The Kentucky General Assembly is now in its veto recess, but not until after several pieces of legislation received final approval Tuesday.
House Bill 563 would create a form of scholarship tax credits and allow state funding to follow students to public schools outside of their district and received final passage from the House Tuesday night on a 48-47 vote. Representatives Myron Dossett, Walker Thomas and Lynn Bechler supported the measure, while Representative Jason Petrie was opposed.
Governor Andy Beshear is likely to veto the measure and it would take 51 votes to override it, meaning some of those no votes would have to change their stance.
Families in Boone, Campbell, Hardin, Daviess, Warren, Jefferson, Fayette and Kenton counties would be able to use education opportunity accounts to pay for private school tuition.
Kentucky lawmakers also approved a bill Tuesday that would allow students K through 12 to “re-do” the past school year. The bill was first introduced in light of the pandemic that caused several issues for students that had to switch to remote learning for most of the school year. Additionally, the bill allows high school students a fifth year of eligibility to play sports so long as they do not turn 19 before August 1 of their senior year.
The “re-do” bill is not a mandate, but an option for students and their families to consider.
A criminal justice reform bill that would raise the bar for what counts as felony theft in Kentucky is headed to the governor after passing the Senate by a 25-11 vote.
House Bill 126 would raise the threshold of felony theft to $1,000. Under current law, stealing anything worth $500 or more is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Legislators will return to Frankfort for two more days late this month and have the opportunity to override any of the governor’s vetos.