Sen. Jimmy Higdon

Honor the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet response teams for the outstanding work they provided in helping the North Carolina Department of Transportation rebuild roadways after the devastating floods that occurred in the fall of 2024.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 48 to define "illegal alien"; prohibit state tax dollars appropriated by the General Assembly from being used to compensate an illegal alien; direct the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to assist in the implementation and enforcement of the Act.

State the General Assembly's support for the goals of the Make America Healthy Again movement; establish the Make America Healthy Again Kentucky Task Force to integrate the principles of the Make America Healthy Again movement; establish task force membership; require the task force to submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2025.

Amend KRS 13A.010 to redefine "major economic impact"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 13A to establish limitations on the authority of an administrative body to promulgate administrative regulations; amend various sections of KRS Chapter 13A to conform; EMERGENCY; EFFECTIVE March 31, 2025.

Amend KRS 189.292 to define "operating a motor vehicle" and "use" or "uses"; prohibit the use of a personal communication device while operating a motor vehicle; establish exceptions; amend KRS 189.294 to prohibit persons under 18 years of age from using a personal communication device while operating a motor vehicle; amend KRS 189.990 to establish penalties for violation of KRS 189.292 and 189.294; amend KRS 186.560 to set forth a 90-day revocation period for a violation of KRS 189.294; amend KRS 189.2327 to conform.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 60) is a ceremonial gesture honoring Dr. Leslie Cecil, the newly appointed 2024-2025 President of the Kentucky Optometric Association. The Kentucky Senate formally adjourned in her honor to recognize her professional service as an optometrist, her leadership in the optometric community, and her work at Cecil Family Eyecare in Bardstown. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a symbolic tribute to her career and community contributions. The Senate passed it unanimously with a voice vote on February 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 247 updates Kentucky's transportation statutes to use gender-neutral language by replacing terms like "he," "his," and "him" with neutral alternatives in KRS 186.230 (county clerk duties) and KRS 186.120 (vehicle license tax refunds). The bill affects county clerks who administer vehicle registrations and license tax refunds, but makes no changes to existing procedures, fees, or requirements. It is purely a linguistic update to align with modern standards, with no new policy impacts or financial implications. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Transportation Committee.

Amend KRS 164.769 to remove repayment obligations from the teacher scholarship program; amend scholorship terms; provide that the scholarship amount shall not exceed the highest in-state tuition rate for a teacher preparation program at a Kentucky public university; amend KRS 164.786 to add eligibility for high school freshmen and sophomores to the dual credit scholarship program; require an approved dual credit course to be in the statewide general education core; permit up to 20 dual credit courses in a teacher and learning career pathway; provide that scholarships shall be awarded in order of application date; revise scholarship to allow two career and technical dual credit courses in each academic year of high school and two general education dual credit courses in the grades 11 and 12; amend KRS 164.787 to conform; repeal KRS 164.771, relating to the Teacher Recruitment Student Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program, effective June 30, 2026; provide that funds appropriated to the Teacher Recruitment Student Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program shall be disbursed through the teacher scholarship program on and after June 30, 2026; EFFECTIVE, in part, June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a 9.5-mile segment of Kentucky Route 221 in Harlan County (from mile 8.9 to 18.4) as the "Johnnie L. Turner Memorial Highway." It memorializes Johnnie L. Turner, a longtime Harlan County attorney, former Kentucky state legislator (House and Senate), and advocate for Eastern Kentucky who died in October 2024. The resolution requires the Transportation Cabinet to install signage within 30 days of enactment. As a commemorative resolution, it does not change laws or regulations but honors a local figure through highway naming.

Maddy summarySB 168 amends two Kentucky transportation statutes (KRS 186.230 and 186.120) to replace gendered terms like "he," "his," and "him" with gender-neutral language. It directly affects county clerks who administer vehicle registration and licensing under these statutes. The bill makes no changes to policies, fees, or procedures - only updates the language to be inclusive. This is a technical correction to align with modern standards for gender-neutral writing.