Final Week of the 2022 Legislative Session
Last week marked the official end of the 2022 Regular Session, including the final days of the veto period and the final two legislative days, April 13 and 14, for the General Assembly to override Governor Andy Beshear’s vetoes. In what could be the most active veto override effort in Kentucky history, overridden were eight Senate bills and over 20 state House of Representative bills that the Governor attempted to block. In addition to these overrides, we passed a few additional bills primarily agreed on, and I expect those bills will sign into law.
With a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly, the House and Senate majority caucuses represent Kentucky values. Multitudes of vetoes from the Governor speak to social, cultural, political and philosophical divides between the executive and legislative branches. The policies successfully defended included:
- Pro-life measures.
- Promoting economic growth and fiscal responsibility.
- Protecting the integrity of women’s sports.
- Strengthening state oversight of state government.
- Investing in Kentucky’s future.
In the latest effort of the General Assembly to champion pro-life legislation and be a leading national voice for the voiceless, we passed House Bill 3 which bans mail-order abortion-inducing pills and requires a judicial review for all minors requesting an abortion. House Bill 3 also included language from Senate Bill 321 prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks. The Governor chose to veto this pro-life bill, but fortunately, we were able to override and enact the bill into law.
Allies of the Governor opposing Kentucky’s pro-life legislation will likely file a lawsuit against House Bill 3 as they have against past bills aiming to protect the unborn. A previously passed pro-life bill currently sits before the US Supreme Court and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; he, along with our large coalition of pro-life advocates, are eager to continue defending these measures with the potential of overturning Roe v. Wade.
In addition to pro-life legislation, the Governor vetoed the Senate’s bill ensuring fairness in women’s athletics. Senate Bill 83 requires those competing in female-sanctioned sports must be biologically female, which applies to all sports from the sixth grade through collegiate level athletics. Under Title IX, women have worked incredibly hard to have equal sports opportunities. Allowing biological males to compete against females negates their many years of sweat and time investment. The Senate stands in solidarity with dedicated female athletes, so we overrode the Governor’s veto.
Riley Gaines, a female swimmer for the University of Kentucky, attended Senate proceedings on April 13 and was allowed to speak on her experience competing and losing a trophy to a transgender female. Sen. Robby Mills held a press conference along with sponsors of the bill in support of Gaines and other female athletes across the state. Her visit highlighted the importance of this legislation and its goal to protect Title IX and the Kentucky girls and women competing under it.
Also noteworthy are the Governor’s vetoes of Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 9, two education-related bills.
Senate Bill 1 restructured the public school site-based decision-making councils, putting final curriculum decisions with each district’s superintendent. This provides accountability for curriculum selection, as the school board selects superintendents and the school board consists of elected officials who answer to voters in the district. Kentucky is the only state with these councils, which is unsurprising when realizing how unknown their existence is to the public. I released a column last year attempting to bring awareness to these councils. On them, parents’ voices are disproportionate on the councils. Senate Bill 1 strengthens community voices by ensuring the ability to effect change via local school board elections is not in doubt.
Included in Senate Bill 1 are the new United States history standards, requiring the instruction of 24 original, primary source, core documents foundational to the fabric of our country. These new standards conform to middle and high school education standards with those already present in elementary education. The bill promotes unity around the core principles that make America great.
House Bill 9 is widely known as the charter school bill and enables the creation and funding for two charter school pilot programs, one in west Louisville and the other in northern Kentucky. If successful, other schools may be opened in other parts of the state. The bill stipulates that unless it qualifies as an urban academy, a charter may only be authorized in districts with 7,500 kids or less, provided the school board and the charter school sign a memorandum of understanding.
It has been an extraordinary session, and I have strived to serve you and our district well.