Hey, y’all — like I just noted, this will be a super speedy newsletter because the veto period and nothing is really happening and whatnot OK let’s go.
What Beshear is up to
Again, so the veto period is still going on, so all eyes remain on Gov. Andy Beshear as he fights his way through hundreds of bills and resolutions on his desk. And it appears he hasn’t done all that much since we last spoke so, again, speedy newsletter.
Let’s start with vetoes.
We’re now up to 17 vetoes thus far for the session (but as of the time I’m writing this Tuesday afternoon, the LRC website is just now being updated for the day, so I might accidentally miss something.) You can see a running list of both vetoed bills and veto overrides here.
Copy-and-paste reminder that Kentucky has a GOP supermajority running its legislature, so it is almost guaranteed that lawmakers will overrule Beshear’s rejections in the last two days of session.
One big new veto since we last spoke is House Concurrent Resolution 81, aka the thing to look into maybe breaking up JCPS into smaller school districts. In his veto message, Beshear said that chopping up JCPS should be a decision made by the locals — not a bunch of elected officials from elsewhere in the state.
It is important to note that it actually isn’t possible for JCPS to be broken up, like there literally isn’t a method under state law to create new school districts. So even if the idea was truly popular in Louisville, it couldn’t happen. A bill that wanted to make some sort of process didn’t go anywhere this session, so … yeah.
And now for the new laws
LOL JK, it appears Beshear hasn’t signed anything new into law since we last chatted! So we’re still looking at 121 bills or resolutions* that have become law at some point this session, either because Beshear signed it, he let it become law without him or the legislature overruled one of his vetoes.
* I am just now realizing this tally doesn’t include the two constitutional amendment bills, because those don’t go to Beshear at all — just straight to the secretary of state so they can get on the November ballot. So, like, 123 technically, I guess.
Important to note that Beshear tends to have his weekly Team Kentucky press conference on Thursdays, so I’d expect a ton of new law/veto news to drop then.
For anyone interested, the LRC website has a list of all of Beshear’s vetoes/signatures/non-signatures-but-not-willing-to-veto situations in chronological order, should you, again, be inclined.
What’s up next
The legislature restarts Friday, y’all. The Senate is set to gavel in at 10 a.m. and then the House will be back at noon.
6 days until the last day of the 2024 legislative session.
25 days until the 150th Kentucky Derby.
42 days until Kentucky’s 2024 Primary Election.
46 days until the inaugural Gazebo Fest.
116 days until Fancy Farm 2024.
Programming notes
Again, hey, paid subscribers: don’t forget to let me know how to get these friendship bracelets to you.
Hoping to get the next newsletter out Thursday night or maybe Friday morning so we can get somewhat back on our normal posting schedule and everyone can be ready to rock before the lawmakers gavel in.
ok, byeeee!