FRANKFORT- Lawmakers returned to Frankfort on Tuesday following an extended weekend in observance of President’s Day on Monday. We are nearing the two-thirds juncture of the session, and we have yet to hear any updates on the budget, which was drafted and passed in the House and now awaits further action by the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Constructing a budget is obligatory and is the most critical item the General Assembly will take up this year. We will likely hear more in the coming weeks as we near the final days of this legislative session.
I am always excited to see some of our local folks make their way to Frankfort and visit with me. The city of Ashland was well represented in Frankfort this week, with local officials coming to town to discuss economic development, infrastructure, and other significant projects they are working on. Greenup County was also in the People’s House, as Addison Meadows of Greenup Couty, who was FFA legislative page for the day, and her dad, Greenup Mayor Lundie Meadows, joined me on the Senate floor. Always great having our local leaders and young people getting involved in the legislative process.
One of the bills passed in the Senate this week seeks to recover $15 million in incentive funds from the stalled Braidy Industries project. Senate Bill (SB) 48 would recoup taxpayer money designated to help Braidy establish a $1.3 billion, 2.5 million-square-foot aluminum mill in Greenup County near Ashland.
SB 48 directs the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to recover the money via Commonwealth Seed Capital LLC, an independent fund that invests in developing businesses in Kentucky. Furthermore, it requires that the incentive money be returned by the end of 2022, and it would prevent any extensions to the agreement. The measure was amended on the Senate floor to move the effective date from March to mid-July to give additional time to get the funding together.
Five years ago, the Bevin Administration encouraged the General Assembly to pass economic development incentives to attract a new aluminum manufacturing facility to Kentucky. After hearing the proposals from the Bevin Administration and Braidy, the legislature approved with the confidence that they would hold up their end of the deal. However, the ensuing result differed from any economic development incentive Kentucky has ever seen.
At the time, I was thrilled to see such an investment in our part of the state. Unfortunately, even though Braidy Industries was granted numerous extensions, it has failed to meet any of the deadlines required by law. The legislature held up our end of the deal, and it hurts my heart to see this deal continually fall through the cracks. I am holding on to hope that the project succeeds for our people and region. However, if Braidy does not fulfill its part of the deal, the $15 million in taxpayer dollars needs to be returned. SB 48 passed unanimously on the Senate floor and now goes to the House for further action.
Another measure adopted in the Senate this week would effectively change the date to end Kentucky’s COVID-19 state of emergency. Currently, the COVID-19 state of emergency is set to end on April 14, 2022. Under Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 150, the expiration date is moved up to March 7. The date is exactly two years and one day since the state of emergency was first called into effect by Governor Andy Beshear in March 2020. It was adopted by a vote of 28-8 on the Senate floor. It now goes to the House for further consideration.
Bills passed in the Senate this week:
SB 138 requires schools to provide instruction in social studies that aligns with a list of concepts such as “all individuals are created equal” and “Americans are entitled to equal protection under the law,” among several others. It also calls for topics on public policy or social affairs to be taught in an age-appropriate manner for students, and for educators to integrate two dozen core documents from American history into lessons.
On the Senate floor, I acknowledged my support for the civics education portion of the bill because we have lost much of that over the last few decades. I did, however, state my concerns with the legislation. I am leery of the framers and funders of this particular bill, as they are the same groups who tried to dismantle our public education system several years ago. Also, there needs to be some things clarified and taken out before I could be a yes on this bill. SB 138 passed 28-8. I voted no.
SB 80 calls for the state medical examiner’s office to conduct a genetic test when a postmortem examination of someone under 40 does not determine the cause of death. If the genetic test reveals the cause, coroners must note that information on the death certificate. The measure passed in the Senate with unanimous consent.
SB 91 allows vehicle dealers to deliver vehicles purchased on the internet to customers. It passed with unanimous approval.
SB 124 allows a person with a valid Kentucky commercial driver’s license (CDL) or operator’s license that has been expired for less than five years to renew without having to take knowledge and skills tests. SB 124 passed 33-0.
All Senate bills and resolutions passed in the Senate this week now go to the House for further consideration. Committee meetings are becoming more prevalent, and discussion on issues is becoming more prolonged as we enter the last leg of the session. For additional information on bills passed in the Senate and other measures making their way through the process, visit the legislative record online atlegislature.ky.gov.
If I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. To share feedback on an issue, you can email me at Robin.Webb@lrc.ky.gov or call the General Assembly Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. Kentuckians with hearing loss can use Kentucky Relay by dialing 711.
