DEBATES AND CONTROVERSIAL VOTES THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY GOES ON RECESS AND AWAITS VETOE FROM THE GOVERNOR.

LGBTQ ISSUES HAVE BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

SENATE BILL 150 IS MORPHED INTO A WIDE-RANGING MEASURE ON TRANSGENDER POLICY.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PASSES.

SPORE BETTING WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE VETO SESSION OR MAYBE ANOTHER year AFTER BOTH SIDES FIGHT HARD, LAWMAKERS PASS A BILL BANNING SO-CALLED GRAY MACHINES IN THE STATE.

ON A COLD ST. PATRICK'S DAY, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB I. ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

THE MAIN WORK PERIOD OF THE 202 GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS ENDED IN A EMOTIONAL FLURRY IN FRANKFORT.

SOME THINGS WILL APPARENTLY WAI FOR THAT TWO-DAY PERIOD WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN LATER THIS MONTH TO ACT ON VETOES.

AND THEY CAN PASS BILLS THEN, BUT WITHOUT A CHANCE TO OVERRIDE ANY vetoes CULTURAL ISSUES DOMINATED A LOT OF THE SESSION.

AFTER NUMEROUS CHANGES AND ADDITIONS, SENATE BILL 150 PASSED, WHICH BANS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN THE STATE.

THERE WERE IMPASSIONED DISCUSSIONS LEADING UP TO THE VOTE AND REACTIONS AFTER THE BILL PASSED THAT LED TO SOME BEING EJECTED FROM THE CHAMBER.

>> THIS HARMS KIDS IN EVERY SCHOOL IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR KIDS.

TO SUICIDE OR TO MIGRATION, AND NOT JUST THE TRANS ONES, EITHER.

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE CISGENDER ONES WHO SAY KENTUCKY IS MOVING BACKWARDS FAST.

>> BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT CHILDREN, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE SURGERY OR DRUGS THAT COMPLETELY ALTER THEIR LIFE AND ALTER THEIR BODY IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ALLOWING UNTIL THEY ARE ADULTS AND CAN CHOOSE THAT FOR THEMSELVES.

THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THESE CHILDREN.

>> Bill: ALEX, IT WAS UNCLEAR WHERE THIS WAS GOING DURING THIS WEEK.

HOUSE BILL 470 WAS SCALED BACK AT ONE POINT, BUT THEN SENATE BILL 150 WAS AMENDED AND ENDED UP WITH A WIDE REACHING PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

SO IT BEGAN AS ITS OWN BILL AS YOU SAID, HOUSE BILL 470, AND TO THAT INITIAL BILL WAS A BAN ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANS YOUTH.

IT LAND PUBERTIY BLOCKERS, HORMONES, IT BANNED SURGERY AND IT INCLUDED A NUMBER OF PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST DOCTORS WHO VIOLATE THAT.

THERE WAS SOMETHING LOOK A 30-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WHEN SOMEBODY COULD FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST A DOCTOR THEY BELIEVE VIOLATED IT, AND IT ALSO INCLUDED OTHER SORT OF TOUCHES LIKE IT WOULD CODIFY INTO LAW THAT DOCTORS WHO PROVIDED THIS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE WOULD BE DEEMED UNETHICAL, UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNFIT IT.

PASSED THE HOUSE.

BEFORE THAT IN COMMITTEE IT WAS HOTLY DEBATE.

THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THIS BILL REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER DECKER INTRODUCED IT AS A WAY TO PROTECT KENTUCKY CHILDREN.

AS YOU HEARD REPRESENTATIVE MEADE SAY JUST THEN.

A LOT OF THE PUSHBACK, AND WE HEARD PUSHBACK FROM A NUMBER OF KENTUCKY DOCTORS, PEDIATRICIANS, TRANS KID THEMSELF AND FAMILIES OF TRANS KIDS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS REALITY THAT YOU ARE PORTRAYING IS IF KIDS ARE BEING COERCED IS NOT THE REALITY THAT WE ARE LIVING.

DOCTORS TALKED ABOUT THE STANDARD OF CARE.

EVEN IF YOU ARE A KID AND YOU ARE TRANS AND YOU WANT TO GET PUBERTY BLOCKERS, IT INVOLVES PARENTAL CONSENT.

OFTEN THOSE CONVERSATIONS ELABORATE.

REGARDLESS, IT MOVED THROUGH COMMITTEE TO THE HOUSE, AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT WAS MADE INTO AN OMNIBUS BILL.

WHEN IT GOT TO THE SENATE, AS YOU MENTIONED, OR IN COMMITTEE AFTER -- BEFORE THAT ACTUALLY, A LOT OF THE SENATE REPUBLICANS EXPRESSED PAUSE AT HOW FAR THE BILL WENT.

WE HAD SENATOR DANNY CARROLL MENTION, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY HE SAID, I'M NOT A DOCTOR.

IT MAKES ME EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DECIDE WHAT IS FORCE A TRANS KID.

MAYBE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY THAT ROLE NECESSARILY.

STEVE MEREDITH VOTED AGAINST IT SORT OF EXPRESSING SOMETHING SIMILAR.

WE TALKED ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS, VALUING THAT AS A PARTY.

WHERE DOES THAT END ON THIS ISSUE.

BY THE TIME IT GOT TO THE SENATE, CARROLL HAD BASICALLY AMASSED ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM THE CAUCUS TO PASS AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE BILL WHICH WAS NO LONGER A BAN.

IT STILL WOULD HAVE BANNED SURGERY.

IT STILL WOULD HAVE BANNED HORMONES.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED PURELY BLOCKERS WHICH IS GENERALLY REVERSIBLE.

IT TOOK OUT THE HOSTILITY TOWARD DOCTORS AND IT PASSED THE SENATE.

48 HOURS LATER-ISH, AS YOU MENTIONED, BASICALLY THE ORIGINAL CONTENTS OF HOUSE BILL 470 HAD BEEN SHOVED INTO SENATE BILL 150.

THAT WAS MADE INTO AN OMNIBUS BILL.

IT HAD A QUICK COMMITTEE MEETING AND IT PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS THAT DAY.

AND NOW BASICALLY IN KENTUCKY WE HAVE PASSED A BAN ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS FOR PUBERTY BLOCKERS.

THE SORT OF ALLOWANCE TO SUE A DOCTOR I THINK A KID, IF THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE VIOLATED THEY HAVE UP UNTIL THE TIME THEY'RE 30 YEARS OLD TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST A DOCTOR, SO IT IS QUITE HOSTEL.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SEE IT AS EXTREMELY HOMATIC.

IT IS AGAINST THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS CITE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE.

IT WAS QUITE A WHIPLASH.

>> Bill: RYLAND, QUITE AN EMOTIONAL WEEK, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND REALLY SOME UNUSUAL POLITICAL LINES DRAWN IN THIS AS WELL.

>> Ryland: WHY YOU.

I THINK THAT SOMETHING WE SAW HERE WAS A NEW VERSION OF THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE KIND OF FIGURING OUT WHERE THE BATTLE LINES ARE WITHIN THAT 8080 REPUBLICANS OUT OF 100 THERE AND THERE ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS THERE AND THERE ARE MORE MODERATE ONES, AND THERE WERE -- THERE WAS A LOT OF FIGHTING GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES OVER -- OVER WE REALLY SAW IT HERE BUT ON SEVERAL OTHER BILLS AS WELL WITH REALLY JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAR TO GO, HOW EXTREME TO GO WITH THIS BAN ON GENDER AFFIRMING MEDICAL CARE AND REALLY OTHER ANTI-TRANS ISSUES AS WELL.

I THINK A TIME WHERE WE SAW REALLY LAID BARE WAS IN THAT MOMENT THAT -- THE DAY -- THE SECOND LAST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE SENATE WHEN DANNY CARROLL'S BILL HAD COME UP WHERE REPUBLICANS REALLY SPLIT ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY GOT THE AMENDMENT ATTACHED TO THE BILL, AND THEN A PARLIAMENTARY RARITY HAPPENED.

THEY VOTED TO LAY IT ON THE CLERK'S DESK, WHICH NOBODY REMEMBERS WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT IT JUST MEANT THEY'RE GOING TO PAUSE DEBATE ON THIS, AND THEY REALLY SUDDENLY DECIDED TO ADJOURN AND GO HOME FOR THE DAY.

AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY SPLIT ON THAT AND THESE BATTLE LINES, THE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS FELT A PARTICULAR WAY.

HE WAS TRYING TO MOVE IN A WAY TO TRY AND HAVE A -- THE CLEAN VERSION OF THE BILL WITHOUT BEING AMENDED WHEREAS DANNY CARROLL, VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY, THEN PUSHING FOR THIS MORE LENIENT VERSION OF IT.

AND THAT -- THOSE DIVISIONS REALLY RAN DEEP.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED ON A COUPLE OTHER BILLS AND ALL RESOLVED ON THE THE LAST DAY THOUGH.

>> Bill: DURING THE COURSE OF THE WEEK YOU HAD FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MILLER COME IN AND TESTIFY AGAINST ONE OF THE MEASURES.

>> Ryland: YES, AND FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BOB HELERINGER EARLIER IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION I THINK ON KET.

THIS IS -- I THINK A LOT OF THOSE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WILL TELL YOU THE TIMES IN -- YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF MINDS GET CHANGED ONCE THEY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO -- WHO IS TRANS OR HAS A TRANS RELATIVE, AND I THINK THAT HAPPENED TO SEVERAL LAWMAKERS.

THERE ARE -- SO THERE'S A -- THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AMONG THIS MASSIVE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

AND WE ARE ONLY STARTING TO SEE WHERE THESE DIFFERENCES ARE, AND THIS IS ONLY GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TIGHT MORE IN THE COMINGERS I DO NOT.

>> Bill: IS IT BELIEVED BY BOTH SIDES, AND THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY, THAT THERE IS POLITICAL HEFT TO THIS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, ON BOTH SIDES?

>> Ryland: THEY MUST.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR IT SO HARD.

I'VE GOT TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MUCH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAME THE ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BEFORE IT, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE INCOME TAX CUT.

YOU HAD YOUR PERENNIAL ISSUES OF ARE WE GOING TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL CANNABIS AND LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING.

BUT IT REALLY WASN'T FRONT OF MIND.

BUT IT'S SLOWLY GAINED A LOT OF MOMENTUM.

AND I KIND OF FEEL LIKE IT WAS PRETTY ORGANIC AMONG LAWMAKERS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CERTAINLY IN LOTS OF OTHER LEGISLATURE, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT BILLS FILED, AND REALLY THEY ENDED UP PASSING A VERSION, VERSIONS OF BILLS THAT INCLUDED ALMOST ALL THE POLICIES.

ONE OF THE ONLY ONES THAT DIDN'T END UP PASSING WAS RESTRICTIONS ON DRAG PERFORMANCES WHICH WHO KNOWS, THEY MIGHT TRY TO PASS THAT WHEN THEY RETURN THE IN FINAL TWO DAYS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: WITH NO OPPORTUNITY TO OVERVIDE RIDE A VETO.

>> Ryland: BUT MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO PIN GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DURING AN ELECTION YEAR ON A BILL THAT IS UNPOPULAR.

>> Bill: IS IT WIDELY BELIEVED THAT BESHEAR WILL VETO SENATE BILL 150?

>> Ryland: I THINK HE SAID AS MUCH DURING HIS TEAM KENTUCKY UPDATE ON THURSDAY.

HE DEFINED STOOD UP ON -- KIND STOOD UP TOnd TRANS ISSUE SAYING THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE LEFT BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR KIDS AND KIND OF LEFT IT AT THAT, SO I THINK WE CAN FULLY EXPECT THAT, BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT ROLLS OUT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

A BILL THAT WOULD BAN GRAY MACHINES IN KENTUCKY HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR DURING HIS TEAM KENTUCKY UPDATE BESHEAR SAID THAT HE IS FOR FURTHER EXPANSION OF GAMING, AND HE ALSO HOPES TO SIGN A SPORTS BETTING BILL.

>> SO I AM A PRO-GAMING GOVERNOR.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE HAVE FULL-BLOWN CASINO GAMING IN KENTUCKY.

BUT IT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE REGULATED, SO I WILL CERTAINLY SIGN SPORTS BETTING IF IT GETS TO ME.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE PUSHED FOR FOR YEARS.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

CHRIS, SO ON GRAY MACHINES, A LOT OF MONEY WAS SPENT ON LOBBYING CERTAINLY, SO MOM AND POP STORES AND OTHER LOCATIONS SAY IT HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THEM.

THEY DESPERATELY WANTED TO KEEP THEM.

THERE WERE ALSO POWERFUL SOURCES AGAINST IT.

>> Chris: YES.

THE TWO BIG TIGHTENS ON BOTH SIDES -- TITANS ON BOTH SIDES, BIG MONEY INTERESTS, AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED IN DECEMBER IN LOUISVILLE TO A BAR, A TAVERN WHERE THE OWNER TOLD US, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH OF EXTRA INCOME FOR ME THAT I BASICALLY HAVE NO COST TO RUN, AND SO SHE WAS VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN KEEPING THEM AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE SO OPPOSED.

E. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY WHICH, OF COURSE, RUNS HISTORICAL HORSE RACING GAMES THAT LOOK A LOT LIKE SLOT MACHINES.

IN FACT, ON A PUT UP A PICTURE ON MY TIGHTERRED H. TWITTER FEED SAYING THESE ARE ABOUT TO BE LEGAL AND THESE ARE LEGAL.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, THEY LOOK VERY SIMILAR.

THE MACHINES OPERATE DIFFERENT WAYS, OBVIOUSLY.

THE MAP BEHIND THEM IS DIFFERENT.

BUT THE HORSE INDUSTRY WAS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED, AND THEY HAVE THIS GROUP CALLED KENTUCKIANS AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING, AND TO THE POINT THAT THE GOVERNOR MADE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THESE SKILL GAMES OR GRAY MACHINES SAY, WE WANT IT TO BE REGULATED.

WE WANT IT TO BE TAXED.

BUT YOU DIDN'T GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY.

YOU DIDN'T HEAR OUR BILL.

I THINK ALL OF THESE MACHINES, THOUSANDS OF THEM THAT ARE NOW IN ALL KIND OF LOCATIONS IN KENTUCKY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED EXCEPT THAT WE SHOULD LOOK FOR A LEGAL CHALLENGE PERHAPS THAT THE COALITION WAS NOT REALLY CLEAR.

THEY SAID THEY'RE EVALUATING THEIR OPTIONS.

BUT WE DO KNOW A VERY SIMILAR THING HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA AND THEY'RE STILL OPERATING THERE BECAUSE A JUDGE ISSUED A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.

SO PRESUMABLY THEY WOULD TRY THE COURTS AS A SORT OF LAST-DITCH EFFORT HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

ALEX, MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES HOPE THE TIDE HAD TURNED WHEN THE SENATE MAJOR LEADER DAMON THAYER ANNOUNCED HIS SUPPORT AFTER YEARS OF OPPOSING IT, AND THE SENATE DID PASS AND IT NOW UP TO THE HOUSE WHICH HAS PASSED IT BEFORE, SO IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> Alex: IT LOCKS LIKELY.

GUYS, FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS WILL THEY ACTUALLY DO IT BECAUSE NOW THERE'S QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND LEADING UP TO NOW, AND SO WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE DAYS LEFT TO SEE IF THEY ACTUALLY WILL.

>> Ryland: IT WAS A REALLY BIG MOMENT FOR TO IT ACTUALLY PASS OUTED OF THE SENATE BECAUSE NORMALLY THIS ISSUE IS STARTED IN THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE'S BEEN A LOT MORE HESITANT ON THIS ISSUE.

SO IT'S PASSED OUT OF SENATE.

IT'S GOT A READING IN THE HOUSE WHICH MEANS THEY FEASIBLY CAN PASS IN IT THOSE FINAL TWO DAYS.

THIS IS A VERY RESTRICTIVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL IT.

ONLY ALLOWS IT FOR A HANDFUL OF VERY SEVERE CONDITIONS.

ALSO IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE CANDIDATES TO BE SMOKED.

-- CANNABIS TO BE SMOKED.

IT WON'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL 2025, HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ADVOCATES ARE VERY -- VERY HAPPY WITH JUST TO HAVE THIS PASS.

IT'S GOING TO BE PRESERVE SOME RELIEF, IF IT PASSES THE LEGISLATURE, PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO KENTUCKIANS WITH SEVERE AILMENTS.

>> Chris: PURE SPECULATION, BUT I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT MAY HAVE CHANGED HERE IS THE GOVERNOR GETTING AHEAD OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HE ISSUED, AND SO IS THERE A THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO NEUTRALIZE SOMETHING WHERE HE MAY BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF A VERY POPULAR ISSUE GOING INTO THIS ELECTION YEAR.

I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT WAS NOTE ANKLE WAS SENATOR DAMON THAYER'S SUPPORT OF THIS.

.

WHICH I THINK WAS A REVERSAL FROM HIS PRIOR POSITION.

>> Bill: HE SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR IT IS NOT A CAMEL'S NOSE IN THE TENT TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

HE MADE THAT POINT CLEAR.

BUT HE SAID HE IS CONVINCED ON THE ISSUE -- >> Chris: I'M NOT GOING TO HELP YOU SPOKE SMOKE POT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT HE SAID HE RESPECTED THE LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS BILL FOR A LONG TIME AND CONSIDERED THE ARGUMENTS, AND CAME OUT IN FAVOR OF -- SOMETHING YOU DO NOT SEE EVERY DAY.

>> Bill: IN 2025 ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THAT.

>> Ryland: JANUARY 1st.

>> Bill: SO AS TIME TO GET ALL THE REGULATIONS IN ORDER.

YOU RYLAND, THE SO-CALLED 2nd AMENDMENT SAY.

OBITUARY BALE WAS PASSED.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> Ryland: THIS IS A BILL THAT ATTEMPTS TO BAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, REAP PUNISH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IF THEY ENFORCE ANY SORT OF FEDERAL FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, ACCESSORIES.

THE THING THAT THIS IS MOST RECENTLY COMING IN REACTION TO IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S RESTRICTIONS ON BUMP STOCKS AND ALSO PISTOL -- PISTOL SUPPORTS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME OF IT.

AND THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SIMILAR LAWS HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN.

THERE'S A VERSION OF THIS THAT PASSED OUT OF MISSOURI THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY A FEDERAL JUDGE EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY PUTS -- POLICE OFFICERS ARE WORRIED.

WHEN THIS WAS PASSING OUT OF THE SENATE, SENATOR DANNY CARROLL AGAIN, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, HE ENDED UP VOTING AGAINST THIS SAYING THAT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THIS DOES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT IT PUTS THEM IN A REALLY UNFAIR POSITION.

IT WOULD GIVE THEM A CLASS D MISDEMEANOR ON THE FIRST OCCASION OF SUPPORTING ANY SORT OF FEDERAL ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT FIREARMS.

SO THIS IS PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCEABLE IN THE END, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THE COURTS END UP SAYING.

>> Bill: A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE BANNED GUN FREE ZONES ON PUBLIC COLLEGE CAMPUSES IS DEAD FOR THIS SESSION.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAVANNAH MADDOX PUSHED FOR IT BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES AFTER LAWMAKERS HEARD A LOT FROM COLLEGE LEADERS AND STUDENTS.

>> Ryland: THIS WAS UNANIMOUSLY OPPOSED BY STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS AND STATE UNIVERSITY CHIEFS OF POLICE.

HER ARGUMENT IS THAT GUN FREE ZONES ARE UNSAFE.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE GUNS THERE TO SHOOT AT SOMEBODY WHO IS SHOOTING AT THEM.

THAT IS NOT REALLY HOW IT BEARS OUT.

IT'S NOT HOW THE RESEARCH HAS BORN OUT ON THAT ISSUE.

BUT, YES, THIS WEEK SHE SAID THAT IT WAS EFFECTIVELY DEAD AND KIND OF BEHIND THE THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH SUPPORT.

IT WASN'T BEING ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD.

SHE SAID THERE WAS ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR IT BUT THEY WEREN'T LETTING IT MOVE FORWARD.

>> Bill: PARENTS MAY HAVE MORE MORE THAN SAY IN SCHOOL DISTRICT LUM AFTER THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 5.

>> Ryland: THIS IS THE SO-CALLED BOOK BANNING BILL.

IT CREATES A COMPLAINT PROCESS FOR PARENTS TO OBJECT TO MATERIAL THAT THEY FIND OBSCENE.

AND THEN REALLY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WOULD BE LEFT IN CHARGE OF DETERMINING WHETHER THAT IS RIGHT AND BANNING THAT BOOK OR MATERIALS FROM THE SCHOOL.

THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BILLS THAT REALLY SHOWED SOME OF THOSE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW ON HOW FAR THEY WANTED TO GO WITH THIS.

THERE WERE A LOT OF AMENDMENTS ATTACH TO THIS TO TRY AND BRING IN SOME OF THOSE SO-CALLED PARENTS RIGHTS BILLS AND ALSO THAT ANTI-DRAG BILL AS WELL, AND THEY -- THE DEBATE WAS REALLY LENGTHY.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JOSH CALLOWAY KIND OF HELD THE DEBATE HOSTAGE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TRYING TO GET THESE AMENDMENTS ATTACHED TO IT AND WAS REPEATEDLY DENIED BY THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND ALSO BY THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, OF THE HOUSE.

SOME OF THE THOSE IT PROVIDES DENIED UP IN OTHER THINGS, BUT IT WAS, AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF THESE MOMENTS WHERE NOT EVERYBODY IS REALLY IN LINE ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

>> Bill: FUTURE KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE SENATE UNDER A BILL THAT'S PASSED.

>> Ryland: THIS IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW IT WORKS RIGHT NOW.

THE GOVERNOR GETS TO APPOINT THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO -- BACK TO EDUCATION REFORM ACT IN 1990.

AND NOW THERE WILL BE THIS OTHER LAYER WHERE THE INSTANT WOULD GET FINAL SAY OVER WHO THAT IS.

THIS COMMENTS IN REACTION TO -- IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE ANTI-TRANS ISSUES.

REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM DAVID MEADE SAID ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE COMMISSIONER AND THE DEPARTMENT CREATED THIS POLICY THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED SCHOOLS TO USE STUDENTS' PREFERRED PRONOUNS, AND HE TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT AND SAID THAT WAS A POLITICAL MOVE FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR TO BE TAKING AND THAT THE POLITICIANS IN THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT OF THAT.

>> Bill: ALEX, THERE WERE A LOT OF THESE PARENTAL RIGHTS VERSUS SOCIAL ISSUES TYPE OF DEBATES.

YOU LISTEN TO OUR DISCUSSION SO FAR, THAT HAS BEEN WHAT COME DOMINATED THIS SESSION.

>> Alex: FOR SURE.

AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, BECAUSE SOME OPPONENTS OF THE NEW VERSION OF SENATE BILL 150 HAVE CRITICIZED REPUBLICANS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE TOUTED PARENTAL RIGHTS AND WANTING TO PROTECT THOSE AS BEING VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU, BUT THEN HERE YOU ARE TELLING PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO, AND SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING IN THAT RESPECT.

AND YOU TALKING ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT GLASS I.

MADE ME THINK, TOO, OF IT'S INTERESTING, SORT OF THE POINTING OF THE FINGERS OF WHO IS MAKING WHAT POLITICAL.

JASON GLASSY REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING SAYING WE ARE NOT MAKING THING POLITIC.

IF I AM CORRECTED, DISTRICT DON'T REQUIRE TEACHES TO USE PRONOUNS.

THEY RECOMMEND WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES BASED ON MENTION ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO USE THE PROCEED MONEY THAT A CHILD WANTS YOU TO USE.

SO HE SAID VERY POINTEDLY AT LAWMAKERS WE ARE MAKING THIS POLITICAL.

YOU ALL ARE.

AND THAT'S WHAT DAVID MEADE GOT IRRITATED ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHY THAT WAS PROPOSED, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THIS BREAKDOWN OF WHEN DO PARENTS' RIGHTS STOP AND DOES THE STATE ALLOWED TO INTERVENE, AND CLEARLY RNC THINK THAT ON THE ISSUE OF TRANS KIDS AND I BELIEVE WAS LINDSEY TISCHNER WHO SAID AS MUCH, THAT THE STATE IS ALLOWED TO INTERVENE IF THE PARENTS ARE MISTREATING THEIR KIDS IN SOME WAY.

>> Bill: CHRIS, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FIGHT OVER THE BOURBON BARREL TAX.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES SAY IT WILL COST THEM SOME MONEY, BUT BOURBON MAKERS WILL RAISED THE SPECTER OF LEAVING THE STATE.

>> Chris: YEA.

AND SOME MIGHT SAY, BILL, THAT IF THERE'S ONE THING KENTUCKY CAN GET AWAY WITH TAXING AT A HIGHER RATE AND BE IT MIGHT BE BOURBON.

BUT THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS TAX THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME IS UNFAIR, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER OF ANY PRODUCT IN THE STATE, AND THIS HAS BEN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THEM TO ELIMINATE IT.

WHAT WAS REALLY STRIKING THIS PAST WALK WAS TO SEE THE LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM NELSON COUNTY, FROM BULLITT COUNTY WHO CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WERE PLEADING WITH THEM NOT TO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY RELY ON THIS TAX REVENUE FOR THEIR LOCAL SERVICES.

AND SOME OF THEM FEEL QUITE BETRAYED BY THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY GAVE THEM OTHER TAX BREAKS, SUCH AS BEING EXEMPTED FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR ALL THESE WAREHOUSES.

AND THERE'S BEEN JUST TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF THE BOURBON INDUSTRY WHILE THIS TAX HAS BEEN IN PLACE.

THE BILL IS A LIGHTER VERSION OF WHAT WAS PROPOSED, SO IT WILL PHASE OUT OVER 16 YEARS, ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE JASON PETRI.

HE SAID ON THE FLOOR THAT THE TAX RECEIPTS TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACTUALLY WON'T PLATEAU UNTIL THE 2030s, SO THEY HAVE A LONG TIME TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE THIS MONEY.

ONE THING THEY IN THE BILL, AN INTERESTING IDEA, IS THAT FOR SOME OF THESE BRICK HOUSES THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX, THEY SAY, WELL, IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TO COME AND PUT OUT A FIRE AND IT COSTS THEM A LOT OF MONEY, THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEND THEM A BILL.

KIND OF LIKE AN AMBULANCE BILLS YOUR INSURANCE.

IT'S AN INTERESTING DEBATE, BUT IN THE END THE INDUSTRY CARRIED ITS WAY.

>> Bill: A BILL AIMED AT PRESERVING KENTUCKY'S COAL PLANTS ALSO RECEIVED FINAL PASSAGE, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IN SOME CASES THE UTILITY COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO GET TO ZERO NET CARBON, RIGHT?

>> Chris: CORRECT.

THE OWNER OF LG&E, PP&L HAS A NET ZERO GOAL IN 2050, AND LAST YEAR SOME EXECUTIVES FROM LG&E WERE TESTIFYING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND IT WAS REALLY QUITE CLEAR THAT THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A PLAN TO DO THAT.

IT'S A CORPORATE GOAL, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED PRECISELY, AND THEY ARE RETIRING COAL PLANTS BUT IN A PRETTY SLOW FASHION.

THIS BILL WOULD NOT SAY THAT THEY CAN'T RETIRE THOSE PLANTS, BUT IT WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO DO SO, AND THE UTILITY EXECUTIVES ACTUALLY TESTIFIED THAT DESPITE THE NARRATIVE BEHIND IT, THAT IT WOULD INCREASE PRICES FOR CUSTOMERS AND NOT BE -- LEAD TO LESS RELIABILITY.

THE LAWMAKERS WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL SAID ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, THEY SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE IT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

CERTAINLY FROM PP&L'S PERSPECTIVE YOU'VE GOT THE LEGISLATURE IN KENTUCKY SAYING ONE THING AND THE PROMISES THEY MADE TO THEIR SHAREHOLDER QUITE DIFFERENT.

>> Bill: A MOVE TO BREAK YOU THE UP THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT WAS CLOSE BUT ULTIMATELY FAILED.

>> Ryland: THIS WAS A SURPRISE BILL THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE THIS WEEK, AND IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AN AUDIT OF JCPS AND ITS 96,000 STUDENT DISTRICT IN LOUISVILLE BUT ALSO CONTEMPLATED SPLITTING IT UP.

IT DID NOT PASS.

IT WILL DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE, AND THEY ACTUALLYndED UP REMOVING THAT CHANGE TO THE BILL AND PASSING THE OTHER VERSION OF THE BILL, WHICH IS A MUCH PLEURAL THING THAT CREATES A STATEWIDE RESEARCH CENTER ON ONLINE READING RESEARCH CENTER.

>> Bill: WHAT'S LEFT IN THOSE LAST TWO DAYS WHEN THEY COME IN?

>> Chris: LET'S GO BACK BECAUSE I HAD SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE GRAY MACHINE ISSUES THAT I FORGOT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT SPORTS BETTING.

>> Bill: THERE WE GO.

THAT MAY COME BACK.

>> Chris: THAT'S SOMETHING TO WATCH IN FINAL TWO DAYS.

SENATOR THAYER WAS THE EDGE A COLLEAGUE OF MINE THAT HE BELIEVES IT HAS 20 VOTES, WHICH IT COULD PASS WITH NEXT YEAR BUT IT NEEDS 23 THIS YEAR AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CLOSE.

>> Will: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR ARE OUT THERE ON THE ROAD.

WE KNOW THAT KELLY CRAFT VISITED FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

ALAN KECK IS MAKING A COUPLE OF STOPS OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND QUARLES AND HARMON AND CAMERON, THE OTHERS ARE ALSO MOVING ALONG AND CAMPAIGNING.

WE'LL CATCH UP ON WHERE THINGS ARE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE ON OUR NEXT EDITION.

WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ON US FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," AND WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.