On Thursday, July 14, many of the 234 bills that the Kentucky General Assembly passed during the regular session earlier this year will go into effect. The Kentucky Constitution provides that the default effective date for new laws is 90 days after session adjournment unless the legislature specifies an effective date for a particular bill or provision or attaches an emergency clause to a piece of legislation.

Several of GLI’s policy priorities will take effect this week, including the following:

Charter schools: House Bill 9, sponsored by House Majority Whip Chad McCoy (R-Bardstown), establishes a funding model for charter schools, building on legislation from 2017 that first allowed charters in Kentucky. It also authorizes two pilot charter school projects in Louisville and Northern Kentucky and changes the appeals process if education officials deny an application for a new charter school.

Criminal justice reform: Senate Bill 90, sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton), calls for pilot programs in at least 10 Kentucky counties, providing deferred prosecutions, diversion or dismissal of charges for some low-level offenders based on their participation in drug treatment and vocational services.

Pari-mutuel wagering: Sponsored by Rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger), House Bill 607 taxes every pari-mutuel wager at a standard 1.5% rate, including advance-deposit wagers and bets on simulcasts. It also directs more money to the general fund, makes the Kentucky Racing Commission responsible for self-funding, creates a self-exclusion list for problem gamblers and eliminates the track admissions tax.

For a full listing of legislative wins for the Greater Louisville business community, check out GLI’s Legislative Outcomes report.