>> They want to erase trans kids in LGBTQ kids across the board from Kentucky schools.

It's not going to happen.

It's not going to work.

>> One of this year's most controversial bills is nearing final passage to bot could see significant changes.

What's the verdict on a bill to stop Kentucky colleges from banning guns on campus?

>> This is about legal of regulating and making legal marketplace that already exist.

>> Is can talking we on the verge of legalized sports betting.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

The owner Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Wednesday March 15th, we thank you for joining us.

I'm Renee Shaw at the KET studios in the Capitol and next and Frankfort, we thank you for spending your Wednesday night with us.

>> It's been a very busy day here at the state Capitol as we near the close of the 2023, Kentucky General Assembly.

>> Tomorrow is the last day for lawmakers before they break for almost 2 weeks and then return at the end of March to try to override any vetoes from Governor Andy Beshear.

We begin tonight with one of the most controversial bills of the legislative session, House Bill 4.70, the measure would restrict treatment options for trans youth and now includes language from other controversial bills like the Senate bill requiring parental notification on any course about human sexuality.

But some lawmakers indicated yesterday the controversial bill could be scaled back and a Senate Amendment getting some traction could change large portions of the bill starting off our legislative update.

Our Casey Parker Bell spoke with the Fairness Campaign is executive director about House Bill 4.70, the potential for changes to the bill and the impact it would have on the LGBTQ+.

community.

>> Why house before 70?

So mental LGBTQ community, I mean, for 70 in its original form was already a bill that was likely to kill Kentucky's kids for 70 denies medically accurate and necessary gender affirming care for transgender youth.

And we know that that is exactly the type of care that stops suicide, allergy and self-harm among strands kids lowers the incidence of depression and taking that away is going to make one of our state's most vulnerable groups of children.

Much more at risk.

But of course, it wasn't enough that House Bill 4.70, was already going to endanger Kentucky's kids and put out a dangerous government overreach into the lives of parents and parents rights to obtain the medical care that they believe is best for their children.

But now they've added all sorts of other anti LGBTQ measures to House Bill 4.70.

Now it includes a bathroom bill that helps trans kids where they can and can't use the restroom in school bill that we killed nearly a decade ago.

And now it's back from the dead is on the bill.

It includes the pronoun bill that would give teachers the right to refuse to use correct names and pronouns for transgender students and maybe worst of all in the new additions to House Bill 4.70, brought overreaching.

Don't say gay.

Don't say trans provision.

That would put a chilling effect on speech in Kentucky.

Schools making certain that teachers are no longer allowed to talk about LGBTQ people of probably not even be able to discuss LGBTQ parents that students have.

They want to erase trans kids in LGBTQ kids across the board from Kentucky schools.

It's not going to happen.

It's not going to work, but they're probably going to pass the Bill House Bill.

4.70, state senators gave some indication that they might not pass the bill in its current form.

There have been amendments filed, too it.

How do you feel about the amendments that have been filed so far?

>> Yeah, the amendments don't do nearly enough.

However, Carol Amendment Senator Danny Carroll's amendment on House Bill 4.70, is the one that would allow for some lifesaving care for transgender kids.

It allows at least for puberty regulators to be prescribed by medical professionals and takes that government overreach.

Part of it at the very least out of the law, some several of the other amendments would still go way too far.

And so we're hoping to see if any of those amendments passed muster that it is Senate floor amendment to from Senator Danny Carroll.

>> Thank you, Casey Benton, Senator Danny Carroll, who you just heard talked about.

He has a floor amendment that would remove a large portion of the original text of House Bill 4.70.

The bill could be taken up by the Senate at any time.

If the measure passes with the Senate changes, it would still need approval from the House.

A bill barring the government from, quote, substantially burdening an individual's religious liberty passed the House Judiciary Committee today House Bill 204 also reinforces a person's right to sue if they feel their religious liberties have been burdened.

State representative stay Rawlings a Republican from Burlington says House Bill 2, 0, for updates.

The Religious Freedom Act and gives clarity to the courts when it comes to W*** religious rights and the state's interests.

>> Ultimately, this bill seeks to ensure that religious rights are adequately protected.

HB 204, ensures that Kentucky courts will use the most accommodating language to ensure that religious Kentuckians have a fair day in court.

Find these definitions will ensure that Kentucky ends can be heard if any part of the government burdens their religious practices.

HB 2, a 4 does not create new rights.

Instead, it codified the judicial standard that determines how seriously we take our commitment.

2 religious freedom and the Commonwealth.

Religious people and houses of worship are facing more and more government intrusion and violations of the right to freely live and freely worship.

We must ensure that our Commonwealth has the strongest religious Freedom Act before these trends were sent.

So these definitions provide the meaningful direction to judges who need to apply the law to a wide variety of factual scenarios.

>> And ensures that citizens have this clarity about the religious freedom rights, which also ensures that they can stand up for the rights instead of possibly being warned by an attorney or someone that Kentucky's refer it might not apply to them.

>> Voting against the bill was representative cut or a heroine of Louisville who question why Wallen's added a substitution to the bill that excluded inmates.

>> As a part of the talks about the protections afforded under this section shall not apply to an inmate in the custody of a jail or local or state correctional or detention facility.

I just want to get more clarity.

Know why that is in there and needed.

And then also is that the only in this committee?

So >> it is the only change.

We had a request from a Kent County prosecutor that didn't want to have civil actions filed against him or law enforcement or judges from inmates.

So that was his request.

And that is the purpose of the committee substitute.

So that is the one exception is inmates.

>> She often with the alliance defending Freedom added that there is a federal law already in place that protects the religious rights of inmates.

The committee also passed Senate Bill 9, which would make hazing a felony.

The bill is known as Lofton's law named after lost in Hazelwood at University of Kentucky student who died of alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity.

Senator Robby Mills of Henderson told the committee the bill sends a message that hazing should never be tolerated.

>> For far too long, hazing has been this awkward rite of passage in Kentucky that many still refused to acknowledge was wrong.

We believe the elevation of hazing to crime addresses head-on the seriousness of these actions.

It lets students know that Kentucky value student safety and violations of their safety will be addressed.

And the honor law.

>> Senate Bill 9 as amended was later passed on the House floor by a vote of 96 to 3.

It's now headed back to the Senate for final approval.

Kentucky is a step closer from not having to enforce a federal firearms bands.

House Bill.

One 53 which already cleared the full House was passed in the Senate today.

Senator Phillip Wheeler of Parkville spoke in favor of the bill on the Senate floor.

>> You know, I I seem to recall, you know, cities and all over the country passing sanctuary laws saying that they will not use their local law enforcement.

Enforce federal immigration law that they're not going to enforce the laws of the United States to pick up.

People are illegally residing within our country.

In a system.

The deportation of that.

I'm sure.

you know, my Democratic colleagues would never support ignoring federal law that they would encourage us to cooperate with the federal government.

A government.

In the enforcement of our federal immigration laws.

>> Kentucky's newest a state senator, Democrat Kasey Chambers, Armstrong of Louisville spoke against the bill.

Mister President.

This is clearly unconstitutional.

Unlike the example given by the senator from Pike, which I agree that the Constitution does not say that states must expend resources to enforce federal laws.

This goes further than that.

I have never seen a law that makes it a crime for our law enforcement officers to cooperate with duly elected acted laws.

I think that is a dangerous s**** for this body to go down.

The bill passed the Senate 27 to 9 and now goes on to Governor Andy Beshear, who could sign it into law or veto it.

>> Or allow the bill to become law without his signature.

It appears a bill that allows for guns on college campuses won't move forward in Frankfort.

This session.

That's according to Representative Savannah Maddox, who was the sponsor of House Bill 5.42. last night she tweeted that she was told members did not want to vote on the measure and her tweet.

She outlined changes that were made to the bill in hopes of getting it passed.

They included a Cove yacht for private institutions and for events of stadiums or arenas with more than 1000 spectators as well as a requirement that guns be safely stored in university housing Maddox, who dropped out of the governor's race last year went on to say, quote, It's clear that there is much work to be done in Kentucky to educate legislators about the importance of protecting our right to KET and bear arms.

No university in Kentucky has voiced support for the bill.

The 13 states have a similar law.

Betting on sports in Kentucky is close to becoming lawful.

And according to recent surveys, a 65% of Kentuckyian support such a move.

The American Gaming Association estimates that in the Bluegrass State a little over 1 billion dollars is wagered on sports every year illegally through offshore companies or through local bookies Republican Representative Michael Merritt is House Bill 5.51.

Creates a regulated marketplace for sports betting.

>> I don't stand here to debate anyone's morals or their religious convictions.

I've said that over and over again about this bill.

But again, we know this is happening in the marketplace already either illegally or just outside the boundaries of our commonwealth.

And so I think it's smart that we regulate.

This is a state and provide a structure where folks know what is happening in the marketplace.

And no, it's safe under the under the purview of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Thank you.

He has a proven record of policing wagering.

>> Sports betting is expected to bring about 23 million dollars in tax revenue to the state.

That money would be used for administration costs, problem, gambling and to help the state's public pension funds.

Here's what else it would do.

The state's 9 horse racing tracks can be licensed to offer retail and online sports betting that have to pay an upfront initial license fee of $500,000 with a $50,000 annual Renewal Fee.

Horse racing tracks can contract with up to 3 service providers like FanDuel or DraftKings for on site bedding or through mobile apps, tampering with the outcome of a sporting event would result in a class, A felony.

Sports players wouldn't be able to wager on games.

They play in violating that rule would be a class, A misdemeanor.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission would regulate sports, wagering and licensing.

Opponents testified that legalizing sports betting normalizes gambling for kids would bring more corruption to sports.

It preys on the poor citizens for those addictions and comes with other real social costs.

>> And unfortunately, the social cost are only amplified when we're talking about online sports and video game betting being made on already highly addictive cell phones online.

Sports betting puts casinos in the pockets of millions and he's already let some states to report a tripling of gambling addiction problems and make no make no mistake, despite any attempts to protect children from this highly addictive form of gambling.

Commercialize sports betting harms children and radically changes the way that children do sports.

The high frequency of deceptive ads by gambling operators serves to normalize gambling for kids leading kids to believe that gambling is central to playing and watching sports expanded gambling preys on poor people.

It's often the porous people of our communities who are most vulnerable to the slick advertisements, the promise that the DraftKings to put out the door fans to put out about get rich quick.

They oppose it because they recognize that it's highly addictive.

Some say it's as addictive as alcohol or we're drugstore or smoking in the past.

You had to go to a certain venue to place a bet you had to go to a casino or a horse track or somewhere else.

>> But with this, the legalization of the creation of a framework of sports gambling, you will have the possibility of having a casino in your pocket digital devices are already very addictive to children and other people as well.

And for these reasons come of policy center is opposed to House.

Bill, thank you for your testimony.

>> 6 of the 7 states border in Kentucky already allow sports betting the Senate licensing and occupations Committee approved the bill 9 to one and it now awaits action by the full Senate before it can be sent on to the governor's desk.

A bill that would ban the popular social media app TikTok on government devices is a step closer to becoming law in Kentucky, an amended version of Senate Bill 20 pass the full House today by a vote of 96 to 3 changes to the original bill include omitting most public colleges and universities from the ban.

Law enforcement activities would also be exempt because of the changes to the bill.

Senate bill 20 will be returned to the Senate for approval before it can be sent on to the governor's desk.

It appears Kentucky will have to wait before giving a green light to autonomous vehicles.

House Bill one.

35 sponsored by Representative Josh Bray of Mount Vernon was defeated in a Senate committee this morning on a split vote of 5 to 5.

That's despite changes to the bill that would have required a licensed driver be behind the will of driverless vehicles.

Some concerns raised by senators included uncertainty about how these vehicles could respond to an for same second test circumstances.

What might happen if the vehicle is infected with a computer virus and the potential of loss of jobs.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Time now for our midweek, check-in of some major political developments, particularly here what's happening in the capital with a good friend Roland Martin, who is managing editor of Kentucky Public Radio.

Good to SE.

You can see 2 minutes.

A lot of things to cover, not enough time.

But let's talk about this omnibus LGBTQ+ measure what's inside it and what's happening.

>> So originally, the base of this bill was a bill banning a certain medical therapy for minors who are, you know, the gender affirming care for minors there.

If this has become the bill to carry all of basically to anti LGBTQ legislation, a lot of it at least proposed during this legislative session.

Most of those purse provisions were added on during during a Senate committee yesterday.

And afterwards, it sounds like from some reporting from the Herald-Leader an amendment has been filed to pare back some of those.

So this is still, you know, still has the baseline of of tweaking of banning some gender affirming care for minors, especially medical treatment, although it will still permit puberty and really the sponsors rationale being that that something is reversible.

There's some language dealing with therapy therapy.

That's specific to gender transition would be banned.

But other forms of therapy.

And in terms of of talking to kids about gender would would not be banned so That includes a lot of these kind of so-called parents bills really kind of a similar to the bathroom ban bills that we years ago.

The legislature that in advance.

But we saw North Carolina of about so there's still a lot that's going that could change with The Senate might be considering it today.

No matter what the Senate does today, they would have the House would have to agree to any of those changes support to pass because they've got different versions of this bill moving at this.

>> So this is one of the times that I remember you had several Senate committee members yesterday say we don't like this bill.

It's too broad, but yet they voted for it anyway, right?

>> And the whole idea is that its move, the process along other still other opportunities to to change the bill.

And really, we saw you know, they I think they they left for something like a 2 or 3 hour long discussed You know, they've been talking about other things, but certainly they came out of that.

And that's where some of these changes start to emerge, which is, you know, they're paring back some of the really severe elements of the bill >> but now it encompasses the bathroom bill and the parental rights.

So it's much broader than it was when it got to the absolute with much broader than when it got to the Senate.

And it's still also includes a that not allow school districts to require teachers to use kids preferred pronouns.

And they used to that.

>> There's a lot of different elements of this bill.

And there's a lot of things that could change going forward.

>> So a couple other bills and probably aren't so full of consternation.

A medical marijuana made some strides and had not made in previous Sessions got a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday and Tuesday.

Sorry and could get a vote sometime soon.

And then gray machines are banned.

That's headed to the governor's desk.

Yeah.

All eyes have been on the state Senate of of regarding medical cannabis.

That's typically been the hurdle that the issue has been unable to overcome in previous legislative sessions.

>> And so the whole issue started there this year, a pass out of committee and Senate first time ever.

This is a pretty restrictive version of a medical marijuana bill.

That's only doctors would only be allowed to prescribe it for a certain very severe conditions.

>> And it would allow of the medical cannabis to be smoked and it wouldn't go into effect until January.

First, 2025 so the Senate could vote on it soon.

So this sounds pretty similar to what the House has approved previously.

So it seems like there might not be too many hurdles there.

This is probably a bill that, you know very well might save until after the veto period because it's likely that Governor Beshear, I would be in favor of it.

Yes, and started to worry about it.

Yeah.

It already issued an executive action for certain can talk into it.

The gray machines, So this basically those a slot type machines that you see in the gas stations or bars.

And this is a bill that would ban others gray This is out Well, this actually passed out of both the House and Senate at this point.

So it's on the governor's desk now.

We'll see what he does with that this was a a big issue for a while that some folks are trying to trying to regulate.

Yeah.

>> And so back to medical marijuana.

We should point out that Majority Leader Damon Thayer voted yes to applause in the committee about erupted when he voted.

Yes, because he had been blocking this measure the previous time to come to the Senate.

>> One of the few people walking and you know, not the only one not.

That was one of be that was a big sign for sure to for one of the, you know, the people that really not been in favor of previous versions to allow that to go through.

>> Last item, the governor's race, we got to get a little plug in on that.

So the the battle over the ads General Cameron, Daniel Cameron and Kelly Craft.

>> Right.

And Kelly, Kraft is still the one who's out there, you know, really putting a lot of money into the ads right now.

It's come out with an ad last week going after Daniel Cameron for his call, policies saying he was essentially along with a President.

Joe Biden trying to shut down coal plants the sexual related to an Ohio Valley resource story from 2021, where he actually had some harsh words about a West Virginia coal nothing to the proper things.

And so she's going after from for that.

And really he's come back in and try to show his long record of really trying to prop up the legacy industry yeah, it's going to be seeing see how this goes forward.

It's Kelly.

Kraft is really on offense here trying to get her name out there more.

And David Cameron's on defense here trying to of fend off any challenges here.

But I'm not you're totally turning this into a bloodbath at this point.

>> So where does this leave the other Ryan Quarles and Mike Harmon and Allen Cat.

>> I mean, I think that, you know, right now there's some there's some thinking that this really could be another 2015 moment where you have the 2 frontrunners here kind of fighting after each other and their these, you know, 3rd place finishers were trying to, you know, look for that moment where they can split the gap and and be be the candidate to start really getting into the mud with the other We'll see if that's exactly how >> that plays out.

What thank you.

I was always good to see.

You can see 2.

♪ ♪ ♪ Now an update on U.S..

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

As we told you Monday, he is out of a Washington, D.C., hospital after falling and suffering a concussion a week ago.

A spokesperson says he also fractured a rib during the fall.

Senator McConnell is now in a rehab facility.

It's not clear how long he will stay there before returning home.

His spokesperson says it depends on his progress.

Kentucky is getting about 300 million dollars and federal flood relief after the eastern Kentucky flooding last July.

The Mahdi is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This hot money is for long-term recovery efforts.

Money will go to Kentucky state government and then the state will determine grant amounts for individual communities.

20 counties will be eligible to receive money.

Lakeshore learning Materials will invest more than 27 million dollars as it puts a new distribution facility in midway.

That's in Woodford County.

This will mean 40 new full-time jobs.

The company will build a 360,000 Square foot facility on 14 acres near Georgetown Road work is expected to begin in December.

The company makes classroom furniture supplies and educational materials.

High school students are preparing for future careers in computer science.

The robotics team at Greenwood High School in Bowling Green recently held a demonstration.

The team showcased its robot flatline which earned a couple of awards at the first tech challenge.

Kentucky State championship.

The contest was held in February at the University of Kentucky.

>> We have learned how to work together.

I was a functioning team.

I have learned some of the engineering and counting has spent since I've dabbled in as a little bit.

>> And I mostly learned how to fund raise and how to communicate with others.

These really put a lot of time and effort their project.

They've been working on this for years.

They spend a lot of time over the summer and then after school to get their robot competition ready.

>> But it's more than just the robot.

It's a lot of soft skills in public speaking and outreach and its opportunities throughout the year to really work with the community and students in other schools have become.

So we have to do a little light can grab them.

TVA presented the students with a $5,000 grant.

>> The students plan to buy robotics KET to use an elementary and middle school classrooms, hoping to encourage interest among younger students.

♪ ♪ We're still in Frankfort for tomorrow's Kentucky edition.

It's the last day for lawmakers before they take a break and returned later to try to override any vetoes by Governor Andy Beshear will look at bills that pass on the last day and bills that down to.

There's a lot to break down Thursday on Kentucky Edition.

And we sure hope that you will join us again at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips that came to the Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart.

>> TV and send us a story idea that public affairs at KET Dot Org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

You can follow me on Twitter at Renee K E T and I'll KET you in the loop during the day about what's happening here in Frankfort.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw and I'll see you again tomorrow night to get here.

♪ ♪