Sen. Lindsey Tichenor

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 52) honoring Larry "Smokey" Dodson, a longtime Oldham County community leader and educator who passed away on January 24, 2025. The resolution directs the Kentucky Senate to adjourn in his memory following its daily session, expressing sympathy for his passing. It does not create new laws, affect policy, or impact any individuals or groups beyond this symbolic tribute to Dodson's service on the Oldham County School Board, his advocacy for the Arts Center, and his 58-year career at Louisville Gas & Electric.

Maddy summarySCR 223 is a ceremonial resolution designating the America's River Roots Festival as an official 250th anniversary celebration event for Kentucky. It recognizes the festival's role in highlighting the state's Ohio River Valley heritage, including cultural traditions, music, cuisine, and bourbon history. The resolution urges Kentucky's Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet to formally designate the festival (October 8-12, 2025) as part of the Commonwealth's 250th-anniversary observance, aiming to promote tourism and economic growth. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws but provides official recognition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically honors Senator Aaron Reed as the first Navy SEAL to serve in the Kentucky Senate. It recognizes his 22-year military career as a Navy SEAL - including combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan - and his subsequent service as a local entrepreneur and state senator representing District 7. The resolution formally expresses the Senate's appreciation for his leadership and military background, directing the Clerk to provide him a copy as a token of recognition. It does not create new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summarySB 84 changes how Kentucky courts review decisions made by state agencies. It requires courts to review all legal questions "from scratch" (de novo) instead of deferring to agency interpretations of laws or regulations. Courts must also resolve any remaining ambiguities in favor of limiting agency authority. This directly affects state agencies (like health or education departments) and the courts that review their actions under Kentucky law. The bill modifies existing judicial review procedures without creating new agency policies.

Maddy summarySB 19 requires all Kentucky public elementary and secondary schools to observe a one- to two-minute silent reflection period at the start of each school day. This applies to every public school in the state, with participation strictly voluntary for students who may choose to meditate, pray, or engage in any silent activity. The policy mandates that teachers cannot instruct students on what to do during this time and requires schools to notify parents about the practice. It amends existing law to formalize this daily reflection period while maintaining neutrality about individual student choices.

Maddy summarySB 2 prohibits the use of public funds (state/local government money) in Kentucky correctional facilities for hormone treatments or surgeries related to gender reassignment. It defines "cosmetic service or elective procedure" to include cross-sex hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery, and bans funding for these except in rare cases where stopping treatment would cause immediate physical harm to an inmate. The law directly affects incarcerated individuals in Kentucky state and local correctional facilities by restricting access to these medical treatments using taxpayer money. It became law without the Governor's signature on March 27, 2025, after passing the legislature. The bill does not affect medical care unrelated to gender transition or private funding.

Amend KRS 21.450, 61.650, 78.790, and 161.430 relating to the fiduciary duties owed to the state-administered retirement systems to define "shareholder-sponsored proposal" and "economic analysis"; require a proxy adviser under contract with a state-administered retirement system to conduct and document an economic analysis prior to voting on or recommending a vote on a shareholder-sponsored proposal that is inconsistent with the recommendation of the board of directors of the issuer of shares in order to demonstrate that a vote against management's recommendation is solely in the interest of the retirement plan members and beneficiaries; make technical corrections.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to establish a procedure for a local board of education to submit a waiver request to the Kentucky Board of Education to waive a statute or administrative regulation; set the terms and limitations of a waivers; authorize the identification of schools of innovation and establish parameters for the status; establish procedures for the renewal of approved waivers; provide the conditions and procedure for rescinding waivers by the state board; authorize the promulgation of administrative regulations to adopt necessary forms and procedures to process waiver requests; amend various sections to conform; repeal KRS 156.108 and 160.107; provide that the Act may be cited as the School Innovation Act.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to define "special purpose vehicle" and "street-legal special purpose vehicle"; allow street-legal special purpose vehicles to operate on a highway under certain circumstances; prohibit street-legal special purpose vehicles from traveling a distance greater than 20 miles on a highway displaying centerline pavement markings; require street-legal special purpose vehicles to register the vehicle and comply with all requirements of KRS Chapter 186; direct the Transportation Cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations; amend KRS 186.020 and 186.050 to conform

Create new sections of subchapter 12 of KRS Chapter 154 to establish the Kentucky Film Office within the Cabinet for Economic Development for administrative purposes only; establish duties of the office; establish the Kentucky Film Leadership Council to be administratively attached to the Kentucky Film Office; establish duties and membership of the council; amend KRS 12.020 to conform; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025.