establishment of a workforce-related board — not exactly marquee issues.
Due to the timing of the veto period, the GOP-backed legislature has taken great pains in recent years to pass most of its big priorities by the last day before the governor’s 10-day veto period kicks in.
Only a majority vote in both chambers is required — 51 in the House and 20 in Senate — to override a veto, which is tied for the lowest threshold of any state in the nation.
This year, Beshear’s vetoes include broad range of topics. One bill would restrict diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education; another would change how judicial review of state agency decisions works; multiple targeted at limiting the governor’s ability to regulate; and many more.
Other high-profile Beshear vetoes include a bill that would roll back his executive order limiting conversion therapy and ban Medicaid from funding gender-affirming care for trans Kentuckians.
He also vetoed a bill that would allow Kentuckians to sue him over the collection of a sales tax on gold, as well as one that would make it easier for universities to fire professors.
