Bill ousting Fayette school board chair becomes law after lawmakers override veto

The bill that would prohibit Fayette County Public Schools board chair from continuing to serve after this year is now law.

Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday vetoed Senate Bill 4, which prohibits Murphy from continuing to serve because he teaches in another district. But one day later, the Republican-led legislature overrode the Democratic governor’s veto.

The Senate overrode the veto with a 30-8 vote. The House overrode the veto with a 78-19 vote.

Murphy told the Herald-Leader Tuesday night that there were constitutional problems with the new law.

“As the Governor indicated in his veto message, there are serious constitutional problems with this new law,” Murphy said. “I am hopeful that there are remedies that will confirm that. My focus remains on supporting our students and serving the people of Fayette County who elected me.”

Beshear did not immediately comment after the override Tuesday night.

In the veto, issued shortly after 4 p.m. Monday, Beshear said: “Senate Bill 4 is special legislation that violates Sections 59 and 60 of Kentucky’s Constitution by attempting to control common schools.”

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Steve West, R-Paris, was originally just a principal training bill. But the House added provisions affecting Murphy, as well as the wider makeup of the school board in Louisville.

“The bill also improperly targets large school districts by prohibiting people from serving on these boards if they are employees of any school district in the commonwealth and work more than 100 days per year,” Beshear said. “Of course, our dedicated teachers and school employees work more than 100 days per year, and this would effectively keep them from serving on these boards of education.”

Murphy is a Boyle County teacher. His term ends this year, and he has not yet filed for reelection.

He previously called the bill a “slap in the face” to voters, and Beshear previously called the bill “bad policy.”

“Once again, our public teachers and school employees must go another year, at least, without the General Assembly providing them a raise,” Beshear said on Monday after vetoing the bill.. “Decisions regarding reorganization of these boards of education and all others across Kentucky should be made locally by the people who live there, not the General Assembly in Frankfort.”

The teacher’s union The Kentucky Education Association praised the veto in a Facebook post, saying Beshear had heard them “loud and clear.” The union also urged lawmakers not to override Beshear’s veto.

Before the override, Murphy said Tuesday that he applauded Beshear’s veto, “which includes a provision that would make me and other educators ineligible to serve on the school board in the community where we live and pay taxes simply because we’re full-time classroom teachers.”

“As I noted when SB 4 was passed and as the Governor points out in his veto message, SB 4 raises serious constitutional questions,” Murphy said. “It targets our two largest school districts, ignores the voice of voters, and singles out educators who are vital to every community.”

State lawmakers have taken issue with both Murphy’s and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins’ handling of the school district’s budget.

The General Assembly is in session Tuesday and Wednesday to address vetoes.

This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 7:52 AM.