Senate Bill 120, sponsored by Senator John Schickel, will allow historical horse racing operations to continue at the state’s licensed horse tracks. The legislation is in response to a Kentucky Supreme Court decision made in September of 2020 that threatened the legality of historic horse racing in Kentucky. Learn more and read a quote from the Kentucky Chamber here. [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/12/historical-horse-racing-bill-heads-to-governors-desk/ ]

COVID-19 LIABILITY PROTECTIONS

Another top priority of the Chamber, providing liability protections for businesses, schools, and individuals in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, took its first step as it passed through the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee Tuesday.

Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, would provide premises-based protections for businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals who have reopened and are following recommended guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Stivers said the bill has a committee substitute that would make the liability protections apply specifically only to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more on The Bottom Line. [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/09/covid-19-liability-protections-for-businesses-schools-and-others-takes-first-step-through-legislative-process/ ]

KENTUCKY CHAMBER AND OTHER GROUPS CALL ON LEGISLATURE TO INVEST INFRASTRUCTURE With the bill filing deadline fast approaching, a large group of organizations released a statement Wednesday strongly urging action on increasing funding for roads and bridges during the 2021 session. Read the statement and find the list of groups that have signed on here. [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/10/large-coalition-sends-strong-message-to-lawmakers-calling-for-action-on-increasing-infrastructure-investment-in-2021/ ]

LEGISLATION ABOUT PPP LOANS AND TAX DEDUCTIONS As many Kentucky businesses have receive loans to help them pay employees in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that income for a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan has been deemed non-taxable at the federal level.

House Bill 278, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Flannery, would allow small businesses and self-employed individuals in Kentucky who have received a forgivable PPP loan to deduct expenses paid with the loan. Read more about the bill on The Bottom Line. [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/09/making-forgiven-paycheck-protection-loan-expenses-deductible-clears-first-legislative-hurdle/ ]

BILLS TO ADDRESS CORRECTIONS COSTS AND REMOVING BARRIERS FOR TREATMENT, RECOVERY, AND REENTRY Many bills focused on addressing the state’s struggles with corrections and substance use disorder moved forward this week.

The House passed House Bill 7 (Recovery Ready communities [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/09/bill-to-ensure-communities-focus-on-prevention-treatment-and-recovery-moves-to-the-kentucky-state-senate/ ] , sponsored by Rep. Adam Bowling) and House Bill 126 (felony theft threshold, sponsored by Rep. Ed Massey) [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/10/legislation-seeking-to-improve-the-criminal-justice-system-moves-to-state-senate/ ] this week, moving the bills to the state Senate.

And in an effort to give Kentuckians a second chance after a previous conviction, legislation to expand access to Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship (KEES) money passed out of the House Education Committee unanimously Tuesday. House Bill 25, sponsored by Rep. Killian Timoney, removes the requirement that an eligible high school student and eligible postsecondary student not be a convicted felon for KEES eligibility. [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/2021/02/09/bill-to-allow-those-with-previous-mistakes-access-to-education-scholarship-dollars-passes-through-committee/ ]

Get involved with the Kentucky Comeback network to help us make progress on these important issues. [ https://kentuckycomeback.com/join-the-network/ ]

MORE UPDATES

Many other bills being monitored by the Kentucky Chamber saw movement this week including early literacy, to-go alcoholic beverages, addressing racial disparities, and more. Make sure you are staying up to date on The Bottom Line [ https://kychamberbottomline.com/ ] and download our app by searching Bottom Line KY in your app store.

Key Bills

KEY BILLS

COMPETITIVENESS

Education

EDUCATION

Health Care

HEALTH CARE

Energy and Enviornment

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

UTILITY RATES (HB 127 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/sb127.html ] ) Requires the Public Service Commission to consider affordability when setting rates.
MINING PERMITS (HB 137 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/sb137.html ] ) Requires performance bonding for mine permits.
UTILITY SERVICE (HB 207 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/hb207.html ] ) Prohibits a local government entity from taking action that has the purpose or effect of impairing a consumer's ability to use a utility service.
UNDERGROUND UTILITIES (HB 303 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/hb303.html ] ) Increases public safety by protecting underground utility facilities. Passed House Committee.
MIXING ZONES (HB 386 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/hb386.html ] ) requires that mixing zones for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern established on or before September 8, 2004, remain in effect until explicitly extinguished by the Energy and Environment Cabinet. Passed House Committee
UTILITY ACQUISITION (HB 465 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/hb465.html ] ) Bolsters existing precedent to provide a local option for addressing water and wastewater challenges through partnership with the private sector.
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION (HB 489 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/hb489.html ] ) Expands the voluntary environmental remediation tax credit. Introduced in House.
PNEUMOCONIOSIS FUND (SB 141 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/sb141.html ] ) Provides guidelines for distribution of funds remaining in the Kentucky coal workers’ pneumoconiosis fund. Passed Senate Committee.
UNDERGROUND UTILITY (SB 172 [ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/sb172.html ] ) Includes exempted activities in the process of ceasing operations when damage occurs to an underground facility and notification of appropriate authorities.

Community Resource Guide

Central Services

Community Resources

Government Services

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce