In Frankfort today, lawmakers considered Senate Bill 150, a bill that critics say would mean more bullying of transgender students in Kentucky.

Its supporters, though, say the bill, if passed, would give parents the information and transparency they need.

Our Casey Parker Bell begins our legislative coverage tonight from Frankfurt.

Respecting who trans kids are in the school environment will save their lives.

People in opposition of Senate Bill 150 streamed forward to tell stories about a Frankfort bill they say could put trans children at serious risk.

Senate Bill 150 is sponsored by State Senator Max Wise, who is also the running mate for Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Kelly Kraft.

The purpose of this bill is to ensure parental communication and inspection and authorization.

The bill would require schools to notify parents when students access mental or physical health services.

It would prohibit the Kentucky Board of Education and Kentucky Department of Education from creating policies, keeping student information confidential from parents.

Established school personnel are not required to use pronouns that do not conform to a student's biological sex as indicated on their birth certificate, and requires disclosure of programs about human sexuality.

Schools will not have to disclose information to parents if there is a belief the disclosure could result in the student becoming abused or neglected.

Specifically not allowing in the Kentucky Department of Education or the Kentucky Board of Education to be mandating and push down upon local school districts.

Their ability to handle this.

Miles Joyner, a licensed clinical social worker and Louisville non-binary trans person, says trans children could be put at risk if the bill becomes law.

I know that if my trans kids that I'm treating who have already transitioned go into the school and their teachers start using the wrong name and pronouns for them, they will be suicidal.

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization with the goal to end LGBTQ suicide, conducted a survey last year with statewide data.

The results show nearly 59% of transgender and non-binary youth in Kentucky seriously considered suicide.

In the past year, 24% attempted suicide.

State Senator Karen Burge lost her transgender son Henry, to suicide last year.

She spoke against the legislation on the Senate floor yesterday after the bill was introduced.

I am going to make an open plea to the members of this body that we avoid politicizing issues that are literally killing our children.

The Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill one 5011 to 1.

LEXINGTON Senator Reggie Thomas was the only senator to vote No.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm K.C.

Parker Belle.

Senate Bill 150 now moves on to the full Senate for consideration there.

As a reminder, if you or someone else's and mental distress, please call the suicide hotline number at 9884.

Help.

Governor Andy Beshear was critical of the bill during his news conference today.

He also mentioned Senator Karen Berg and her late son.

I'm struck by the callousness of introducing this type of bill.

Senator Karen Berg, just almost right next to you, who buried her son, what, a month ago about a lack of disrespect, but empathy for one of your colleagues?

And I have real concerns based on what I've heard about the bill, that it will increase bullying in our schools, especially for students that are already marginalized.

Also on the Frankfort front, yesterday the Senate passed House Bill one, a bill that cuts the personal income tax rate by another half percent effective next January.

Governor Beshear says he'll study the bill and consider the short and long term impacts before deciding whether to veto it.

Supporters of slots like gaming machines are asking lawmakers to not ban them.

The Kentucky Merchants and Amusement Coalition or Kentucky Rmac, rallied in Frankfort yesterday.

They call these machines skill games, but opponents refer to them as gray machines.

They're in many small businesses and more than half of Kentucky's 120 counties.

Some lawmakers say the machines should be considered gambling and therefore illegal in Kentucky.

Kentucky Mach says, though, a simple legislative fix could clear up any and all confusion.

Still, games are legal and with additional regulation could do even more good for Kentucky.

A regulatory bill would make it easier for law enforcement to crack down on the actual bad actors.

Illegal gambling operations.

And a bill addressing this issue has yet to be introduced this session.

A bill to reopen a road behind the Kentucky Capitol is once again being discussed this session.

Republican Senator John Schickel filed Senate Bill 11.

If passed, it would prohibit permanent closure of Capitol Avenue between the state Capitol building and the annex building.

Governor Beshear closed that section of the road in 2021, citing a security recommendation from state and federal officials.

In a committee hearing this morning, Senator Schickel from Union explained why he thinks this bill is needed.

I take issue with the fact that there was recommended that that road be permanently closed.

It that there were several there was a whole portfolio of security recommendations that and many of them have not been been done.

And this bill does not say close that road completely.

It says open the road unless there's a reason to close it, which I think is the is the perfect middle ground.

The bill sailed through today's committee and now waits for full action on the Senate floor.

A similar bill passed the Senate last session but was never taken up by the House.