Legislation relating to judicial redistricting, charter schools and tax reform was sent to the governor’s desk on the second-to-last day before the veto recess.
An amended version of House Bill 214 passed the Senate and House and it will give Christian County a second family court judge and a second circuit judge to the 56th Judicial Circuit in Trigg, Caldwell, Lyon and Livingston County. Assuming Governor Andy Beshear signs the legislation or that the General Assembly overrides a potential veto, the new judgeships will be effective at the beginning of 2023 and there would be an election this year to fill those seats.
Christian County Family Court Judge Jason Fleming issued a statement saying, “Christian County is one of the highest caseloads of family courts in Kentucky and a second family court judge will help children and families have their cases heard in a more expedient manner including our military families.”
Trigg Circuit Judge Jamus Redd says, “this is a great first start towards giving the citizens of the 56th Circuit much quicker access to justice.”
The amended bill orders that nine circuits will lose a district judge seat, effective January 2031, including Hopkins County.
Meanwhile, an amended version of House Bill 8, which is sponsored by state Representative Jason Petrie of Elkton and would reduce the income tax from five to four-percent beginning next year and expand the number of services that require payment of state sales tax, has made it to the governor’s desk.
The amended bill restores sales tax exemptions for travel agencies, financial services and boat launch fees and creates more stringent benchmarks for further reduction of the income tax. Lawmakers hope to eventually eliminate the income tax and to have a consumption-based tax system similar to Tennessee.
And the Senate gave final approval to the charter school bill that funds pilot programs in Louisville and northern Kentucky, with that bill now also on the governor’s desk.
Wednesday is the final day before the recess and lawmakers will return April 13 and 14 to potentially override any of the governor’s vetoes.