The sponsor of a bill lifting restrictions on some speech therapy coverage brought in a little star power to get his bill downcourt.

Former NBA and University of Kentucky player Michael Kidd Gilchrist was in Frankfort today to voice his support for Senate Bill 111, which seeks to eliminate coverage limits on speech therapy for stuttering.

Republican State Senator Whitney Westerfield invited Kidd Gilchrist to testify before the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

Kidd Gilchrist, who has a stuttering condition, says he's speaking out in hopes that others like him get the help they need.

Why not advocate?

Why not be that person who always had this issue with stutter?

Always was embarrassed about it.

Always felt unheard.

But today, all of that changes for myself.

And also, hopefully these people in this state, adults and kids like myself.

Stuttering is a very stigmatized and misunderstood speaking difference.

Maybe some of you stutter.

Percentages say that 1% of you do.

Or maybe you've known someone who stuttered or love someone who stuttered.

It's different in everyone.

And what we know from the research is that speech therapy, particularly with a skilled practitioner, can help change people's lives who stutter.

That's what I try to do every day.

But it's often made difficult because of barriers that are out of my control.

Term downstream effect of not doing this and investing in this now.

And there's clearly a need.

And when we're talking about it, the numbers are right.

About 1% of the population has a stutter that we're dealing with.

I don't think this is going to break the bank at all.

And I think it's worthwhile if you're.

Also showing support for the bill.

Kelly Kraft, former candidate for Kentucky governor and U.N. ambassador.

The bill passed the committee unanimously and is now headed to the full Senate.