Queer Kentucky’s Guide to Kentucky’s 2025 Legislative Session

Y’all, it is time: Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session has arrived. 

Queer Kentucky compiled this handy guide to all things #KYGA25 so you can stay on top of what’s happening in Frankfort. 

Have ideas of what our team should keep an eye on during the session? We’re all ears: Email civics reporter Olivia Krauth at [email protected].

 

When does Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session take place? 

 

Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session is slated to begin at noon Tuesday, despite the recent winter storm and subsequent hazardous road conditions. 

The state constitution requires the session to start on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of the year, which is this Tuesday. But past that, lawmakers can amend their calendar, so take these dates with a grain of (road) salt. 

• Kentucky’s legislature meets for a “short session” in 2025, so they’ll meet a total of 30 days between Jan. 7 and the end of March. 
• Lawmakers meet for Part I of the session from Jan. 7 to Jan. 10 before taking the rest of January off.
• They’ll reconvene and meet Tuesday through Friday in Frankfort starting Feb. 4. 

 

What will lawmakers focus on during Kentucky’s legislative session?

You can find more details on key topics to watch here, but here’s a quick rundown:

 

• Reducing the state income tax
• Changes to education policy, maybe with a special focus on JCPS
• Restricting anti-diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher ed
• Potentially more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
• A focus on smaller bills and technical fixes instead of major overhauls

 

Who is in charge of Kentucky’s legislature?

Kentucky’s legislature is dominated by the GOP, with Republicans holding about 80% of all seats in the state House and Senate. 

This means Republicans are in charge, their legislation is prioritized and if/when Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes something they passed, they can easily override him. 

Here’s who is in charge of the House:

• Speaker of the House: Rep. David Osborne
• Speaker Pro Tem: Rep. David Meade
• House Majority Floor Leader: Rep. Steven Rudy
• House Majority Caucus Chair: Rep. Suzanne Miles
• House Majority Whip: Rep. Jason Nemes

 

And in charge of the Senate:

• Senate President: Sen. Robert Stivers
• Senate President Pro Tem: Sen. David Givens
• Senate Majority Floor Leader: Sen. Max Wise
• Senate Majority Caucus Chair: Sen. Robby Mills
• Senate Majority Whip: Sen. Mike Wilson

 

As for the Democratic leadership, in the House:

• House Minority Floor Leader: Rep. Pam Stevenson
• House Minority Caucus Chair: Rep. Al Gentry
• House Minority Whip: Rep. Lindsey Burke

 

And in the Senate:

• Senate Minority Floor Leader: Sen. Gerald Neal
• Senate Minority Caucus Chair: Sen. Reggie Thomas
• Senate Minority Whip: Sen. David Yates

 

Where can I find copies of bills filed in Kentucky?

The Legislative Research Commission — aka the LRC, the nonpartisan squad that works behind the scenes to make Frankfort happen — regularly updates its website with new bills and progress those bills are making through the legislature. 

You can start at this page, then go to the 2025 link (once it is live) and head to the House and Senate new bills tabs to see lists of legislation. I recommend using the links to House and Senate bills with title and prime sponsor — it can be a bit easier to find what you’re looking for with that information instead of just a bill number. 

Bills often change throughout the session, including right at the start of committee meetings when they’re about to get a vote. Each bill’s page on the LRC site will include information on votes, committee substitutes (so, those new drafts I mentioned earlier) and proposed amendments to the bills. 

But often enough, committee subs aren’t published online before getting a vote. This is when following political reporters and other advocates on social media comes in. If there’s a committee sub, especially on something high-profile, they’ll likely be tweeting and posting about the changes as they face the committee. 

 

What do all of these words mean? 

Before we go any further, please know there are a lot of words that Frankfort uses and, like, only Frankfort uses. I’ll do my best here and in all of my coverage to explain things in the most conversational way, but I do slip up. 

If you don’t know what a word means, try looking at this glossary.

 

How do I know when lawmakers meet?

Lawmakers will generally meet Tuesday through Friday during the 2025 session. Typically, they only have committee meetings — where everything gets its first vote — Tuesday through Thursday. 

Here’s this year’s standing committee schedule — but, remember, meetings can pop up whenever. 

 

How can I watch? 

You can watch legislative happenings a few ways:

• Show up in-person and watch from a committee room or the House or Senate gallery.
• Catch the live stream on KET.
• Tune into the LRC’s YouTube channel for live streams of committee meetings.
• Check out different groups’ social media platforms — sometimes, they’ll live stream press conferences or other things that are related to what they’re doing in Frankfort.
• Follow your favorite media outlets and reporters on social media, subscribe to their newsletters and coverage. 

 

How can I contact my lawmaker? 

First, plug in your address here to find out who represents you in Frankfort.

Then, there are a few ways to contact them:

• Email them.
• Call the LRC message line: 1-800-372-7181
• You could try social media. 
• And, of course, you can show up to Frankfort in-person.