Skip to main content

September 9 Special Session Legislative Update

Berry Craig
Social share icons

Thanks to Bill Londrigan for sending us this.

By ELLEN YONTS SUETHOLZ

Working Strategies 2, LLC.

The Senate convened at 9am and quickly passed SB 5 – the economic development bill with an appropriation of $410M. After their caucus, they passed SB 1 – related to Education which among other things ends the statewide mask mandate for childcare centers and schools, SB 2 – the healthcare bill related to COVID-19 and SB 3 – the $69M appropriation bill related to COVID-19.

The Senate also passed SJR 3 - A JOINT RESOLUTION establishing that the Commonwealth of Kentucky will recognize a positive COVID-19 antibody test as equivalent to having been vaccinated against COVID-19 and declaring an emergency – but it was not considered once it was sent over to the House. Press coverage here.

The House convened at 10am and went into recess around 10:30 and stayed in recess for several hours while the House Republicans and Democrats caucused.  All bills passed in the Senate were sent over to the House where HB 1, 2 3 and 5 were substituted with SB 1, 2, 3 and 5.  The constitutionally required second and third readings on separate days for each of these bills were waived in the House.

In both the House and Senate, there were several floor amendments filed to SB 1, 2 3 and 5 and HB 1, 2, 3 and 5 – the sponsors of each of them requested the rules to be suspended and allow the FA to be considered but all motions requesting the FA to be heard either failed or were ruled out of order.

After passing out of the House, SB 3 and 5 were delivered to the Governor as well as SB 1 and 2. SB 3 and 5 were signed by the Governor and due to their emergency designation, are immediately law.  Usually, an appropriation bill must originate in the House, but SB 3 and 5 were both appropriation bills and both originated in the Senate.  SB 3 appropriates around $69M for certain COVID needs in our state and SB 5 is the economic development bill that appropriates around $410M for businesses that choose to locate in our state and invest a minimum of $2B. Very little is known about any potential business currently looking to locate in our state because of the NDAs signed by all of leadership. 

The House and Senate adjourned sine die until January 4. 2022 around midnight last night after overriding the line- item vetoes from Governor Beshear in SB 1 and 2. After being enrolled, both bills were then delivered to the SOS. Each had an emergency provision which means they immediately become law. the below bills are now law:

SB 1 – signed by the SOS  

SB 2 – signed by the SOS

SB 3 – signed by the Governor

SB 5 – signed by the Governor

Press coverage here and here and here.