Tagged: Kentucky General Assembly

Changes to a bill reforming how special taxing districts operate in Kentucky could kill the legislation in the final days of the General Assembly session.

State Sen. Damon Thayer, a Georgetown Republican and the majority floor leader, introduced the changes in committee on Wednesday which give local governments veto powers over possible rate increases by special districts. Those changes later passed off the Senate floor. 

Special taxing districts are usually sewer districts, library boards or other quasi-governmental public service entities.

FRANKFORT — Gambling brings social ills that will offset any tax revenue to Kentucky, argued a new group that rallied Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda.

About 30 people joined the group Stop Predatory Gambling Kentucky for the rally, where speakers dismissed efforts in the General Assembly to expand gambling through casinos or Instant Racing.

Karen Hendersen, executive director of Stop Predatory Gambling Kentucky, warned that casinos create a burden to state funds in the form of gambling addiction treatment and family assistance programs.

 Updated: FRANKFORT — In its second try, the Kentucky House agriculture committee approved a bill Wednesday creating a regulatory framework for growing hemp in Kentucky, if the federal government were to legalize it.

The hemp bill—championed by Agriculture Commissioner James Comer—got only one no vote in the House agriculture committee.

Last week, an ag committee meeting abruptly ended after a tense exchange among lawmakers on the hemp issue.

Hundreds of activists gathered today at the Kentucky State Capitol to rally and lobby lawmakers on behalf of the state’s disabled citizens.

One of them was Louisville resident Cherish Wolfe, who receives help at the the Bridgehaven Adult Day Treatment Center.    She’s urging more state support for services such as those Bridgehaven provides.

Legislation intended to crack down on cargo theft in Kentucky has died in the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

The measure did not receive a second when a vote was called today (Tues)

Sponsored by state representative Denver Butler of Louisville, the bill would have increased penalties for thefts of property worth more than 500-dollars.

The director of security at UPS in Louisville testified for the bill.

Steve Hamm says organized crime is targeting truckloads of valuable pharmaceuticals as they move across the country.