[♪♪] >> Bill: THE LAST FULL WEEK OF THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION SENDS DOZENS OF BILLS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE OR VETO.

COULD ANTI-D.E.I.

LEGISLATION BE AMONG THE BILLS THE GOVERNOR TRIES TO STOP?

A BILL BANNING PHONES IN CLASSROOMS IS AMONG A SLEW OF ACTIONS THAT COULD IMPACT SCHOOLS.

IN WASHINGTON THOMAS MASSIE VOTES AGAINST AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNNING AND CLASHES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

JESS CLARK EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

AND MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND HOST OF INFO KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

RIGHT TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPPING UP THE FINAL FULL WEEK BEFORE RETURNING TO ACT ON VETOES THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR MAY ISSUE.

AN ANTI-D.E.I.

BILL MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND REQUIRE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO END DIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN OFFICES BY JUNE 30TH.

THE DEBATES WERE SPIRITED.

>> THIS BILL SOLELY AIMS AT UNCONSTITUTIONAL D.E.I.

INITIATIVES OFFICES AND OFFICERS THAT PROMOTE OR PROVIDE DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OR BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS ON THE BASE OF RELIGION, RACE, COLOR, SEX AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.

NOTHING BROADER ON THE CAMPUS.

>> LET'S MAKE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THIS BILL IS ABOUT RACE.

AND ABOUT HIS INTENTION TO REALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

WE WANT TO PUT ON THE FRONT DOOR OF THESE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES YOU ARE NOT WELCOME.

APPLICATION DENIED.

>> Bill: TESSA, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ROBIN WEBB JOINED THE REPUBLICANS IN VOTING FOR HOUSE BILL 4 THE ANTI-D.E.I.

LEGISLATION.

OBVIOUSLY SOME PERSONAL DEBATE AT TIMES IN THE CHAMBER.

>> RIGHT.

WE ALL KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR.

WE ALL REMEMBER IN 2024 THERE WERE DUELING VERGES WHAT THE ANTI-D.E.I.

AND HIGHER-ED BILL WOULD LOOK LIKE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE TWO CHAMBERS COULD NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE BEST PATH FORWARD.

AND THE 2024 SESSION CONCLUDED WITHOUT THAT LEGISLATION.

WE KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN THAT WAY AGAIN THIS SESSION.

AND YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO A LOT OF THESE LAWMAKERS.

AND YOU SEE AT THAT TIME REFLECTED IN THE DEBATE.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO REACT TO THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING.

SO AFTER THE 24 SESSION, THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CLOSED DOWN ITS D.E.I.

OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULDN'T BE MAKING ANYMORE STATEMENTS ABOUT POLITICAL THINGS AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ALSO CLOSED ITS OFFICE.

THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING AND ACTED ACCORDINGLY.

SO WHAT WILL ACTUALLY CHANGE WHEN THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT, ASSUMING THAT IT DOES, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BECAUSE A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES ARE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE THOSE OFFICES.

SO PRACTICALLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE WAITING TO SEE.

>> AND ALSO ROBIN WEBB SOME CONSIDER HER AS A CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT SHE HAS BROKEN FROM THE DEMOCRATS AND VOTED WITH REPUBLICANS ON VARIOUS ISSUES.

SHE IS FROM GREYSON BUT THE SENATE DEMOCRATS THEY SENT OUT A RELEASE AFTER THE VOTE WENT DOWN SAYING THEY CONDEMN HOUSE BILL 4.

THEY CALLED IT A DIRECT ASSAULT ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FREE SPEECH AND KENTUCKY'S FUTURE.

AND THEN IN THE SENATE CHAMBER, THE DEMOCRATTER LEADER, HE HAD FILED 15 INDIVIDUAL FLOOR AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 4 TO TRY TO FIND SOME TYPE OF BIPARTISAN WORK THERE.

BUT ALL THOSE AMENDMENTS NONE OF THEM WERE ADDED, OF COURSE.

SO.

>> Bill: HE KNEW HE COULD NOT KILL IT WAS HE ATTEMPTING TO MODERATE IT?

>> MODERATE IT AND AT ONE POINT HE APPEARED WITH THE BILL'S SPONSOR JENIFER DECKER WHEN SHE WAS TESTIFYING AND AGAIN DURING THAT PROCESS TRYING TO AGAIN, FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO WORK TOGETHER IN SOME WAY.

BUT THEN IN THE SENATE CHAMBER TRIED TO WORK WITH THE SENATE FLOOR LEADER MAX WISE TO AGAIN FIND COMMON GROUND IN SOME CAPACITY.

BUT NONE OF THAT WAS HEARD.

AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONS MADE.

>> Bill: JESS, IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH.

WILL IT SEND UNIVERSITIES SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OFFICES OR EVEN LANGUAGE THEY MAY HAVE TO ELIMINATE ON CAMPUS?

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME SCRAMBLING.

IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE AND I THINK UNIVERSITIES ARE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACTS SHOULD BE.

ONE REASON IS THAT THE WAY D.E.I.

IS DEFINED IN THE BILL IS NOT NECESSARILY HOW PEOPLE WHO PRACTICE D.E.I.

WOULD DEFINE IT.

AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE QUESTIONS ABOUT WELL DOES THIS OFFICE DO D.E.I.

OR DOES IT NOT?

AND YOU MENTIONED LANGUAGE.

I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE JUST A GENERAL KIND OF SHYING AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT SAYS DIVERSITY, EQUITY OR INCLUSION.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF SOMEONE FILES A COMPLAINT IT'S GOING TO BE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE IF THIS COUNTS AS D.E.I.

OR NOT.

SO I THINK UNIVERSITIES PROBABLY WON'T WANT TO RISK IT.

>> AND ALSO TOO THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SENATE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE VARIOUS PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THEY HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE UNDER THAT UMBRELLA OF D.E.I.

TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT THERE'S -- THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TAX DOLLARS ARE NOT USED TO DO THE EVENTS ON CAMPUS OR AWARENESS THINGS.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.

>> Bill: IF THEY COLLECT A STUDENT FEE WOULD THAT BRING TUNDER THE LAW THAT IS A QUESTION?

>> A QUESTION TO FIND OUT THE ANSWER TO.

>> Bill: IT WOULD SEEM THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOING TO VETO THIS MEASUREMENT HE HAS SAID THIS WEEK THAT DIVERSITY IS AN ASSET.

>> HE HAS AND HE MADE STATEMENTS LIKE THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS LEGISLATION REACHING HIS DESK.

I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF THE GOVERNOR VETOES THIS.

BUT WITH ANY BILL THAT HE VETOES OVER THE VETO RECESS THEY CAN CERTAINLY COME BACK AND OVERRIDE THAT AND WITH THE COMMANDING 80% SUPER MAJORITY IN FRANKFORT REPUBLICANS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DO JUST THAT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL WATCH.

TIE THIS UP.

WHERE DOES IT SEEM TO GO ON D.E.I.?

IT'S PASSED THE GOVERNOR VETOES AND WE AWAIT THAT.

>> AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS CALLED WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS AT THE END OF MARCH AND THEY MOVE QUICK WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER VETO OVERRIDES.

>> Bill: THE FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN HELD A RALLY AND TOOK POSITIONS AGAINST SOME BILLS INCLUDING ONE TO REVERSE THE GOVERNOR'S BAN ON CONVERSION THERAPY THAT BILL BROUGHT CONTENTIOUS DEBATE TO THE LEGISLATURE AS LIMITS ON GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE WERE ADDED TO THE HOUSE BILL.

>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW, IS DENYING LIFE-SAVING MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE TO AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF KENTUCKIANS WITHOUT DEBATE.

THIS LATE IN THE GAME, BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS DEBATE.

>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT LIMITS THE FREE SPEECH OF COUNSELORS ON THE ISSUES OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY SAYS THAT SAME THING.

IT SAYS TO COUNSELORS TO PASTORS LIKE MYSELF, YOU CAN ONLY COUNSEL IN ONE DIRECTION ON THIS ISSUE.

I FAIL TO SEE HOW WE WOULD STAND FOR SUCH A THING IN ANY OTHER CONTEXT.

>> Bill: TESSA IS BESHEAR SIGNALING A VETO THAT WOULD REVERSE HIS BAN ON CONVERSION THERAPY?

>> ALMOST CERTAINLY.

HE CAME OUT AGAINST THIS BILL.

IT DOES TWO THINGS.

THIS BILL REVERSES THE GOVERNOR'S PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING CONVERSION THERAPY AND NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL OR STATE DOLLARS.

AND IT ALSO WAS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE SO A CHANGE WAS MADE IN MID-PROCESS TO ALSO BAR MEDICAID DOLLARS FOR PAYING FOR THINGS LIKE HORMONES FOR TRANSGENDER ADULTS WHO RECEIVE THEIR HEALTHCARE THAT WAY.

TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THIS BILL DOES.

AND THE GOVERNOR ON THURSDAY ATTACKED THIS BILL FROM A NUMBER OF PERSPECTIVES.

HE SAID THAT CONVERSION THERAPY IS EQUIVALENT TO TORTURE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH IT.

AND IN REGARDS TO THE MEDICAID PROVISION, HE SAID THAT WE SHOULD LET DOCTORS MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS AND NOT POLITICIANS WHO ARE GOING WITH THE WINDS OF THE DAY.

AND HE ALSO SAID THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT MEDICAL FREEDOM WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES AND THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE HYPOCRITICAL AND NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT STANCE.

AND HE ALSO TOOK ISSUE WITH THE PROCESS OF THIS BILL TOOK THE CURRENT FORM THAT IT IS IN.

AND THAT WAS WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO.

THAT IS WHAT WE SAW IN ONE OF THE CLIPS HOW THIS IS AN 11TH HOUR CHANGE.

FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS THE GOVERNOR SAID HE DOES NOT LIKE THIS BILL.

SO, YES, IF I WERE TO BET I WOULD SAY THIS IS ONE THAT IS VETOED.

>> Bill: AND ONCE AGAIN, EASILY OVERRIDDEN.

>> EASILY OVERRIDDEN.

>> Bill: MARIO HOUSE BILL 775 FILLED OUT A SHELL BILL IT IS A SWEEPING MEASURE AND MAKE IT EASIER TO CUT THE STATE INCOME TAX.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDED IN THAT.

AND IT STARTED WHEN FILED AS A FOUR-PAGE BILL BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE AND INITIALLY FOCUS TOWARDS THE LOCAL AREA ALLOWING LOCAL TO CREATE A SMALL TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT SIMILAR NEAR THE KFC CENTER IN THAT AREA.

IT HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A 107-PAGE BILL WITH AMENDMENTS INCLUDED.

BUT THE MAIN CRUX AS YOU MENTIONED THERE'S NEW LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATE TO BE LOWERED EVEN IF THE STATE DOESN'T HIT THE BUDGET TRIGGERS IN LAW AT SMALLER INCREMENTS.

IT CAUSED A LOT OF DEBATE IN FRANKFORT AND HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS.

BECAUSE IN 2022 WHEN THEY TAB LISHED THE REQUIREMENTS ON HOW THE TRIGGERS WOULD BE MET.

AND HOW THEY WOULD BE LOWERED.

AND NOW THIS NEW MEASURE AND THIS AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL CHANGED THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

>> Bill: SOME FEEL IT'S NOT BEING LOWERED FAST ENOUGH?

>> WELL, A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS THEY WANT TO GET THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX DOWN TO ZERO AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

SO THIS IS ONE WAY THEY CAN BE GO AHEAD AND PUSH FORWARD AND NOT WAIT FOR THE TWO-YEAR CYCLE AND GET IT DONE.

>> Bill: IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE TRIGGERS BUT IT MAY MAKE IT EASIER TO GET THROUGH THEM?

>> CORRECT.

>> Bill: JESS, A BILL BANNING CELLPHONES IN CLASSROOMS PASSED.

WE KNOW MANY TEACHERS IN THE STATE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY STUDENTS USING THEIR PHONES WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO TEACH.

>> YES.

IT IS A PROBLEM.

>> Bill: COMPETITION.

>> IT'S TOUGH COMPETITION.

YEAH.

SO THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT AT MINIMUM BANS CELLPHONE USE DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME UNLESS THE TEACHER IS ALLOWING CELLPHONE USE AS PART OF INSTRUCTION.

SO A LOT OF DISTRICTS ALREADY HAVE THESE POLICIES THIS IS JUST AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND THE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOK AT IT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THING IN THIS BILL THERE'S ALSO A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FILTER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SO THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE NECESSARY IN SCHOOL.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT SCHOOLS ALREADY DO FOR PORNOGRAPHY SITES.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPECTABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS SO STUDENTS CAN'T GET ON INSTAGRAM DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

>> Bill: OPENING THE DOOR FOR LOCAL POLICY.

>> YES.

IT IS OPENING THE DOOR FOR A LOCAL POLICY.

YES.

>> Bill: TESSA THE AGE IS LOWERED TO 15 FOR A DRIVER'S PERMIT ASSUMING THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THAT AND INDICATIONS SHOW THAT HE WILL.

IT ALIGNS KENTUCKY WITH OTHER STATES AND WILL ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THE JOBS?

>> RIGHT.

THE POINT WAS MADE DURING FLOOR DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BILL IS THAT THERE ARE KIDS 15-YEAR-OLDS FROM OTHER STATES WHO CAN COME INTO KENTUCKY AND DRIVE ON OUR ROADS LEGALLY.

BUT 15-YEAR-OLDS IN KENTUCKY CANNOT DO THE SAME.

SO THIS IS BRINGING KENTUCKY INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER STATES.

AND IT WOULD ALSO LOWER THE LADIES AND AGE THAT YOUNG FOLKS COULD GET THEIR FULL LICENSE THEY COULD GET THE JOBS SOONER.

>> Bill: HEMP DRINKS ARE GROWING IN POPULARITY AND THERE IS A STRONG EFFORT TO REGULATE THEM.

THERE WAS TALK OF BANNING THEM BUT THIS BILL DOES NOT GO THAT FAR?

>> SENATOR JULIE ROCKY ADAMS, THE CHAIRWOMAN AND SAID IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO PUT COMMON SENSE PARAMETERS ON A FAST GROWING MARKET AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD CAP THE AMOUNT OF THC AT FIVE MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CANS AND ALLOW RETAILORS TO SELL THE DRINKS WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS UNTIL JUNE.

BUT THEN THOSE DRINKS SALES THAT HAPPEN IN BARS OR RESTAURANTS, THE POTENTIALLY COULD BE BANNED.

BUT THE HEMP SUPPORTERS THEY SAY THEY OPPOSE THIS BILL BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONCERNS IT REQUIRE THE RETAILORS THAT SELL THIS TO GET LIQUOR LICENSES TO SELL THE DRINKS WHICH THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR BECAUSE IT WOULD IMPACT 1300 STORES ACROSS KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: NOT A SPECIFIC HEMP DRINK LICENSE BUT THE LIQUOR LICENSE.

>> CORRECT.

>> Bill: INTERESTING.

TESSA THERE WAS AN ABORTION CLARIFICATION BILL THAT SUPPORTERS SAID SOME MEDICAL ISSUES REALLY NEEDED TO BE SPELLED OUT.

>> RIGHT.

SO THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ISSUES SINCE ABORTION BECAME ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY THREE YEARS AGO IS THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT DO NOT IMMEDIATELY PUT THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AT RISK.

BUT THEY ARE STILL RISKY.

MY COLLEAGUES AT THE HERALD-LEADER HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THOSE CONDITIONS.

WHERE A FETUS IS NOT VIABLE BUT IT'S NOT IN IMMEDIATE LIFE-THREATENING RISK TO THE PREGNANT WOMAN.

AND SO THIS BILL ACCORDING TO THE SPONSORS IS A RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY IT WAS PRESENTED AND PUSHED THROUGH BY THREE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS INCLUDING ONE WHO HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY OPPOSED TO ANY ROLLING BACK OF ABORTION LEGISLATION.

BUT IT IS SAYING THAT WE NEED TO AND THIS IS THE HOW IT WAS SORT OF PRESENTED BY SPONSORS WE NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN AN ELECTIVE PROCEDURE AND A MEDICALLY NECESSARY PROCEDURE.

AND THIS IS WHERE DEMOCRATS START TO TAKE ISSUE WITH IT BY SAYING WELL, THE MEDICAL TERM FOR ENDING A PREGNANCY IS STILL ABORTION REGARDLESS IF IT'S MEDICALLY NECESSARY OR NOT.

IT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF LANGUAGE AT STAKE.

THEY FEEL THIS MAY MUDDY THE WATERS.

THERE WERE DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM HOSPITAL LAWYERS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE FOLKS WHO WILL BE MAKING A LARGE PART OF WHAT IS ABLE TO HAPPEN.

IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THERE WERE THERE WAS AN OBGYN WHO CONSULTED ONS THIS LEGISLATION AND BACKS IT AND HAS BEEN A CRITIC OF KEN'S ABORTION BANS IT IS NOT PERFECT AND IT IS A START AND IT WILL HELP.

>> Bill: SOME DISCUSSION WHETHER THE SPECIFICS CAUSE CLARITY OR LEAD TO MORE CONFUSION?

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS THE POINT WE SAW FROM DEMOCRATS WHO IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS LARGELY VOTED AGAINST IT.

IN THE SENATE THEY LARGELY PASSED ON THE ISSUE.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS COME OUT STRONGLY AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION SAYING IT EFFECTIVELY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO SAVE LIVES.

SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT THE GOVERNOR WILL DO.

YOU KNOW, TO SIGN IT WOULD BE TO BREAK WITH THE MAJORITY OF HIS PARTY IN FRANKFORT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE ALSO MADE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ABORTION RIGHTS A HUGE PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN FOR REELECTION IN 2023.

HE SPOKE AT THE DNC ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HE DOES ON THAT BILL.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

HOUSE BILL 298 ADDRESSES EDUCATIONAL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

JESS, DOES THAT PRIMARILY ADDRESS SITUATIONS AT OFTEN FLY UNDER THE RADAR?

>> YES.

ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THIS WORKS IS CLOSES A LOOPHOLE THAT EXISTS IN CURRENT LAW.

RIGHT NOW SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY IS AN EDUCATOR MAYBE ACCUSED OF ABUSE, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT BEFORE THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION INTO THAT ABUSE IS COMPLETE.

AND SO THEN WHEN THEY GO TO ANOTHER DISTRICT AND THAT DISTRICT PULLS THE FILES, THERE'S NO FINAL FINDING.

SO THIS -- AND THEY GET HIRED AND NO ONE IS THE WISER THEY WERE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE AT THE PRIOR SCHOOL.

IT REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FINISH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO EDUCATOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT EVEN IF THAT EDUCATOR HAS RESIGNED.

SO THAT WAY THERE IS A PAPER TRAIL THAT ALLOWS MORE THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY YOUTH ADVOCATES AMONG THE GROUPS IN FAVOR.

>> YES.

IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MAKING.

IT PASSED THE SAME MEASURE VERY SIMILAR MEASURE PASSED THE HOUSE LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT PASS THE SENATE.

SO, YEAH, ADVOCATES ARE HAPPY THAT IT FINALLY DID.

>> Bill: MARIO COPPER THEFT WOULD BECOME A FELONY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> REPUBLICAN IN THE BILL CALLS FOR STIFFING ADDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO COMMIT COPPER THEFT CLASSIFIED STREET LIGHTS, TELEPHONE AND INTERNET LINES CLASSIFIED AS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RMT SO VANDALISM WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> Bill: TESSA THERE IS A PUBLIC RECORDS BILL IN YOUR POSITION EDITOR YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING CLOSELY.

>> THIS IS A BILL THAT IS OF GREAT INTEREST TO GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS AND JOURNALISTS ALIKE.

IT WITH CREATE A LOOPHOLE IN THE OPEN RECORDS LAW FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO WITHHOLD RECORDS.

IT WOULD LOWER THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO SAY THAT COULD HARM OUR INVESTIGATION WE CANNOT GIVE YOU THAT DOCUMENT.

>> Bill: WELL, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THIS SESSION ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THE REPUBLICANS DEFENDED THE SPEED OF THINGS SAYING TOWARDS THE END YOU HAVE TO GET MOVING TO GET THINGS DONE.

BUT THAT HAS BEEN QUITE A THEME, HASN'T IT?

>> IT SURE HAS ESPECIALLY AGAIN AS WE MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, THE TERM SHELL BILLS IS WHAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT THROUGH MANY SESSIONS WHERE LEGISLATURE AT THE BEGINNING DAYS OR WEEKS THEY MAY FILE A BILL THAT HAS LIMITED WORDS AND A FEW SENTENCES AND THEN THEY REVISIT IT WHEN A CERTAIN BILL COMES UP IN A COMMITTEE AND THEN THAT ONE BILL HAS MANY PAGES AND MANY WORDS AND IT MAY CHANGE WHAT THE BILL SPONSOR'S INTENTION WAS AND THAT IS WHAT SOME BILLS TURNED INTO THIS PAST WEEK CAUSING A LOT OF CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE BILLS MOVING THROUGH FRANKFORT AND WHAT WAS FILED ORIGINALLY IT IS NOT WHAT THEY SAW AT THE BEGINNING.

>> Bill: COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE IS ANOTHER TERM WE HEAR.

>> THAT IS ANOTHER PROCESS.

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TESTIFY IN FRANKFORT ABOUT A BILL THAT YOU LIKE OR DON'T LIKE.

AND LAWMAKER SAYS WE'VE GOT A SUBSTITUTE IT IS NOT ON-LINE YET YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS IN IT AND YOU HOPE A FRIENDLY LAWMAKER WILL SLIP YOU A COPY.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE BOURBON SECTOR CLOSELY WATCHING TARIFFS.

THE BOURBON INDUSTRY AGAIN HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS ARE HEADED?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

ESPECIALLY WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HE THREATED ENDED FORMS OF TARIFFS RELATED TO BOURBON AND ALSO RELATED TO EUROPEAN UNION AND THE WINE CHAMPAGNE AND SPIRITS THE EUROPE UNION GOES FORWARD WITH THE PLANNED TARIFFS ON WHISKEY.

IT HAS BEEN CHANGING BY THE DAYS BY THE WEEKS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN IN ALIGNMENT WITH SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL AND ALSO SENATOR RAND PAUL REPUBLICANS WHO THEY ALL THREE SAY THEY ARE HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE TARIFFS SPECIFICALLY AS IT APPLIES TO BURR ON AND HOW THAT MOVES FORWARD.

>> WE'VE SEEN IN CANADA, KENTUCKY BOURBON BEING PULLED OFF THE SHELVES.

IN RETALIATION TO THE TARIFFS THAT HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND ON AND OFF.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION IS A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER MARKET FOR KENTUCKY BOURBON AND AMERICAN SPIRITS.

CANADA IS A MUCH SMALLER SHARE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR THIS.

SO IF THIS ESCALATES IF THESE TARIFFS ON THESE PRODUCTS GO THROUGH THAT WILL BE A REALLY SERIOUS THING FOR THE BOURBON INDUSTRY TO GRAPPLE WITH.

>> Bill: PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SERIOUSLY SCALING BACK THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

JESS, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS MOST OF THAT MONEY WILL STILL CONTINUE TO GO TO STATES.

IF YOU WRITE A CHECK FOR THE SAME AMOUNT WHAT IS THE ISSUE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT KENTUCKY GETS ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT COULD COME FROM ANOTHER AGENCY.

THE ISSUES WITH THE CUTS JUST IMMEDIATELY LOOKING AT THEM, YOU KNOW, ONE MAJOR DEPARTMENT THEY'VE COMPLETELY GUTTED IS THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

SO THESE ARE INVESTIGATORS AND LAWYERS THAT INVESTIGATE CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS AGAINST THEIR SCHOOLS.

WHETHER THEY WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT SCHOOL OR IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY DISCIPLINED THEY CAN FILE A FEDERAL COMPLAINT AND THIS OFFICE WILL INVESTIGATE IT.

THAT OFFICE IS GONE.

SO THERE ARE DOZENS OF OPEN CASES.

AND WILL HAVE NO RELIEF.

THAT IS ONE PIECE OF THE CUTS THAT IS IMMEDIATELY IMPACTING KENTUCKIANS.

>> Bill: IT'S SPELLED OUT SPENDING AND REGULATED IT RIGHT FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

>> Bill: NO, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

>> YES.

>> Bill: THAT IS WHAT THE KEA HAS SAID.

>> YES.

THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE, YES.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN TO VOTE AGAINST KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT DEADLINE RUNNING.

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED HIM A GRANDSTANDER AND WOULD SUPPORT A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FOR MASSIE.

MASSIE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD WORK BUT HE HAS BEEN AT ODDS WITH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE.

>> HE SURE HAS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED FOR MASSIE TO BE KICKED OUT OF OFFICE IN 2020 BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN MASSIE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DELAY THE COVID-19 RELIEF BILL FROM MOVING FORWARD.

AND TRUMP ACCUSED MASSIE AT THE TIME FOR BEING A THIRD RATE GRANDSTANDER WHO JUST WANTED PUBLICITY.

NOW TRUMP IS USING CALLING HIM A GRANDSTANDER.

RELEASED A POST ON THE TRUTH SOCIAL SAYING THAT ONE WAS ASKING IF THERE ARE TAKERS BECAUSE HE WAS LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST THOMAS MASSIE BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION IN 2026 AND MASSIE SAYS HE HAS NO CONCERN AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO RAISE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TOWARDS HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN BECAUSE TRUMP [INAUDIBLE].

>> Bill: WE ARE WATCHING TO SEE HOW NEXT YEAR'S OPEN SENATE RACE PANS OUT WITH MITCH McCONNELL NOT RUNNING.

TESSA WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> ON THE RIGHT IT IS A RACE AS FAR AWAY FROM MITCH McCONNELL AS THE CANDIDATES CAN POSITIONLY GET.

POSSIBLY GET.

WE ARE SEEING ONE POTENTIAL CANDIDATE NATE MORRIS HAS NOT DECLARED.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS IS IN IS DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR IS SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT A RUN.

THE DEMOCRATS WE HAVE STATE REP PAMELA STEVENSON WHO IS RUNNING AND WE ARE HEARING THAT PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGING BESHEAR'S SENIOR ADVISER ROCKY ADD KINS TO TAKE A LOOK.

>> Bill: JESS LET US KNOW WHEN JPCS MAKES A SUPERINTENDENT DECISION.

WEATHER IS COMING IN.

KENTUCKIANS FAR AND WIDE ARE REMEMBERING FORMER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL STAR BRIDGEMAN HE PLAYED FOR 12 SEASONS IN THE NBA AND KNOWN AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LEADER INVESTING IN FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, MAGAZINES AND MORE.

HE PASSED AWAY TUESDAY AT THE AGE OF 71.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.