Oh, we're sprinting now, aren't we?
*screams*
Y’all, I do fear it is officially party time in Frankie Fort. Here’s an incredibly quick recap of the week thus far in Kentucky politics and policy, plus a look at a jam-packed Thursday.
The stuff from Tuesday + Wednesday
A non-exhaustive list in no particular order:
House Bill 208 — which would basically ban cell phones from K-12 classrooms — got out of committee. We’ll see how far it gets this year.
House Bill 16 — the bill that would make fluoride in your water optional — passed out of the House Wednesday, which is the farthest it has ever gotten in the legislative process.
The House vote was 68-29, which means it had bipartisan disapproval.
Last year, it passed out of committee and got two of three readings in the House but got switched to a different committee and proceeded to perish.
Senate Bill 60 — a “restoring religious liberty” aka “we can kinda sue over your fairness ordinances because our religion doesn’t believe in that” bill — passed out of the Senate.
House Bill 398 — a big deal per the labor unions. It didn’t have the best margin in the House — 62 yes votes vs 33 no — so we’ll be watching this one.
Senate Bill 19 — which would require a moment of silence for students in school — cleared the Senate.
This one had some action in the House last year, so we’ll see if this finally passes to the governor’s desk.
The Thursday Planner
Well, this is my planner. Y’all can do whatever.
9 a.m. — Senate Judiciary Committee
Why? Mainly because of Senate Bill 7, which, based on my reading, would basically give you intellectual property rights over your nudes.
And if someone betrays you, you’d get to sue them and also be entitled to all of the profits for what the legislation calls images of your “unclothed body,” should there be any profits.
9:30 a.m. — Presser about NIL
Apparently, there is another bill about name, image and likeness issues for college student-athletes.
The ADs for both UK and U of L are scheduled to speak.
10 a.m. — Senate Education Committee
Aforementioned NIL bill will get a vote, as will a bill to give districts who ran out of online learning (NTI) days extra flexibility to make some days up.
10:30 a.m. — Presser about the film industry
Yeah, so, the film industry’s access to Kentucky appears to be the Senate’s top concern this session, so therefore there will be a press conference.
No famous people will be in attendance.
(Except for me. 💅)All jokes aside, I’m actually really interested in SB 1, which would create the Kentucky Film Office and seems to place a bigger focus on hyping up Kentucky as a quality spot to stage a TV series or movie.
11 a.m. — Senate EDTL Committee
Film bill gets a vote.
12 p.m. — House State Government Committee
A bill that would lowkey highkey prohibit bans on conversion therapy will get a vote.
Refresher: Gov. Andy Beshear dropped an executive order lowkey banning conversion therapy back in, like, September.
Some Republicans did not like that.
And so now we’re here.
??? to 1:59 p.m. — Free time
Wander freely, maybe drop by the Parents for School Options event in the Capitol Rotunda.
Sit in my car and stare blankly at the sky, questioning my career decisions.
Watch Beshear’s weekly Team Kentucky presser.
Perhaps eat food.
2 p.m. — House and Senate gavel in
I have no words left. Toodles!