Governor Signs Measures Impacting Cities

Governor Andy Beshear signed the KLC supported bill that requires studying domestic violence cases, something Kentucky currently does not evaluate.

Senator Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton) sponsored Senate Bill 271. The measure requires the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center to compile data on domestic violence fatalities and occurrences of dating violence, domestic violence, and abuse. Representative Samara Heavrin (R-Leitchfield) added language to Senate Bill 271 that clarifies the data required in the uniform reporting form. That clarification will benefit city police departments when they investigate domestic violence cases.

On Friday, the governor signed another KLC initiative. Senator Robby Mills (R-Henderson) sponsored Senate Bill 150, the western Kentucky tornado relief bill. The measure includes a waiver of the model procurement code for local governments rebuilding from the destructive storms.

Senate Bills 150 is one of a record number of KLC initiatives legislators passed during the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly that will benefit cities across the commonwealth. Twenty-one of the 22 KLC initiatives legislators passed are now law, with House Bill 92 still awaiting the governor’s signature. Representative Danny Bentley (R-Russell) sponsored the measure that clarifies how Kentucky will distribute opioid settlement funds.