Rob Weber

 
KAS Policy Committee tracking action at State Capitol
 
The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2024 session is now in its second month and activity in the State Capitol is speeding up.
 
The KAS Science Policy Committee is tracking issues under consideration, getting feedback from members, communicating with lawmakers, and highlighting matters important to the science community.
 
This year is a budget-writing year in which lawmakers are tasked with creating the next two-year spending plan for the state. This is the biggest issue of the session and the only bill lawmakers are constitutionally required to pass.
 
Education, perennially a cornerstone, absorbs the largest chunk of the budget. One of the big questions in recent years is whether lawmakers would address the state’s teacher shortage by increasing pay for teachers.
 
The version of the budget proposal that has already passed the House and is now under consideration by the Senate does not mandate teacher raises. Rather, it urges school districts to give raises to school personnel with proposed increases in the state’s per-pupil funding formula for schools. That formula, known as SEEK, would benefit from a proposed increase of $117 million in the first year of the budget cycle and an additional $153 million in the second year.
 
Teacher shortages are also addressed through a proposed $7.3 million stipend program to aid to student teachers working towards teaching careers. Additionally, a proposed pilot program outlines a student loan forgiveness initiative for teachers engaged in qualified teaching service. Starting in the 2024-25 fiscal year, teachers could receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness for each year of qualified teaching service, with a maximum cap at 10 years.
 
In addition to budgeting for recurring expenses, lawmakers in the House have approved a bill to to tap into the state’s largest-ever budget reserve and spend $1.7 billion, primarily directed towards alleviating unfunded liabilities in state pension plans and bolstering infrastructure and clean water projects.

While those are popular proposals, critics say the state should do more with its historic reserves. Of note, land conservation advocates want lawmakers to add $18 million to the spending plan to restore money that has been swept over the course of years from the state’s primary trust fund for land conservation.
 
Also, on the environmental front, lawmakers have been asked to consider a constitutional amendment that would guarantee Kentuckians the right to a healthy environment. A proposed bill, if approved, would let voters decide on whether the state constitution should specify that citizens have a right to clean air, pure water, and ecologically sound habitats.
 
For the third straight year, a bill has been filed to end the mandatory fluoridation of water supplies. The state's dental association continues to advocate for water fluoridation, with supporters citing its efficacy and safety as one of the greatest public health achievements of the past century.
 
Maternal health takes center stage with legislation known as the “Momnibus” bill, a comprehensive initiative seeking to classify pregnancy as a qualifying event for health coverage. While the delivery of a child receives coverage, the bill aims to extend the umbrella to encompass prenatal and postnatal care. The bill also seeks to strengthen the state's HANDS program, which connects new parents with experts offering valuable child development tips.
 
The PFAS “forever chemicals” that are becoming a growing focus throughout the world are also the subject of several legislative proposals. Present in nonstick cookware, weatherproof clothing, and firefighting foam, these chemicals, known for their resistance to degradation, have permeated our global ecosystem and, consequently, our bloodstreams. Lawmakers have responded to this issue with a proposed appropriation of $1.8 million to enhance the state's capabilities in analyzing and addressing PFAS chemical concerns. A proposed “PFAS Task Force” is also under consideration. Additionally, a proposed bill offers firefighters a reimbursement mechanism for PFAS tests, acknowledging their heightened exposure due to the presence of these chemicals in firefighting foam and gear.
 
As the legislative session unfolds, citizens are encouraged to actively engage with their lawmakers. You can share your feedback with lawmakers on any issue by calling the General Assembly’s legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181.