Gov. Andy Beshear signed eight bills on Tuesday, including measures that create tougher penalties for child predators, ban the solitary confinement of pregnant inmates, and ease pension payments for quasi-state agencies like rape crisis centers and health departments.
Beshear also vetoed five bills, including one that would restrict out-of-state open records requests and another taking food assistance away from noncustodial parents who are behind on child support.
Beshear said the bills he rejected aren鈥檛 in the 鈥減ublic鈥檚 interest or would violate the Constitution.鈥�
Legislators are currently on a 10-day break during the legislative session while Beshear considers vetoing or signing bills that have passed so far this year.
Republicans control at least 75% of seats in both legislative chambers and can easily override Beshear鈥檚 vetoes during the final two days of the session on March 29 and 30
On Monday,that would curtail his powers, including one that wouldto fill U.S. Senate vacancies.
Republican House Speaker David Osborne said that Beshear 鈥渉as no intention of working with anyone who may differ in opinion.鈥�
鈥淚t is clear he plans to continue dictating inconsistent and arbitrary policies from behind a desk in the Capitol. The executive branch is just one of our state鈥檚 three branches of government, and each possesses a specific responsibility and corresponding authority,鈥� Osborne wrote in a statement.
Earlier this year,that would strip his emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic. Thethose vetoes, but aof the measures while a lawsuit against them proceeds.
Here are the bills Beshear signed on Tuesday:
, strengthening background checks of workers at youth camps.
, boosting penalties for online child predators.
, lengthening the statute of limitations for sexual abuse offenses against children from five to 10 years
, creating a panel that would establish 鈥渞ecovery ready鈥� standards for Kentucky communities to boost their drug abuse prevention and treatment efforts.
, exempting photos and videos of death, rape or abuse from Kentucky鈥檚 Open Records Act.
, banning solitary confinement for pregnant inmates in Kentucky prisons.
Here are the bills Beshear vetoed on Tuesday:
, blocking Kentucky鈥檚 Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission from having safety regulations that are more strict than federal regulations.
, taking food assistance away from noncustodial parents if they fall behind on child support. Beshear called it a 鈥渃ruel bill鈥� that takes food benefits away from children.
, restricting out-of-state records requests and allowing the legislature to have final authority on whether to release its own records.
, allowing water districts to charge 10% late fees despite the state鈥檚 moratorium on late fees during the pandemic.
, creating procedures to establish responsibility for abandoned and blighted properties.
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