With topics like the budget, housing, Medicaid, and education on the agenda, members of the Kentucky General Assembly are preparing to convene on Tuesday, January 6 at noon.
While the issues we consider are often complex, the legislative process and session can be boiled down to the basic who, what, when, where, and how that we all learned in middle school.
Who: The legislature is required to divide the state into 100 House districts and 38 Senate districts. That process, referred to as legislative redistricting, is guided by the constitution, state laws, and precedents set by court cases. The redistricting process must take place every ten years and lead to districts that are as nearly equal in population as possible. To serve in the Kentucky House of Representatives, an individual must meet specific eligibility requirements outlined in the Kentucky Constitution. Candidates must be at least 24 years old at the time of election and must have been a citizen of Kentucky for at least two years. Additionally, they must reside in the district they seek to represent for at least one year before the election. Members of the House are elected to two-year terms.
What: The first week of session is generally reserved for administrative work, including the adoption of rules and procedures we will follow as we consider bills and resolutions, and mandatory ethics training. I do expect we will see dozens of bills filed as they continue in the legislative process. Many will be about topics we discussed over the summer and fall, some will be proposals filed in previous sessions, and others will address issues that arise while we are in session.
When: Our convening is set by the Kentucky Constitution, which requires that we begin session on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. The Constitution also establishes that in even years we have 60 legislative days to complete our work before we must adjourn by midnight on April 15.
Where: The Kentucky Constitution requires that all sessions be held in the state capital city (except in case of war, insurrection, or pestilence). We already know that this will be a historic session, as we will meet in a temporary facility on the Capitol campus as the historic State Capitol Building undergoes major renovations aimed at maintaining the facility’s historic integrity while making it more functional and safer and more accessible for those who work and visit.
How: All legislation begins with an idea. A lawmaker works with staff and other stakeholders to write the legislation, then files it with the clerk of either the House or Senate (depending on which chamber they serve in). Once the bill is filed, all members are made aware of it, then it can be assigned to a committee for consideration. If it passes the committee, it comes back before the full House or Senate for a vote. If approved, it then must repeat the process in the other chamber. Changes can be made throughout the process as bills can be amended in committee or before the entire House or Senate. Hundreds of bills are filed each session, some are duplicates, others may require more work.
Want to follow along from home? If you are not able to visit in person, we use a variety of tools to keep the legislature’s work accessible and transparent. The Legislative Research Commission (LRC) is the legislature’s administrative arm and maintains a helpful, information-packed website. It contains every bill and resolution, schedules, contact information, and information about the legislative process. For decades, Kentucky Educational Television (KET) has televised committee meetings and the work we do on the House Floor. In addition, the legislature now offers a YouTube channel and broadcasts live from all committees and the House and Senate. To access the KET and YouTube coverage, visit www.legislature.ky.gov and click on “Live Coverage.”
Over the next three months, the legislature will consider, debate, and vote on dozens of bills and resolutions filed for consideration this session. Much of the work we will do stems back to issues we researched and considered throughout last summer and fall – issues like the housing shortage, skyrocketing use of artificial intelligence, expanding access to affordable health care, protecting Kentucky children and most vulnerable, honoring our veterans, and strengthening our communities.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at Samara.Heavrin@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield
