should i get bangs?
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Let’s begin with a S/O to the SNL writers who must have heard about the wrath non-Kentuckians face when they attempt to touch Kentucky politics and/or make stereotypical jokes about Kentuckians, because the whole “is sleeping with your cousin incest?” thing did NOT make it into Weekend Update! I know it is a low bar, but please clap. (We were not as lucky with Kimmel, but moving on now…)
Speaking of SNL: I am heavily weighing getting BANGS like Certified Hot Girl Renee Rapp. In the spirit of Hot Girl Energy, please share your thoughts about the potential bangs and/or me in general using this survey form.
OK, let’s chat Frankie-fort.
Big crime bill on the move
House Bill 5, the sweeping public safety bill dubbed the “Safer Kentucky Act” and backed by more than 50 Republicans, was our first super-tense committee meeting of the session Thursday.
ICYMI, among other things, the latest version of HB 5:
Creates a “three strikes” rule for violent felonies, with the third such felony leading to a sentence of life without parole (or death, but Kentucky hasn’t used the death penalty in years).
Makes “unlawful camping” — being homeless — a crime.
Allows people to use reasonable force against homeless people on their property in certain situations, and against suspected shoplifters.
Regulates charitable bail organizations by capping contributions at $5,000 and prohibiting them from posting bail for certain offenses.
Makes the murder of a first responder a capital offense.
Makes anyone who sells fentanyl that results in someone’s death eligible for murder charges.
Thursday’s meeting lasted about 2.5 hours, with the vast majority of that time dedicated to testimony from folks for/against the bill:
Pro-HB 5: Several Kentuckians who lost loved ones under tragic circumstances — situations they believe could be avoided with a few of the bill’s proposed changes, along with reps from the state FOP and prosecutors.
Anti-HB 5: Those who work with the homeless, folks in recovery, the ACLU of KY, the Bail Project, the Catholic Conference of KY, VOCAL-KY, the Ky. Center for Economic Policy and the free market-leaning group KYFREE (and I’m sure I’m forgetting someone) all voiced various concerns.
We saw a decent amount of back-and-forth between lawmakers and sponsors, largely Democrats’ concerns and questions being met with clear frustration from the Republican bill sponsors. One sticking point: Where is the evidence all of this is a good idea? Dems asked for data, the GOP kinda cited some but didn’t say where it was from and said they’d share what one sponsor said was dozens of examples after the cameras went off.
The end vote tally was 13-5-1, with all 13 yes votes being Republicans, along with the lone pass (Rep. Kim Moser from NKY).
HB 5 saw a bipartisan mix of no votes:
Rep. Lindsey Burke (D)
Rep. Steven Doan (R)
Rep. Keturah Herron (D)
Rep. Nima Kulkarni (D)
Rep. Savannah Maddox (R)
The overarching theme: The classic Frankfort line of “Well, it isn’t a perfect bill.” Althought its sponsors spent months crafting and recrafting HB 5, people on all sides continue to have concerns.
For some, it goes too far, and leaves the underlying issues and unintended consequences unaddressed. For some, it is a “good bill” but still has some issues. For others, who landed in a smaller-but-still-present group, it doesn’t go far enough.
The big question: When could HB 5 come up for a vote on the House floor, and what changes could happen before then? As noted, some of the committee “no” votes came from Republicans. And sponsors noted that some of lawmakers’ concerns in committee would be fixed at some point. But, with 50+ co-sponsors and 98 sitting lawmakers in the House, they don’t really need to change anything to pick up votes.
HB 5 currently has one of its three required readings on the House floor, so the earliest it could get a full vote is Tuesday.
The DEI/parents’ rights situation continues
As expected, the culture wars in education beat continues to be a hot one.
HB 304, from Rep. Shane Baker (R-Somerset), mirrors some of the tougher but unsuccessful “parents’ rights” measures from 2023. It focuses on K-12 schools.
Educators would be required to tell parents if their child says they’re trans and/or asks for mental health services tied to sexual identity or orientation.
It fixes the infamous “or” debacle of SB 150 (conjunctions, they’ll get ya), clarifying that students shouldn’t get any form of sex ed before sixth grade, and no students, K-12, should be taught anything about gender identity or sexual expression.
Educators who knowingly break the law (aka not out their students) would lose their teaching certificate for two years.
From Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, HB 9 extends past the Senate’s anti-DEI in higher ed legislation. It is a hefty boy — while the bill says its provisions specifically shouldn’t impact academic course content, instead targeting administration, public colleges and universities would need to, among other things:
Shutter any sort of diversity, equity and inclusion office, along with axing any diversity officers (or end such contracts).
End diversity, equity and inclusion trainings or initiatives.
Eliminate race-based scholarship programs or efforts to ensure a diverse student body, or programs meant to ensure diversity of its vendors (like pushes to prioritize women-owned or minority-owned businesses).
Stop requiring students take courses that touch on “discriminatory concepts” — basically defined as anything that considers structures of oppression and privilege as truth rather than a subject for debate.
Stop allowing credits earned after July 1 from courses that focus on “discriminatory concepts” to count toward graduation.
For a deeper look, The Herald Leader had a breakdown of the bill and a first look at how it could impact the University of Kentucky that I recommend.
Expect this to be a bill to watch, but also expect some changes. As written, some sections don’t really make sense.
For example, if the bill doesn’t want to impact course content, but also says colleges shouldn’t honor credits for classes that focus on the forbidden topics — so what happens students who are, say, Pan-African Studies majors? Women’s and Gender Studies majors?
The bill also gives a July 1, 2024 limit on earning the aforementioned credits that could be honored. What about students who are heading into their junior, senior years, who suddenly may not be able to graduate with their chosen major and/or on their planned timeline?
What’s poppin’ this week
Quick note: When I launched this newsletter a few weeks ago and promised a solid, robust look at the week’s agenda, I lowkey forgot that some committees wait until, like, the day before to confirm that they will be meeting. So this newsletter is always going to have the best idea of what I know to be happening, but expect things to pop up that aren’t listed here.
As always, the standing committee schedule can be found here (but note plenty of committees cancel their meetings or change the start time) and the daily schedule can be found here.
Monday:
The Public Pension Oversight Board meets at 1 p.m.
The House and Senate are expected to gavel in at 4 p.m.
Tuesday:
Committee meetings all morning, yee-haw. Two committees on my weekly to-watch list are the House Education Committee and the House A&R Committee.
The House and Senate are expected to gavel in at 2 p.m.
As noted, this is the earliest the House could take a full vote on HB 5.
Wednesday:
Even more committee meetings! Again, a yee-haw!
House and Senate at 2 p.m.
Thursday:
Yes, more committee meetings. Also, Thursday's the standard day for Gov. Andy Beshear’s weekly press conference at 12:30 p.m., so be prepared for that.
House and Senate at 2 p.m.
Friday:
House and Senate at 9 a.m.
Barring a major change, no committee meetings.
Where to find my work
As always:
The Gallery Pass, obvs. Tell your friends to subscribe and/or upgrade to a paid subscription.
Live updates go on Twitter.
TikTok is for bill explainers + answering questions.
Instagram is very much for the aesthetic (but also shareable recaps of what’s going on, so you can show your friends you are hip and with it).
LEO Weekly will be home for all of my full-length, original reporting.
Don’t forget to weigh in about my bangs at the link at the top of the newsletter!!
ok, byeeee!