Key Highlights and Expectations for Kentucky’s 2025 Legislative Agenda

Happy New Year, and welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session, which gavels in today at noon. As the rest of the state faces winter storm Blair this week, Frankfort is ready to begin its 30-day session.

This session is a short session, but don’t expect it to be over by mid-February. The General Assembly will gavel in today and convene through this week, but take a legislative break until early February, allowing them to complete the 30 days by the end of March, as the constitution requires. This will even include a two-week veto period, after which the General Assembly will reconvene and override most, if not all of Governor Andy Beshear’s vetoes.

Given that this year is a short session, there will not be any large budget propositions. The Constitution requires that kind of legislation take place in the 60-day sessions.

So, what can you expect this year?

While several bills will be introduced in this first week, many of which are still unknown, we do know the General Assembly will begin the steps necessary to lower the income tax by 0.5%, bringing it down to 3.5%.

Other topics of interest include legislation that was brought forth in the 2024 session, but was not passed. Upon further discussion in the interim, these topics are likely to be brought back to the table this year. This includes, higher education’s anti-DEI legislation, kinship care, and Medicaid reform.

There were three task forces in the interim that produced legislative recommendations: Artificial Intelligence, Kentucky Housing, and Workforce Attraction & Retention. We can expect legislation relating to each these topics.

What Else is New?
The supermajority in both chambers remains with the GOP, but we see some new faces in both chambers. Here is a list of all the newly elected legislators: 

Senate
Craig Richardson (R-Hopkinsville)
Aaron Reed (R-Shelbyville)
Matt Nunn (R-Sadieville)
Scott Madon (R-Pineville)
Steve Rawlings (R-Burlington)
Keturah Herron (D-Louisville)

House
Kim Holloway (R-Mayfield)
JT Payne (R-Henderson)
Ryan Bivens (R-Hodgenville)
Chris Lewis (R-Louisville)
Tony Hampton (R-Georgetown)
TJ Roberts (R-Burlington)
Vanessa Grossl (R-Georgetown)
Mitch Whitaker (R-Fleming-Neon)
Aaron Thompson (R-Ashland)
Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville)
Josh Watkins (D-Louisville)
Adam Moore (D-Lexington)
Erika Hancock (D-Frankfort)
Matt Lehman (D-Newport)
Anne Donworth (D-Lexington)

Leadership
House GOP leadership did not change, reelecting Speaker David Osborne, Pro-Tempore David Meade, Floor Leader Steven Rudy, Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, and Majority Whip Jason Nemes.

With Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) not running for reelection, the Senate Majority Floor Leadership position needed filling. Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) was elected to that position and Senator Robby Mills (R-Henderson) was elected as Majority Caucus Chair, replacing Senator Julie Raque Adams (R-Louisville). The remaining Senate Leaders return, including Senate President Robert Stivers, President Pro-Tempore David Givens, and Majority Whip Mike Wilson. 

In the House Democratic caucus, we see three new faces in leadership positions: Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville) as Minority Floor Leader, Al Gentry (D-Louisville) as Caucus Chair, and Lindsey Burke (D-Lexington) as Caucus Whip. Senate Democratic leadership remains the same with Gerald Neal as Minority Floor Leader, Reggie Thomas as Caucus Chair, and David Yates as Whip.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if we can ever be helpful for you or your organization's priorities whether in the US Capitol, State Capitol, County Courthouse, or City Hall.