Kentucky Congressional Bills

signed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 18, 2024

S 1858: Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act

This bill amends the federal disaster aid law to require that the deadline for applying for disaster unemployment assistance matches the deadline for other disaster aid applications (like housing assistance). It directly affects individuals who lose jobs due to declared disasters and need unemployment support. The key provision sets a single, unified deadline for all disaster-related aid applications, with limited exceptions allowing late submissions if applicants show "good cause" and submit before assistance ends. The change applies only to aid funded after the bill's March 18, 2024, enactment date.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 15, 2024

HR 7698: Building Civic Bridges Act

HR 7698 establishes a new Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within the Corporation for National and Community Service to support programs reducing polarization and improving social cohesion. It authorizes $25 million annually (2025-2027) for competitive grants to nonprofits, community groups, and educational institutions to fund projects addressing local needs like healthcare gaps or environmental concerns through research-backed methods. Grantees must demonstrate how projects engage diverse communities, ensure participant safety (especially for marginalized groups), and use standardized metrics to track effectiveness. The Office will oversee grants, support training, and maintain a public research base on civic bridgebuilding best practices.

Derek Kilmer (D) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 15, 2024

HR 7647: Housing ACCESS Act

The Housing ACCESS Act requires the federal government to issue guidance within one year to help states connect Medicaid beneficiaries with housing services. It directs states to align eligibility processes, streamline service coordination between health and housing agencies, and track outcomes like housing stability - disaggregated by race. The bill also mandates a national study to set fair reimbursement rates for housing services, aiming to ensure living wages for providers and a 1:15 case manager-to-client ratio. States must report on progress within two years, with the guidance intended to simplify how health and housing providers access each other's systems.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Mar 14, 2024

SJRES 65: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter".

This joint resolution (SJRES 65) seeks to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have revised national air quality standards for tiny air particles (particulate matter), which are pollutants linked to health issues like asthma and heart disease. The EPA rule, published on March 6, 2024, proposed updating these standards to tighten pollution limits. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, maintaining the current standards without changes. This directly affects the EPA’s ability to implement the proposed revisions to air quality regulations, impacting public health protections and industry compliance requirements.

Topics ✗ Environment ✗ Healthcare

Mitch McConnell (R) · 49 co-sponsors

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 12, 2024

HRES 1071: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6276) to direct the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to identify the utilization rate of certain public buildings and federally-leased space, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1065) denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies.

HRES 1071 is a procedural resolution that sets rules for the House to debate two specific measures. It enables consideration of H.R. 6276, which would require the General Services Administrator and OMB Director to report on public building utilization rates, and H.Res. 1065, a resolution criticizing the Biden administration's immigration policies. The resolution establishes time limits, debate rules, and amendment procedures for both items. This is a scheduling tool, not a policy change itself.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Mar 12, 2024

S 3933: Laken Riley Act

S 3933, the Laken Riley Act, amends immigration law to require mandatory detention for non-citizens charged with certain crimes like theft or burglary, rather than allowing release. It directly affects individuals facing these charges and gives state attorneys general the legal standing to sue federal agencies (like DHS or the State Department) if they claim immigration policies caused the state or residents financial harm exceeding $100. Key provisions include requiring Homeland Security to take custody of such individuals and establishing new court procedures for states to seek injunctions against federal immigration enforcement actions. The bill does not change border policies but focuses on detention requirements and state legal challenges to federal immigration enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Katie Boyd Britt (R) · 47 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 12, 2024

HR 7629: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024

HR 7629, the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024, allocates $1.4 billion annually (2025-2029) to the U.S. Postal Service for high-security collection boxes and replacing physical universal mailbox keys with electronic versions, directly affecting USPS operations and letter carriers. It requires the Attorney General to appoint specialized prosecutors in each district to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of postal-related crimes, such as assaults on carriers or mail theft. The bill also mandates the U.S. Sentencing Commission to adjust guidelines so that assaults or robberies against postal employees are treated with the same severity as assaults against law enforcement officers. These provisions aim to enhance safety through infrastructure upgrades, improved prosecution, and stricter sentencing for crimes targeting postal workers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Mar 11, 2024

S 3900: Justice for Breonna Taylor Act

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act requires law enforcement officers to inform residents of their identity and purpose before entering a home, banning no-knock warrants for federal officers immediately and for state/local agencies receiving Department of Justice funds starting one year after enactment. Federal officers must provide this notice before entry, while state/local agencies using federal funding must implement the requirement in the first fiscal year following the bill’s passage. This law directly affects all federal law enforcement and state/local agencies that receive DOJ funding, changing how search warrants are executed. The key provision mandates notice before forced entry, ending the use of no-knock warrants for covered agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 11, 2024

HR 7617: Justice for Breonna Taylor Act

This bill prohibits federal law enforcement officers and state/local agencies receiving Department of Justice funding from executing no-knock warrants. Specifically, it requires officers to announce their authority and purpose before forcibly entering a residence. The law applies to all warrant executions by federal officers (as defined in 18 U.S.C. §115) and to state/local agencies receiving DOJ funds starting in the first fiscal year after enactment. It directly affects law enforcement agencies at all levels that use federal funding, changing how they execute search warrants. The core policy change is mandating audible notice before entry, replacing the previous no-knock practice.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 11, 2024

HR 7511: Laken Riley Act

The Laken Riley Act (HR 7511) would require federal authorities to detain non-citizens charged with or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offenses. It also creates new legal standing for state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials in federal court if they believe immigration enforcement decisions (like releasing aliens or granting parole) cause financial harm exceeding $100 to the state or its residents. The bill amends immigration laws to expand detention requirements for certain property crimes and allows states to seek court orders to enforce immigration policies. It does not create new criminal penalties but modifies existing immigration enforcement procedures. The bill’s findings and political language about the Laken Riley case are not part of its policy provisions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Mike Collins (R) · 78 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 9, 2024

HR 7600: American High-Speed Rail Act

The American High-Speed Rail Act authorizes $35 billion annually for high-speed rail corridor development (with $3 billion for corridor planning), requiring at least 20% of project costs to come from non-Federal sources. It defines "high-speed rail" as services reaching 186+ mph and "higher-speed rail" as 110-186 mph, with no more than 20% of funds allocated to higher-speed rail projects. Key provisions include allowing advance acquisition of rail corridors before environmental reviews, creating tax exclusions for rail carriers selling property to high-speed rail projects, and requiring consideration of equity, sustainability, and economic development impacts in planning. The bill affects federal agencies, state and local governments, rail carriers, and communities along proposed rail corridors.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Seth Moulton (D) · 47 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 8, 2024

HR 7536: PACE Act

The PACE Act creates a federal grant program to fund state, tribal, and local efforts preventing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and promoting positive childhood experiences for children under 18. It requires grant recipients to use data-driven strategies, coordinate multi-sector partnerships, and prioritize populations with high ACE burdens, including communities disproportionately affected by historical trauma. The bill also mandates CDC research on ACEs and positive experiences, including longitudinal studies and analysis of factors like trauma exposure and community conditions. Annual reports to Congress will track program performance, with priority given to tribal organizations and entities with prior ACE prevention experience.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Kentucky Congressional Bills

Bill results