A Louisville Democrat in the Kentucky General Assembly, has successfully moved from the House to the Senate.

Our June Leffler caught up with State Senator Kateri Herron before she heads back to Frankfort next month.

Kentucky lawmakers are on break until February 4th when the legislative session resumes.

It's the perfect time for Senator Herron to visit more of her district, like this local CBD business.

Right now, today, I'm in district at Cornbread Hill, torn their facility and learning about what they do and their goals in the future.

And so for me, this time is is is learning and getting to know people, whether it's business leaders, whether it's my colleagues or it's constituents.

Herron has focused on criminal justice issues in and outside of the statehouse before seeking office.

She advocated for limits on no knock warrants protections that law civilians and Kentuckians now have in office.

She vetted criminal justice legislation while on the House Judiciary Committee.

A new topic to explore is business.

And so, as we know, economics is what makes our community strong.

And so I really look forward to learning more about business, the business side of government, and what I can do to help our business community, our large corporations, but also our small businesses.

As a newly elected senator, Herron represents more people in a bigger area of Louisville.

In turn, she's taking a seat in a less crowded chamber.

The biggest things, it's it's a smaller body.

So you're talking about being one of 38 instead of one of 100.

And I think that there is that's a gift and a curse.

You have more eyes on you.

I believe that in the Senate, because it is a smaller body.

But I also think that because it is smaller, it's an opportunity to build better relationships within the body, to hopefully find some common ground to get things done for Kentuckians.

Herron Did stand out during her three years on the packed House floor.

She spoke out time and again against more contentious Republican backed legislation like the safer Kentucky Act.

She also stands out as just one of the few black state lawmakers and one of the first openly LGBTQ lawmakers.

When Democrats railed against a proposed A.D II bill last year, she could speak from experience.

And we must learn from one another.

We must take the time to learn and understand people's come from.

If we don't learn and understand people's come from.

There is no way that we are going to be able to lead and make our Commonwealth a better place.

Herron says all Kentuckians want the same things, but part of her job is to ensure legislation does right by all people.

People want to be able to know that they're safe in their communities.

They want to have access to food.

They want to have access to transportation.

They want to have access to education for them and their children.

And to me, that's what this moment is about, is is ensuring that whatever it is that we do, that we do it with the mind of justice, fairness and equality for all Kentuckians, not for just one group of Kentuckians.

Karan joined six other Democrats in the Senate.

There are 31 Republican senators.

Herron has filed one bill so far this session that would require more insurance policies to cover annual mental health exams.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm June Leffler.

Thank you, June so much.

Herron replaces Denise Harper.

ANGELL as District 35.

State Senator.

She resigned after 20 years of service.