SENATOR JIMMY HIGDON’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
First month of 2025 Interim in the books
I want to begin with a moment of reflection for the family of the U.S. soldier, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright, who was tragically killed in a recent helicopter training accident at Fort Campbell. I ask you to pray for his loved ones and fellow servicemembers. Our military families shoulder immense burdens, at home and abroad, and the dangers they face in training and deployment should never be taken for granted.
I also want to express sadness in light of the horrible assassination in Minnesota. We are also learning about what may have been a targeted attack on firefighters in Idaho. We need to lower the temperature and learn to disagree without being nasty or violent to one another. My heart is with the grieving loved ones and both states following the tragic violence. Political differences should never be settled by taking someone’s life. We have to have a high regard for the value of human life.
Here’s the latest from Frankfort as we conclude the first month of the 2025 Interim.
Housing Task Force highlights growing shortfall, potential reforms
On June 30, the Kentucky Housing Task Force met to review projections indicating a statewide shortfall of 287,000 housing units by 2029. Members heard from the Kentucky Housing Corporation and national experts about the causes—including rising costs, stalled construction, and policy barriers—and discussed potential solutions, such as zoning reform, state housing tax credits, and employer-assisted housing programs. The task force will continue exploring strategies that integrate housing with economic development, with a follow-up scheduled for July 28. I am a member of this task force and look forward to working with my colleagues over the interim to address housing challenges.
Education Committee reviews proposed overhaul of school accountability
As a member of the Interim Joint Committee (IJC) on Education, I joined colleagues in reviewing Kentucky’s plans to modernize its K-12 accountability system. The proposed framework would move away from outdated, one-size-fits-all tests and adopt more personalized assessments that reflect real student learning and growth. It also aims to give school districts greater input in evaluating performance, with built-in peer reviews to promote continuous improvement. The new model is expected to be finalized by 2026.
Clarification on Senate Bill 181
Senate Bill 181 passed unanimously—137-0—and was signed into law by the Governor earlier this year. This legislation is a commonsense student safety measure that ensures all electronic communication between school staff, coaches, volunteers, and students occurs through traceable, district-approved platforms. The goal is straightforward: prevent private, unmonitored messaging that bad actors can exploit.
As a parent and legislator, families should always be informed about how adults in the school system communicate with their children. That’s why the bill includes a provision allowing parents to opt in to alternative communication methods such as texting by submitting written consent.
To clarify, this bill underwent a thorough and transparent legislative process. Despite opportunities for public input, no education advocacy organizations—including the Kentucky Education Association, the Kentucky Department of Education, or others—raised objections or concerns while the bill was under consideration. Several legislators are current or former educators, yet no red flags were raised until nearly three months after the bill was signed into law. The most effective time to offer input on legislation is while it is being considered. I’m always available to hear your feedback and concerns. Don’t hesitate to email me at Jimmy.Higdon@kylegislature.gov.
I recognize that some educators, parents, and community members have raised valid questions about the bill’s real-world implementation, particularly regarding student-led initiatives, outside organizations, and routine classroom communications. These are important conversations to have, and I fully expect this law to be reviewed during the interim to ensure it meets its intended purpose: protecting students without creating unnecessary barriers to appropriate engagement.
Improving care and support for Kentucky veterans remains a top priority
The Interim Joint Committee (IJC) on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection (VMAPP) had a candid and much-needed discussion on how Kentucky can better serve its veterans. From delayed repairs at the Radcliff Veterans Center to broader issues of facility occupancy and staffing, it’s clear we must act with greater urgency.
We also reviewed outstanding work by groups like USA Cares, which is delivering critical support to veteran families in crisis. The meeting presented a bipartisan commitment to improving services. As a member of this committee, I am committed to continuing to make Kentucky one of the nation’s most veteran-friendly states.
Joe Masterson honored
I would like to acknowledge a special moment that occurred during the VMAPP committee meeting thanks to Rep. Candy Massaroni’s leadership. During the meeting, Joe Masterson of Bardstown was honored by the committee as a distinguished veteran. Joe is a U.S. Army veteran who served our country with honor from 1959 to 1963, including during the Berlin and Cuban Missile Crises. His service didn’t stop when he returned home. He’s been a tireless advocate for veterans, helping establish two military museums in Bardstown, serving as Post Commander of American Legion Post 121, and continuing to give back through Veterans Park and other community efforts. I’m grateful to Rep. Massaroni for bringing this recognition forward and proud to join her in saluting a true hometown hero.
Disaster Task Force calls for stronger resilience planning
The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force held its first meeting on June 27, focusing on Kentucky’s high rate of federally declared disasters and the rising costs of recovery. Emergency officials emphasized the need for upgrades to critical systems, such as the IFLOWS river monitoring network, and outlined pending federal aid issues. The Pew Charitable Trusts encouraged Kentucky to follow states like Florida by creating a Chief Resilience Officer to guide long-term planning and risk reduction.
Artificial Intelligence Task Force reconvenes
The Artificial Intelligence Task Force was reestablished for the 2025 Interim, following its work in 2024 that led to the passage of Senate Bill 4. That legislation created a framework for the use of AI within state government, although it does not apply to the private sector. During its first meeting of the year, the task force heard from the Kentucky Chamber, which warned about federal efforts that could limit the state's regulatory authority. The chamber urged lawmakers to adopt a flexible, incremental policy approach that avoids legal conflicts, draws on industry expertise, and prevents a regulatory patchwork. The task force will continue focusing on education, workforce impacts, and cybersecurity.
IJC on Judiciary reviews pretrial services and courthouse disaster response
The committee received testimony on Kentucky’s pretrial services and ongoing courthouse recovery efforts.
Kentucky’s pretrial model, established after the General Assembly eliminated the bail bond industry in 1976, prioritizes public safety while reducing unnecessary incarceration. Judges use risk assessments—not just financial status—to help determine who is safe to release before trial. The system operates statewide 24/7, with roughly 275 employees serving all 120 counties. Officials reported a nearly 80 percent pretrial success rate but noted challenges, including staffing shortages, a lack of digitized records, and limits on immigration-related data.
The committee also heard from court officials responding to the severe flood damage at the justice centers in Franklin and Hardin Counties. In Franklin County alone, over four feet of water entered the courthouse, destroying key systems and forcing a complete relocation of court operations. The combined damage in both counties is estimated at over $10 million.
EPA proposes repeal of burdensome power plant rules
You may have heard about significant regulatory actions that could impact Kentucky’s energy future.
On June 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed repealing costly regulations from the Biden-Harris era on fossil fuel-fired power plants, including greenhouse gas standards and updates to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). These rules have imposed billions of dollars in compliance costs and raised concerns about grid reliability, particularly in coal-producing states like Kentucky.
The proposed repeal is projected to save over $1.2 billion annually, restore state-level authority over energy decisions, and maintain essential baseload power for manufacturing and agriculture industries. The EPA is also seeking to roll back 2024 amendments that required coal plants to meet stricter emissions rules, despite evidence showing a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions since 2010 under existing standards.
These proposals follow the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. EPA, which limited federal authority to dictate sweeping energy transitions through regulatory means.
Several recent committee meetings were held in northern Kentucky. Some future meetings will take place during the annual Kentucky State Fair.
I’ll keep you updated on other developments from Frankfort throughout the interim period.
Stay engaged
As the interim session continues, Kentuckians are encouraged to follow committee meetings and participate in the legislative process. The full 2025 Interim calendar is available at legislature.ky.gov, and most meetings are livestreamed by KET. You can share your input with elected members of the Kentucky General Assembly by calling the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 or by contacting their offices directly at 502-564-8100.
For the latest updates, follow the Senate Majority Caucus on social media (@KYSenateGOP on X and @kysenate.gop on Instagram) and visit KYSenateRepublicans.com to subscribe to news alerts and learn more about legislative priorities.
I hope you and your family enjoyed an awesome Fourth of July.
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Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, including LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation and the Public Pension Oversight Board. He also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Education; Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation. He is a member of the Kentucky Housing Task Force.