A constitutional amendment that could eventually allow Hopkinsville, Christian County and other local governments across the state the ability to levy alcohol and restaurant taxes failed in the House Friday, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead.
Hopkinsville and other cities formerly classified as ‘second class cities’ based on their population and other factors are not allowed to institute those taxes under current state law.
House Bill 475 would not have immediately changed state law, but instead would have put a question on the November ballot asking whether voters support amending the constitution to give the legislature more power to change how cities and counties can levy taxes.
The measure failed to meet the 60 vote threshold needed for constitutional amendments, with most House Democrats casting ‘pass’ votes.
Representative Myron Dossett of Pembroke says he hopes the House will try again later in the session.
Representative Walker Thomas of Hopkinsville also supported the measure and believes cities and counties are at a disadvantage while competing with other locales across the state line.
All local members of the House voted in favor of the measure.
Meanwhile, legislation that would require Kentuckians to produce a photo ID to vote is likely to be taken up by a conference committee to work out differences between the House and Senate and Representative Dossett says he supports the measure.
Senate Bill 2 states that if a voter does not have a photo ID, the voter would be able to show another form of ID and affirm, under the penalty of perjury, that they are qualified to vote. Other acceptable IDs would include Social Security cards and credit cards.