The General Assembly sent three more KLC initiatives to Governor Andy Beshear on Tuesday. The Senate passed House Bill 335, House Bill 453, and Senate Bill 111.

The Senate voted 29-9 to approve House Bill 335. Senator Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton) carried the bill that Representative Adam Bowling (R-Middlesboro) sponsored. The measure aligns the process for gubernatorial appointments to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC) and Advisory Council for Recovery Ready Communities with all other state boards and councils. A governor would appoint an organizational representative to the councils from a list of three names provided by that organization.

“The intent was for all organizations represented on the councils to submit names to the governor to choose, consistent with all other board and council nominations,” Westerfield explained. “The previous bill did not have it drafted that way, and this bill makes that correction.”

Senators passed House Bill 453 37-1. Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) carried the measure that Representative Jonathan Dixon (R-Corydon) sponsored. The bill provides local governments the same protections already in statute for the state when selecting a successful bidder for contracts.

“Currently, cities must solicit bids for almost all contracts totaling $30,000 or more and discuss the contract in a public meeting where anyone, including potential bidders, can learn how much the local government is willing to spend,” Wise said. “When bidders know the ceiling, they tend to bid towards it.”

The measure also clarifies rules for video teleconference meetings to codify the practices public agencies have followed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it allows a city legislative body to hold closed sessions up to twice a year for a city manager performance evaluation.

The Senate also voted 35-3 to concur with the House’s changes to Senate Bill 111. Senator Rick Girdler (R-Somerset) sponsored the measure that corrects tax increment financing (TIF) language legislators inadvertently added last year in a Cabinet for Economic Development omnibus bill. The Cabinet pointed out the need for the correction because the 2021 measure created an unfunded mandate on local TIFs.

“The House committee substitute added language that requires cities and counties to file reports with the Cabinet for Economic Development about their local-only TIFs,” Girdler explained. “This will create a system where these types of TIFs can be tracked for informational purposes.”

The governor has 10 days upon receipt, excluding Sundays, to sign, veto, or allow the measures to become law without his signature.