Daily Legislative Update

 
 

Welcome to the 2025 legislative session of the Kentucky General Assembly! Keep an eye out here as the KAS Science Policy committee identifies our priority areas for the year.

Below you will find a summary of the day's events that are related to science in the General Assembly, as well as a preview of upcoming actions.


Wednesday, March 12, 2025: 

The Senate may vote on the following bills: 
 
  • HB 4: This bill, more commonly known as the "anti-DEI bill", would prohibit public postsecondary education institutions from providing differential treatment or benefits based on religion, race, sex, color, or national origin. See our 2025 Legislative Issues page for more details on the bill and its many proposed amendments. 
 
  • HB 193: This bill would allow high school freshmen and sophomores to qualify for dual credit courses. 
 
  • HB 137: This bill would allow methods that produce quality data and are accepted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to be used to enforce air pollution requirements. 
 
  • SB 179: This bill would establish the Nuclear Energy Development Grant Program.
 
  • HB 346: This bill would establish a standard for emissions fees to be collected by the Energy and Environment Cabinet and air pollution control districts. 
 
  • SR 32: This resolution would support increased awareness of tick-borne diseases in Kentucky. 
 
  • HB 421: This bill would require health plans to cover colorectal cancer screening examinations that are recommended by the United States Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. 
 

The House may vote on the following bills: 

  • SB 89: This bill would remove protections from Kentucky's waters by reducing the definition of what is a protected water of the Commonwealth. 
 
  • HB 519: This bill would prohibit the Public Service Commission from passing on to consumers via rates costs incurred for retiring fossil fuel fired generating units. It could be voted on at any time but is not currently scheduled to be voted on.
 
  • HB 640: This bill would allow the Energy and Environment Cabinet to work to prevent the spread of invasive, non-native plants. 
 
  • HB 641: This bill would allow byproducts of coal combustion to be reused at mines and for reclaimed mine land to be used for any suitable purpose. 
 
  • HB 790: This bill would prevent solar electric generating facilities from being located within 350 feet of any adjoining properties without consent. 

Tuesday, March 11,  2025: 
 
  • HB 306 received its first reading in the Senate. This bill changes how professional engineers are licensed. 
 
  • HB 4, the anti-DEI in higher education bill, moved through the rules committee and was posted for passage. An additional three amendments were filed. For more information about the bill and its amendments, see our 2025 Legislative Issues page. 
 
  • SCR 43, a resolution expressing support for the Crisis Recovery Support Network coordinated by the Southern Regional Education Board, received its first reading in the House. 
 
  • HB 193 was moved to the Senate Orders of the Day. This bill would allow high school freshmen and sophomores to qualify for dual-credit courses. 
 
  • HB 276 was assigned to the Senate Education committee. This bill would alter the membership of the postsecondary education working group. The committee next meets on 
 
  • HB 424, the 'anti-tenure' bill, recieved its first reading in the Senate. It could be voted on as early as Thursday. 
 
  • HB 809, which would allow superintendents or principals to request assistance from local health departments to implement health curriculums, was recommitted to the Appropriations & Revenue committee. The committee next meets on 
 
  • HB 24 received its first reading in the Senate, as well as a few amendments. This bill would move soil and water conservation services into the category of 'special purpose government entity'. 
 
  • SB 179, which would establish the Nuclear Energy Development Grant Program, received its second reading in the House. It is not on the schedule yet, but could be voted on as early as Wednesday.
 
  • HB 370, which would replace the Department of Agriculture's Shows and Fairs Division with the Farm Safety and Rural Health Division and the Office of Agricultural Economic Development, was recommitted to the Appropriations & Revenue committee, which next meets on 
 
  • HB 640 was posted in the Orders of the Day. This bill would allow the Energy and Environment Cabinet to work to prevent the spread of invasive, non-native plants. 
 
  • HB 790 was posted in the Orders of the Day. This bill would make it more difficult to build new solar energy facilities. 
 
  • HB 278, which would allow USDA-exempted poultry producers to sell to end consumers on farms, at farmers markets, and at roadside stands, was placed in the Senate Committee on Committees. 
 
  • SB 27, which would establish the Kentucky Parkinson's Disease Research Registry, was moved to the House Health Services committee. The committee next meets on 
 
  • HB 495 received its first reading in the Senate. This bill would prohibit discrimination against mental health professionals providing protected counseling services.