Late on the afternoon of March 28th, lawmakers in Frankfort declared Sine Die – the Latin phrase meaning “without day” that marks the close of the legislative session – to adjourn the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2025 legislative session.
KACP can say with no hyperbole that this year’s session was one of the organization’s most productive and successful in recent years as we worked closely with the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) and our member departments to pass major legislation regarding Pensions, Open Records and more.
The grassroots efforts of our members – who took time to call, email and engage their House and Senate members – were a driving force in our overall success. Had it not been for members reaching out to legislators at least one bill and maybe others would not have passed. KACP is eternally grateful for those efforts.
In Gratitude and Remembrance
In reflecting on the achievements of our recent legislative session, it is essential to acknowledge and honor the enduring legacy of Pat Crowley who significantly contributed to our success, even though he is no longer with us. Today, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Pat, whose dedicated efforts and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our organization.
Pat was a beacon of perseverance and integrity, constantly striving for the betterment of our organization. His forward-thinking vision and tireless advocacy for critical issues such as Pensions, Open Records, and more, laid the foundations upon which our current triumphs are built. Pat’s contributions were instrumental in shaping policies that will benefit countless individuals and families across Kentucky.
It is with deep respect and profound appreciation that we remember Pat’s work. Although he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in the legislative advancements we celebrate today.
KACP PRIORITIES:
Pension System Health Insurance:
SB10, Sen. Robby Mills (R), Amend KRS 78.5536, relating to the County Employees Retirement System, to increase the nonhazardous and hazardous duty under age 65 retiree health subsidy to $40 and $50 per month for each year of service, respectively, for those members who meet the “career threshold” who began participating in the system on or after July 1, 2003, and who are eligible for a fixed-dollar retiree health subsidy not tied to the premium; extend the employee contribution used to fund retiree health benefits to include members who began participating in the system on or after July 1, 2003, and increase the current hazardous employee contribution rate to 2% of pay for those eligible for the fixed-dollar retiree health subsidy; make technical amendments regarding the retiree health premium reimbursement program to conform to current policy; provide that the amendments to the employee contributions shall be effective July 1, 2026; for calculation of the retiree health subsidy increase, provide that the change shall apply to service earned prior to the effective date of this Act by eligible members, including retirees, and shall prospectively be adjusted annually by the 1.5% increase currently provided in statute; provide that subsidies payable to impacted retirees shall begin on or after January 1, 2026, to coincide with the next health plan year; direct the Public Pension Oversight Board to continue to review the retiree health fund actuarial data and evaluate potential legislative options to address any future continued improvements in the funds; RETROACTIVE.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR
Open Records:
HB520, Rep. Chris Fugate (R), Amend KRS 61.878, relating to open records, to provide that law enforcement records shall be exempt from public inspection if the disclosure of the information could pose an articulable risk of harm to the law enforcement agency or its investigation by revealing the identity of informants or witnesses not otherwise known.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, BECAME LAW WITHOUT THE GOVONERS SIGNATURE
Pension Spiking:
HB30, Rep. John Blanton (R), Amend KRS 61.598 to exempt from the pension spiking provisions any increases in rates of pay authorized or funded by the legislative or administrative body of an employer or mandated in a collective bargaining agreement approved by the legislative body of the employer that are provided to members of the Kentucky Employees Retirement System, County Employees Retirement System, or State Police Retirement System.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR
LEGISLATION KACP SUPPORTED:
House:
HB234,Rep. Wade Williams (R), Amend KRS 16.220, relating to confiscated firearms sold at public auction, to add airport safety and security department to the list of agencies that are eligible to receive grant funds from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security for purchasing body armor and other necessary equipment. This will allow our Airport Police Departments to participate in grant funding.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, SIGNED INTO LAWBY THE GOVERNOR
HB369, Rep. Mark Hart (R), Amend KRS 95.495 to stipulate that the annual leave designated for police officers subject to the section may be accrued over a year’s time as established in the personnel policy of the department.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, AWAITING TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR
HB437, Rep. Tony Hampton (R), Amend KRS 241.090, relating to the police powers of state Alcoholic Beverage Control administrators and investigators, to provide that a state administrator shall not have the power to make arrests unless he or she is certified in accordance with KRS 15.380 to 15.404; amend KRS 241.110, relating to the appointment of county Alcoholic Beverage Control administrators and investigators, to provide that a county investigator shall not have the power to make arrests unless he or she is certified in accordance with KRS 15.380 to 15.404; amend KRS 241.170, relating to the appointment of city Alcoholic Beverage Control administrators and investigators, to provide that city administrators and investigators shall not have the power to make arrests unless he or she is certified in accordance with KRS 15.380 to 15.404; amend KRS 241.230, relating to the appointment of urban-county Alcoholic Beverage Control administrators and investigators, to provide that urban-county administrators and investigators shall not have the power to make arrests unless he or she is certified in accordance with KRS 15.380 to 15.404.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, AWAITING TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR
LEGISLATION KACP FOLLOWING/MONITORING:
House
HB15, Rep. Steven Rudy (R), Amend KRS 186.450 to allow people who are at least 15 years of age to apply for a motor vehicle instruction permit; establish that an instruction permit is valid for four years; amend KRS 186.410, 186.452 and 159.051 to conform; EMERGENCY.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, SIGNED INTO LAWBY THE GOVERNOR
HB20, Rep. John Hodgson (R), Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to define terms related to automated license plate readers; establish limitations on use and sale of data captured by automated license plate readers; provide that captured license plate data may be retained longer than 60 days only if it is being used in a criminal or insurance investigation or has become subject to a preservation of evidence notification; provide that any recorded images or data captured by an ALPR may be made available to the National Insurance Crime Bureau or its successor organization; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define terms and establish limitations on the introduction of identification devices on or within the human body; create a new section of KRS Chapter 413 to establish a statute of limitations for an action filed for introduction of an identification device; amend KRS 508.152, relating to the unlawful use of tracking devices, to include the installation of a tracking device on the person or property of another without their consent and exempt parental tracking of minors from the prohibition.
PASSED THE HOUSE. DIED WITH A VOTE IN THE SENATE.
HB399, Rep. John Blanton, Create new sections of KRS Chapter 519 to define terms; create the crime of interference with a legislative proceeding in the first degree; create the crime of interference with a legislative proceeding in the second degree; amend KRS 431.015 to require a peace officer to make an arrest for a violation of interference with a legislative proceeding in the first or second degree.
PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR’S. BOTH CHAMBERS VOTED TO OVERIDE THE GOVONERS VETO.
Read more legislation on the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission website.
FOR MORE INFO
As always, questions, suggestions, comments or concerns can be directed to Executive Director Shawn Butler, who can be reached at 859-743-2920 or sbutler@kypolicechiefs.org .