Lawmakers hit the ground running during the second week of this year’s legislative session. We are making full use of our time as standing committees began meeting. Committees are reviewing budget requests, considering legislation, and hearing from stakeholders to identify priorities and carefully examine proposals before they advance.
The legislature has two types of committees: standing and statutory. Briefly, a standing committee is a permanent committee established by chamber rules to consider bills and issues within a specific subject area, such as education or transportation. A statutory committee is created by law and often meets year-round to provide oversight, conduct studies, or monitor state agencies, even when the General Assembly is not in session.
Both standing and statutory committees met the week of January 12-16. Here are summaries of several of the meetings, but I also want to stress that several budget subcommittees met to hear about specific areas of state spending – including public safety, education, personnel, and government operations, hearing updates on dam safety, grid resilience, courts, law enforcement, education technology, human resources, and emergency communications funding.
Banking and Insurance: Members discussed and considered several bills this week. HB 176 would create a program for providers to streamline the prior authorization process. Members considered HB 184, which would protect Health Savings Account qualified insurance plans by ensuring state cost-sharing rules do not cause them to lose their federal tax-advantaged status, while allowing those requirements to apply after the deductible is met. The committee considered HB 265, which would allow financially sound insurance companies to voluntarily dissolve under oversight while also preventing the approval of new workers’ compensation self-insured groups.
House Standing Committee on Health Services: Members first discussed HB 178, which aims to expand quality, cost-effective access to mental health care. Members then discussed HB 280, which would update statute addressing licensure issuance by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and medications allowed in schools. Lastly, members discussed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 24, which would direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to withdraw a waiver application submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that is not aligned with community engagement requirements outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill. All measures passed and will now move to the full House for consideration.
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee: Members reviewed several administrative regulations for full review from multiple cabinets and agencies. Many of the regulations came from the State Board of Elections and focused on updating election procedures, voting systems, voter registration, and election security, to reflect statutory changes, modernize terminology, and update required forms. Other regulations addressed postsecondary education governance, environmental standards, juvenile justice detention, protective custody, professional licensure for psychologists, funeral regulatory relief, and updates to education policies. Many of the regulations were aimed at updating citations, improving clarity, modernizing processes, and aligning state rules with current law and practice.
Government Contract Review Committee: Members met to hear from Kentucky agencies and organizations regarding funding requests and contracts. The committee heard testimony on contracts that will cover legal fees for several ongoing litigation cases. Members also heard information on contracts funding community-based services with mental health centers and nonprofits. Members inquired about contract cost increases, federal funding availability, and justification for large funding requests, including consulting, and legal service renewals.
Information and Technology Oversight Committee: Members heard from the KentuckyWired Communications Network Authority (KCNA) regarding updates to the network and the service life of equipment. The committee also heard from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) on how media and material created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is protected by the First Amendment and the positive impact it has on society. Members inquired about the impact of deepfakes and irreversible damage done by AI to one’s character that cannot be monetarily compensated.
Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee: Members worked through an agenda that included a staff report reviewing veterans’ centers, followed by a response from the state veterans affairs agency addressing the findings and operations of those centers. The meeting also featured a presentation on RiverLink tolling operations related to the Louisville-area bridges, focusing on oversight, management, and current practices.
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board: Members adopted the final Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board findings and recommendations. These findings and recommendations address aligning the program with H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill; improving transparency into Medicaid spending and performance; inaccuracy of network adequacy reporting; Kentucky’s current Medicaid delivery model; Department for Medicaid Services oversight and accountability; the lack of solutions and follow-up to stakeholder feedback and questions; and behavioral health service delivery.
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.
Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield
