Hello, hello, and welcome to The Gallery Pass!
We’ll be going kinda rapidfire this evening because we have a lot going on.
But first, though, I want to take a second and thank everyone who reached out to wish me a happy birthday this week. I’m still working on responding to everyone directly, but please know I’ve seen the well wishes and genuinely appreciate them.
I’ve decided to keep the 30% off annual paid subscription special going for another week or so, so please consider signing up as a paid subscriber to continue TGP’s mission of independent journalism about Kentucky policy and politics (and, yes, hot girl energy).
Biggest news: New laws incoming!
Dozens of new laws officially take effect Friday, so let’s run through some of the things to know.
Actually, we can’t really run through things to know, because I fear there is more confusion out there than clarity.
One of the big issues is Gov. Andy Beshear and his ongoing beef with Kentucky’s GOP-dominated legislature.
Back in March, Beshear told lawmakers that about a dozen bills they were passing into law actually didn’t come with what he believes to be necessary funding for his office to implement said laws. And since there is no funding, don’t expect him to do anything.
Legislative leaders were like, um, no, and if you don’t do what we say, you will have budgetary hell to pay come 2026, when they craft the next budget.
But here’s the thing: Some of 2025’s most high-profile bills made Beshear’s short list to lawmakers, including a Medicaid work requirement, stuff about clean water and HB 495, which both undid Beshear’s ban on “conversion therapy” and prohibited Medicaid dollars from covering key gender-affirming health care treatments for transgender Kentuckians.
And even right now, it is unclear just what exactly is going on. Will these things be enforced, or not?
I looked more into the HB 495 situation for Queer Kentucky and … no one seems to know whether or not an untold amount of Kentuckians are about to lose critical health care coverage. Over the course of a few emails over a few days, I repeatedly asked Beshear’s spokesperson if they planned on implementing the Medicaid block. I did not get a direct response.
(Side note that Beshear’s letter did not seek to stop the implementation of SB 2, which restricts health care for transgender inmates, nor did Beshear attempt to veto SB 2 initially.)
So, for some of the big deal bills going into law, um, it is very much a we’ll see situation.
Some of the other stuff is a bit more clear, but not totally.
The big deal anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill — HB 4 — asks colleges and universities to be in compliance by June 30. Some places have already made clear changes, but expect more attention to these issues in the coming weeks as everyone tries to figure out what exactly being “in compliance” means in this still pretty vague, sweeping bill.
A bill requiring a moment of silence in schools each day, along with allowing students to leave public school for “moral instruction,” is also about to be a thing. But I don’t think anyone ever actually figured out what “moral instruction” means, so keep that in mind as school districts start prepping for the 2025-26 school year.
Speaking of schools, I heard from a ton of y’all about SB 181, which restricts how educators can communicate with students. This bill set out to address child abuse situations, but based on what the folks in the classroom are saying, it may have been, uh, way too broad and sweeping. When a reporter asked some Senate GOP leaders about these concerns earlier this week, it was suggested that “misinformation” might be out there and the concerns seemed to be somewhat brushed away, but they can tweak legislation in upcoming sessions if needed. So, we’ll see about that, too.
Basically, TL;DR: Laws are supposed to happen Friday; unclear what will actually be enforced.
We need to discuss the Capitol renovations
ICYMI: Kentucky’s state Capitol is closing for multi-year renovations, forcing the House and Senate to relocate to the parking lot for at least the next few years (although I’m hearing the renovations could actually last a decade).
Senate GOP leaders talked about the renovations during a recent press conference, and yeah, I lowkey have some transparency concerns with the new makeshift House and Senate chambers.
First, there is no rotunda. When asked by reporters about where folks would be able to have big political rallies and events now, legislative leaders were like, that part of the building is not under our control, don’t know, go ask Beshear. So, that’s a big yikes. There isn’t really any other easily accessible spot on the Capitol grounds for gatherings like that (at least that is indoors).
Second, there are no galleries. You know, the spaces above each chamber where the public can watch things go down in-person, in real time. Leadership said it was a budget issue, that building galleries into the makeshift building would cost, like, millions of taxpayer dollars. The public will be able to watch livestreams in the neighboring Capitol Annex, which … is not the same as allowing the public to watch your proceedings. You can’t hear people booing you next door.
(And yes, as the creator of The GALLERY Pass, I have additional thoughts, but.)
Third, and I might be overthinking this one, but the camera quality in the chambers appears to be … too good. While watching the video of Wednesday’s GOP press conference in the new space, I repeatedly had to pause because it lowkey looked like everyone was AI. If we’re going to be in a situation where the vast majority of people will be forced to rely on the livestreams, and those livestreams could easily be confused for AI, like, do we see a potential problem here?
We can circle back to all of this later, but I wanted to make my concerns known.
And all of the other stuff
To the surprise of perhaps no one, that dude Nate Morris is officially running for Senate. I still don’t know much about the man, but I understand he has money that he got from a trash-related enterprise, and is now running on a trash-related message and logo.
He announced the move on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, “Triggered.” Meanwhile, one of his opponents, Daniel Cameron, launched an entire website focused on bashing Morris.
Also, Trump apparently started some sort of super PAC aimed at Congressman Thomas Massie, because Massie won’t fall in line.
Fancy Farm speaking invites just went out. New this year: Some primary candidates scheduled to be on the ballot next May will be allowed to speak this year. But it depends on things such “as electability and the likelihood of appearing on the ballot in Fancy Farm,” per organizer Steven Elder.
So, so far, the only US Senate candidates invited are Dem Pamela Stevenson, and Republicans Andy Barr and Daniel Cameron.
But that announcement came before Nate Morris’ on Thursday. Elder signaled to me additional candidates, including Morris, could be invited to speak. So, stay tuned there.
A special session to deal with disaster relief is still possible, but it is unclear if or when it would be needed. They’re waiting on Trump to clear some type of funding. GOP leaders said if a special session is called, their new makeshift chambers will be ready to rock July 1.
Auditor Allison Ball’s audit of the Ky. Dept. of Education is expected to drop next week, a representative of her office told reporters Wednesday.
And speaking of education: Congrats to Party Mollio, I mean JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio for his retirement from JCPS. He has survived his final school board meeting, and only has a day or two left before starting his new gig running Ivy Tech in Indiana. Good for you!
Aight, friends, I promised “rapidfire” energy and fear I delivered more “rant” energy, but it is what it is.
As always, feel free to drop your questions, suggestions, comments and thoughts in this survey for consideration.
OK, toodles!
— olivia.
Thank you for all the work you put in covering Kentucky politics. I would have pretty much no clue what is going on in Frankfort if you weren’t covering it. I see how much work you put into the Gallery Pass, and I just want you to know that I see you and how hard you work gathering all this information up, and it is very much appreciated ♥️