Kentucky

5 bills Kentucky lawmakers plan to introduce in the 2025 legislative session

Published

10 months ago

January 5, 2025

5 bills Kentucky lawmakers plan to introduce in the 2025 legislative session

Kentucky lawmakers won’t be able to file proposed bills until the next legislative session starts Jan. 7. But that hasn’t stopped them from saying what they plan to submit.

During the 2024 interim, several legislators shared draft bills they plan to file during in the 2025 legislative session. While some are bills that have been filed in previous years, others are new ideas.

The only way to view pre-filed bills publicly is if lawmakers share their drafts on their own social media accounts, websites or as part of meeting materials for interim committees. That’s because legislation passed in 2022 removed the process of posting pre-filed bills on the Legislative Research Commission’s website.

Here’s a look at some of the bills lawmakers have shared or said are expected to appear during session.

Requiring bathrooms by ‘biological sex’

In August, Republican Rep. Matt Lockett shared draft language of a bill that would require more than a majority of restrooms in public schools be designated for a specific biological sex.

At an Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting, Lockett said the bill is a response to Fayette County Public Schools building gender-neutral restrooms with individual private floor-to-ceiling stalls at Britton Middle School.

His draft bill would require at least 90% of restroom facilities in school buildings that serve more than 100 students be designated for “a specific sex.”

Lockett said the bill’s goal is to protect children and provide “a facility for learning where they won’t feel threatened, embarrassed or be afraid to use the restroom.”

Prohibiting some sex offenders from Halloween activities

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, announced in October he plans to file a bill that would prohibit many people on Kentucky’s sex offender registry from participating in Halloween activities involving minors.

In the draft copy of the bill, registrants who have committed criminal offenses against minors would be prohibited from engaging in Halloween-related activities. That would include trick-or-treating, costume parties where children are present or events involving the distribution of candy to kids.

The bill would apply to 14 days before and after Oct. 31 of each year. Violating the restrictions would result in a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for subsequent offenses.

Making fluoridation in water optional

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, is renewing the push to make fluoridation in water optional for local districts.

The bill Hart said he plans to file again next session would eliminate the state’s water fluoridation mandate. Last year’s legislative session was the first time Hart’s bill received a committee hearing, but it didn’t make it across the finish line.

Hart said the bill wouldn’t ban the use of fluoride but would protect the state from liability related to “risks” stemming from fluoride exposure, citing data from a report released by the National Toxicology Program.

Meanwhile, prominent health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and American Academy of Pediatrics, say adding small amounts of fluoride to public drinking water helps strengthen teeth, with research showing fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults.

Holding parents accountable for gun violence involving minors

Republican Rep. Kim Banta, with Democratic Rep. Tina Bojanowski as co-sponsor, plans to file a bill that would hold parents and guardians accountable for gun violence carried out by a minor in their care.

The Kentucky Lantern reported that Banta’s bill would let individuals who are hurt or threatened by a minor using a gun sue the minor’s parents or guardians. Besides killing a person, that could also include threatening someone with a gun and shooting a neighbor’s dog.

Requiring licenses for tobacco retailers

Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, is working on a bill he believes would help keep tobacco products away from minors.

At an interim committee meeting, Higdon said his bill would require licensing for all sellers of vape or tobacco products, allowing for enforcement by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The bill also would implement stricter fines and penalties for retailers who violate the law and allow ABC officers to inspect businesses without a warrant.

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.

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Kentucky

Auburn has a new starting QB

Published

3 minutes ago

October 31, 2025

Press Room

Auburn has a new starting quarterback. Ashton Daniels will start against Kentucky on Saturday night, taking over for Jackson Arnold, sources tell AuburnSports.

Daniels, a transfer from Stanford, entered last week’s win over Arkansas and gave the Tigers’ offense a needed spark. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 77 yards and added 35 rushing yards, helping Auburn finish drives (albeit with field goals) and play cleaner football. It was enough for Freeze and his staff to make a change heading into this weekend’s game.

“I think Daniels just, he’s got this maturity and poise about him,” Freeze said after Auburn’s win at Arkansas. “Obviously he’s a college graduate and has played in a lot of big football games, so it’s not going to be something that overwhelms him. I just thought it was time.”

Freeze said on Monday leading into a week of practice that it would be an “open competition” between Daniels and Arnold. Freeze said on Wednesday and Thursday that both quarterbacks prepared and practiced well during the week.

In three years at Stanford, Daniels threw for almost 4,000 yards, 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He added over 1,100 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.

Arnold opened the season as the starter but struggled with consistency in SEC play. His interception that was returned 89 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas was a turning point. Freeze turned to Daniels, who steadied the offense and helped Auburn snap a four-game SEC losing streak.

Arnold has thrown six touchdowns to only two interceptions this season, but is last in the SEC in yards per game (157), QB rating (122) and yards per attempt (6.1).

The decision marks another chapter in Freeze’s search for stability at quarterback, a position that has rotated through multiple players over his three seasons on the Plains. Payton Thorne manned the position in 2023 and 2024, with flashes of Robby Ashford in Freeze’s first season and Hank Brown earning two starts last season. Now this season, it’s Arnold to Daniels, so far.

Freeze is turning to Daniels hoping to bring steadiness and leadership as Auburn tries to build momentum for the stretch run. The Tigers host Kentucky before traveling to play top 10 Vanderbilt, host Mercer, then host top 10 Alabama to close the regular season.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Chamber Foundation announces next chapter in effort to strengthen Kentucky’s future – NKyTribune

Published

19 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky Chamber Foundation announces next chapter in effort to strengthen Kentucky’s future – NKyTribune

Kentucky’s growth depends on businesses leading solutions that create opportunities, strengthen communities, and drive the state forward. With its next chapter, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation is expanding its impact across the Commonwealth, guided by its strengthened purpose: unlock the power of business, accelerate solutions, and build opportunity in Kentucky.

“This next chapter marks a defining moment in our work, demonstrating the growing impact of business-led solutions across Kentucky. We are proud of what we have accomplished alongside our partners and Chamber members, and this reintroduction builds on that foundation. When employers engage with the Foundation, they help unlock solutions that extend beyond individual companies and create a thriving future for the entire Commonwealth and its people,” said Kentucky Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President Beth Davisson.

The Foundation advances this purpose through three core areas:

Kentucky Chamber Foundation announces next chapter in effort to strengthen Kentucky’s future – NKyTribune

• Driving Collaborative, Business-Led Solutions: Uniting employers and partners to solve Kentucky’s most pressing challenges.

• Expanding Opportunity by Strengthening Communities: Creating pathways for Kentuckians to learn, work, and thrive by addressing barriers to prosperity through employer-driven action.

• Building for Tomorrow: Focusing on future trends, bold ideas, and long-term strategies that shape Kentucky’s next chapter.

Since 2017, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation has worked to strengthen Kentucky’s workforce, education, and communities through employer-led solutions that expand opportunity and drive economic growth. Through its workforce initiatives, the Foundation has trained 358 employers, connected 1,743 Kentuckians to jobs, and partnered with more than 650 employers across 70 industries to grow their workforce.

Through its education initiatives, the Foundation has engaged 1,055 educators and impacted 52,845 students statewide, helping connect classrooms with careers and prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

The foundation has also created 600 post-high-school workforce placements in partnership with businesses across the state. Here are a few examples of impact:

• Opening Pathways for Students – When Kentucky students step off the school bus and into a business, their future starts to come into focus. With support from AT&T and Toyota, Bus to Business® gave thousands of students a behind-the-scenes look at careers in tech, manufacturing, health care, and more. Through the initiative, the Foundation is aligning education with workforce needs and building Kentucky’s talent pipeline.

• Investing in Health Care Talent – Kentucky’s health care system depends on a steady pipeline of skilled workers. In 2025, Baptist Health and UK HealthCare – King’s Daughters played a central role in the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Health Care Accelerator, aligning education with workforce needs across the Commonwealth. The work, in partnership with the Kentucky Hospital Association, strengthens critical industries and ensures Kentuckians have access to the care they need.

• Expanding Second Chances – Kentucky businesses are breaking down barriers to employment and building second chances. In 2025, employers like Goodwill Kentucky, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), and Fifth Third Bank joined the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Fair Chance Academy to learn how to recruit and retain justice-involved Kentuckians. By expanding opportunity for workers, the Foundation is helping employers meet demand and communities grow stronger.

• Strengthening the Veteran Workforce – Businesses are finding mission-ready talent in Kentucky’s military community. Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Military Hiring Academy, employers like Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and UPS have learned how to translate military experience, improve retention, and build veteran-friendly workplaces. The work connects skilled veterans to careers in Kentucky while helping businesses strengthen their workforce.

• Empowering School Leaders to Strengthen Student Success – Businesses across Kentucky are making critical investments to strengthen school leadership and build stronger communities. Through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Institute for School Principals Program, in partnership with Truist Leadership Institute, the business community has invested more than $4.4 million to train over 600 principals across 112 counties. In Henderson County, 18 principals have participated in the program, leading to notable gains in student achievement and two schools earning National Blue Ribbon distinctions. The investment helps ensure students are set up for future success.
To learn more about the Foundation’s next chapter and its impact across the Commonwealth, visit www.kychamberfoundation.org.

Kentucky Chamber Foundation

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Kentucky

Kentucky vs Auburn predictions? Can UK football pull off road win in Week 10?

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky vs Auburn predictions? Can UK football pull off road win in Week 10?

When the Kentucky and Auburn football programs met last season in Lexington, it featured two struggling clubs. The Wildcats were 14th in the 16-team SEC, with a 1-4 record in conference games at that point; the Tigers were 0-4 and in a tie for last (alongside Mississippi State).

A year later, UK and AU are once more fighting to climb out of the conference cellar.

Kentucky is last in the league standings, sitting at 0-5. Auburn is only one game better, with a 1-4 mark. The Tigers have a better overall record as well. They’re .500 (4-4) on the season, while the Wildcats are 2-5.

UK and coach Mark Stoops seek an end to a 10-game conference losing streak that has lasted more than a year.

The Wildcats also hope they can change their luck in the series with the Tigers. Heading into Saturday night’s matchup, Auburn is 28-6-1 versus Kentucky all time. AU is 19-1 against UK in the past 20 meetings.

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