The 2021 special session of the Kentucky General Assembly gaveled into session Tuesday morning.
Lawmakers are extending a state of emergency measure that’s been in place since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak. The agreement reached Tuesday is the first measure passed during the special session called to address COVID-19. House Joint Resolution One extends the state of emergency until January 15th. Governor Andy Beshear signed off of the measure yesterday.
Governor Beshear called the session for lawmakers to extend the state of emergency and to possibly authorize additional mandates or restrictions to reduce spread of COVID-19.
There is also bipartisan support to give school systems more flexibility on how to use virtual instruction when cases spike among faculty and students.
These have been divisive times across Kentucky and the country and House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy says he hopes there can be a sense of coming together during the session.
One item sure to divide is discussion of an indoor masking mandate, which Governor Andy Beshear wants, but that seems very unlikely to receive approval from the Republican legislature.