BILL TO REOPEN ROUTE BETWEEN STATE CAPITOL BUILDING AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICES CLEARS SENATE FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

BILL TO REOPEN ROUTE BETWEEN STATE CAPITOL BUILDING AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICES CLEARS SENATE FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

Sponsor Sen. John Schickel issues statement, expresses optimism for House legislation mirroring Senate Bill 75

PHOTO CUTLINE: Senator John Schickel presents Senate Bill 75 for the full Senate’s consideration. Jan. 29, 2024. Photo Credit: David Hargis, Photographer, Public Information Office, Legislative Research Commission.

FRANKFORT, KY (January 29, 2024) - The following is a statement from Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, upon the Senate’s approval of SB 75:

“I’m grateful for this legislative chamber’s continued support for this bill and what I believe is a really important effort. I’m encouraged that Rep. Jennifer Decker has introduced the same bill in the House chamber and it now has over 30 co-sponsors. We are a bicameral legislature so the bill has to be approved by both chambers and the challenge in the past was getting it through the House. I’m happy to carry the House version in our chamber and get this important piece of legislation on the governor's desk. The governor is certain to veto the bill, but I would welcome the opportunity to talk more about the importance of government accessibility and our beautiful state Capitol in a veto override discussion.”

—

House Bill 384, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, is the House version of SB 75. You can access the bill HERE. 

BACKGROUND

In September 2021, Governor Andy Beshear, citing security recommendations from the U.S. Secret Service and Kentucky State Police, closed this portion of Capital Avenue. Beshear's roadway closure came nearly one year after erecting a security fence around the Governor's Mansion and the complete closure of the state Capitol building to visitors from March 2020 to July 2021.

Since the route’s closure, lawmakers and visitors to the Capitol campus have reported a heavy increase in vehicular traffic through the Capitol Annex parking lot, increasing the risk of pedestrian injury.

To remedy this concern and ensure the route is reopened to Kentucky residents and tourists alike, Schickel introduced SB 75. He filed the same measure in the two previous legislative sessions: SB 11 in the 2023 Legislative Session and SB 98 in the 2022 Legislative Session.

“I often organize field trips from my district in Boone County to come and visit our beautiful state Capitol and, for the most part, attendees are elderly and not very mobile,” Schickel previously said.

“I was incredibly disappointed when this route was closed because it took away something special for Kentuckians. That is the open access to this jewel of a capitol, which I think is the best in the United States.”

Shortly after the route's closure in 2021, Schickel penned a letter to Governor Beshear expressing his disappointment in hopes the Governor would reconsider. He wrote:

“Kentucky has the most beautiful state capitol in the nation. One of the reasons people enjoy it is because of the easy access to it. Seniors especially enjoy visiting the capital in springtime when they can drive around the Capitol and see the gorgeous tulips, the floral clock and the rose garden without ever getting out of their cars. In the winter, they enjoy the same experience with the beautiful Christmas decorations that adorn the Capitol, Annex and Governor’s Mansion.”

Schickel also emphasized the importance of not limiting residents’ First Amendment rights, saying:

“Often residents, expressing their First Amendment rights to petition the government, form caravans whether it be by using beer trucks, milk trucks, school buses, or vehicles adorned with signs and loudspeakers. Personally, as a state legislator, I have always enjoyed this experience interacting with constituents who agree and disagree with me. Ending this Kentucky political tradition would be a mistake.”

A former law enforcement officer, Schickel expressed respect for the recommendations made but felt security must be balanced with the need for an open government in a representative republic.

“We can protect people here on campus without closing a route that’s been a long-standing tradition here in the commonwealth,” Schickel said in a 2023 release from the Senate Majority Caucus. “If safety and security is the true concern, the most honest and consistent action we could take is to close the entire Capitol and Annex campus.”

SB 75 would still allow law enforcement and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to close the route if a threat warrants the action temporarily.

Find SB 75 at legislature.ky.gov and visit KET.org/legislature/archives to access footage from the Wednesday, January 24, Senate Transportation Committee meeting and from Monday’s Senate floor proceedings

###

Senator John Schickel, R-Union, represents the 11th Senate District in northern and central Boone County. He is Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee chair. He also serves as a Senate Banking and Insurance, Judiciary, and Natural Resources and Energy committee member. 

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Schickel, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate111.jpg. 

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the 2024 Legislative Session, such as committee schedules, membership, legislation, and more.

Live legislative coverage is available at KET.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. 

Access archived footage of legislative meetings at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on X, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also find information on caucus members, as well as view press releases from our office, by visiting KYSenateRepublicans.com.