Most Important Bills that were Passed in the 2023 Session

* Unless otherwise noted, the Governor signed these bills into law.

SB150 (with large portions of HB470, HB30, some of HB173 & HB177 substituted into it):
Bans “gender affirming care” including sex change operations (ie genital and breast mutilation) and puberty blocking drugs (ie chemical castration) for people under the age of 18 in KY.
Requires school bathrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms be designated for only one sex.
Bars classroom discussion of gender identity or sexual orientation, K-12.

            => ANDY BESHEAR VETOED THIS BILL. VETO OVERRIDEN.

SB3: Will (likely starting after next session) have the state pick up teacher liability insurance, eliminating one of the costs of being a teacher. Virtually universal support, 92-1 and 37-0.
SB4: Requires a study establishing that there will be no increase in brown/black-outs whenever closing a coal-fired power plant for federally subsidized “green energy.”
            => ANDY BESHEAR REFUSED TO SIGN THIS BILL.
SB5: Establishes an official process for parents to complain about material that is “Harmful to Minors” (ie obscene) in their child’s school and potentially get it removed, involving Principal and School Board.
            => ANDY BESHEAR REFUSED TO SIGN THIS BILL.
SB7: Will eliminate the automatic deduction of union dues from government employee paychecks starting mostly in a couple of years.
            => ANDY BESHEAR VETOED THIS BILL. VETO OVERRIDEN.
SB107: Requires KYBOE members show up to vote & senate confirmation of the KY Board of Ed commissioner every 4 years.
            => ANDY BESHEAR VETOED THIS BILL. VETO OVERRIDEN.
SB156: Sets up a new statewide reading institute to recommend best practices for K-12 ed.
HB1: Lowers the State income tax from 4.5% to 4.0% starting in 2024.
HB3 (Kevin Bratcher): JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM – Reopens the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center with significant funds for upgrades. Juveniles charged a violent felony offense may be detained up to 48 hours pending a detention hearing. Changes to parent accountability, expand mental health interventions, etc.
HB9: Sets legal framework to receive substantially more federal grant money for rural KY.
HB144 (John Hodgson): Bans warrantless surveillance on private property, including open fields, except for a few exceptions. Very widespread support, 81-13 and 37-0.
            => ANDY BESHEAR REFUSED TO SIGN THIS BILL. NOW LAW.
HB153: Second Amendment Sanctuary Bill. Bars local and state employees (incl. police) from assisting the Federal Gov’t in the enforcement of new federal firearms and ammo bans (this has been long established by SCOTUS to be constitutional for states under the 10^th Amendment).
            => ANDY BESHEAR REFUSED TO SIGN THIS BILL. NOW LAW.
HB236: Bans ESG investing with the public pension fund (only pecuniary interests considered).
HB360: Alters the tax codes to increase sales tax on various services (more of the shift of taxes from income to taxes on goods and services). Exemptions for advertising and marketing are hard to justify. Pass-through entity is meant to exclusively benefit the very wealthy, but for the time being it makes sense given recent IRS regulations (should roll back if regs change).
HB538: Student discipline bill. Requires suspension of students who pose a threat to the safety and wellbeing of other students or who commit assault including off campus. Also, eases process of assigning to alternative schools.
HB594: Effectively bans “gray machines” (slot-like game machines seen in the backs of gas stations & restaurants) which were of questionable legal status. Will be legally challenged.

High-impact Bills That Lingered to Final 2 Days

SB47: Legalizes Medical Marijuana (NOT recreational), starting in 2025.
SB115 (Sexually explicit show ban; Tichenor): Bars sexually driven drag shows and sexually explicit performances both: on public property, and allowing children into them. Good bill, utter commonsense, but Beshear is likely to veto it (if the Republicans are savvy enough to pass it).
            => DENIED A FLOOR VOTE.
SB33 (M. Nemes): Starts the KY Cybersecurity Center at the University of Louisville.
            => DENIED A FLOOR VOTE.
SB64: Sets regulations for use of cryptocurrency as a medium of exchange in the Uniform Commercial Code. 166 pages. (*For now, my recommendation is that this bill be opposed for this session. It isn’t entirely clear what the intents and results of this legislation really are, to be frank. So, until we see the effects in other states of similar legislation and better understand its implications, hold off until next year.)
            => DENIED A FLOOR VOTE.
HB5 (Barrel Tax Repeal Bill): Gradually phases out the special tax on warehoused bourbon that has existed for decades.
HB207 (Police Wellness Programs; Bratcher): Allows police to get therapy or wellness treatment without it being entered on their record. SB12, a similar measure for physicians passed during the session.
HB551: Legalizes sports gambling/betting in the state of Kentucky, but only at horse race tracks, the NKY Speedway, and online.