One day after Kentucky's senior senator announced he's leaving his leadership role, lawmakers moved ahead with the bill and Frankfort taking away a Kentucky governor's power to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy.

Currently, if a seat becomes vacant, the governor can choose from three nominees selected by the departing Senators Party before a special election.

The General Assembly made that law in 2021.

Before that, the governor had sole power to appoint someone to fill the vacancy.

Under House Bill 622.

The governor would have to call for a special election to fill the seat.

Republican House floor leader Stephen Rudy of Paducah sponsors the bill, but he told the committee it's more in line with the 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution than Kentucky's current law.

And some ability for legislatures to provide for appointments to allow the executive to provide for appointments, but that under the May section.

This is the shall we should this is within the spirit of the 17th Amendment.

I think it's preferred.

I think, God forbid, we have any vacancy in a U.S. senator.

I think that the people would want to decide who their senator was on an appointment.

The vote comes one day after U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell announced he was stepping down as Senate minority leader after the November election.

Something Representative Couture Herron, a Democrat from Louisville, noted during the hearing.

Do appreciate you bringing of this bill.

And I do know that we need to have some type of solution.

I think that most Kentuckians know that we do have a senator who could potentially be stepping down soon.

Senator, Leader McConnell did say that he would not continue leadership.

And so people are curious about if that seat will become open.

However, I just want to spend a little bit more time before a decision.

Thank you.

The bill was approved in committee and now waits for action by the full House.

Political leaders in both parties continue to react to Senator Mitch McConnell's announcement.

Yesterday, Senator McConnell announced he would step aside as Senate minority leader in November, but he would remain as a U.S. senator from Kentucky, at least through the end of the current term.

In January of 2027.

Here is reaction from Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers.

Leader McConnell has been a tremendous leader in the U.S. Senate and in Kentucky and has helped change the body politic and Frankfort putting Kentucky on a much better trajectory.

He's contributed significantly, not only at the federal level, but also at the state level.

Being a leader of a chamber myself, I have great respect and admiration for the job he's done, end quote.

And we have this from House Speaker David Osborne.

Quote, Leader McConnell is the most consequential Kentucky leader in modern history.

His legacy as the Senate leader will live on long after he steps down.

And our entire nation is better off because of it.

End quote.

Governor Andy Beshear also talk today about Senator McConnell's decision to step down as minority leader.

Senator McConnell announced that he is going to step down from leadership in November but serve out his term.

He has been in a position of leadership, whether in the minority or the majority, for a significant period of time.

And that takes a lot of time.

It takes a lot of time away from your family and your friends and others.

So anyone who gives that type of service, we ought to recognize the sacrifice and to say thank you.

Certainly appreciate his support.

On the bipartisan infrastructure law.

And I think that that is going to be an incredible legacy moment of breaking through partizanship and doing something that reverberates through incredible projects for years to come.