Kentucky Congressional Bills

in committee · Kentucky · Senate May 11, 2023

S 1569: Back the Blue Act of 2023

This bill, the "Back the Blue Act of 2023," strengthens federal protections for law enforcement officers by creating new criminal penalties for killing or assaulting them while on duty. It makes it a federal crime to kill or attempt to kill law enforcement officers, federal judges, or federally funded public safety officers (including firefighters and first responders) during official duties, with penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison or death if the victim dies. The bill also establishes a new federal offense for fleeing interstate to avoid prosecution for killing law enforcement officers and adds a new aggravating factor for death penalty cases involving officers. Additionally, it expands law enforcement officers' rights to carry firearms in certain circumstances and limits federal habeas corpus relief for murder convictions involving law enforcement officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

John Cornyn (R) · 41 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · Senate May 11, 2023

S 1323: SAFE Banking Act of 2023

The SAFE Banking Act of 2023 creates a legal safe harbor for financial institutions that provide services to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses and hemp-related legitimate businesses. It prevents federal banking regulators from taking adverse actions against depository institutions for serving these businesses solely because they operate within state-legal marijuana frameworks. The bill also ensures income from legal marijuana businesses can be considered for qualifying for federally backed mortgage loans and requires updated guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. These provisions aim to address longstanding banking access barriers for businesses operating within state-legal marijuana and hemp industries.

Jeff Merkley (D) · 42 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House May 11, 2023

HR 3264: RAISE Act of 2023

The RAISE Act of 2023 creates a new refundable tax credit for teachers and early childhood educators working in schools with high student poverty rates. The credit starts at $1,000, with additional amounts up to $14,000 (or $9,000 for early childhood educators without bachelor's degrees) based on the school's poverty ratio. The bill also increases the educator expense deduction from $250 to $500 and establishes mandatory funding for local schools that maintain or increase teacher salaries. These provisions directly affect K-12 teachers, early childhood educators, and their schools, with specific eligibility requirements and protections against employer retaliation regarding the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Adam B. Schiff (D) · 33 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House May 11, 2023

HR 3238: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023

HR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Darin LaHood (R) · 273 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House May 11, 2023

HR 3185: DCA Act of 2023

Direct Capital Access Act of 2023 or the DCA Act of 2023 This bill increases the number of daily round-trip flights allowed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Specifically, this bill adds 56 new slots at DCA to allow for 28 additional daily round-trip flights. (Airlines flying to and from DCA are subject to slot and perimeter rules set by federal law and regulation. The slot rules determine the total number of flight slots that can be handled in a given time period. In addition, a statutory perimeter rule limits nonstop flights to a 1,250-mile radius unless they are granted an exemption in law.) Current law limits DCA to a maximum of 67 hourly slots for flights both within- and beyond-perimeter; a round-trip flight serving DCA requires two slots (or a slot pair). Of those slots, 40 daily slots are exempt from the perimeter rule. Under the bill's slot increase, operations at DCA may not increase by more than eight flights per hour.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Kentucky · House May 11, 2023

HR 1163: Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act

The Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act allows states to retain 25% of funds recovered from fraudulent unemployment claims (for pandemic-related benefits) to improve fraud prevention systems. States can use these retained funds to modernize unemployment systems, hire fraud investigators, reimburse administrative costs, or conduct other fraud prevention activities. The bill requires states to use specific data matching systems like the National Directory of New Hires to detect fraud more effectively. It modifies federal rules to ensure states can use recovered funds without violating deposit requirements. This legislation aims to reduce unemployment fraud while protecting taxpayers and victims of fraud.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

Jason Smith (R) · 35 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House May 11, 2023

HR 801: Securing the Border for Public Health Act of 2023

HR 801, the Securing the Border for Public Health Act of 2023, gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to temporarily ban people and goods from specific countries. This can be done if the Secretary determines a serious risk of introducing communicable diseases or certain controlled substances (like fentanyl, narcotics, or opiates) into the U.S. The ban would apply to persons and property from designated countries for a time deemed necessary to protect public health. It directly affects travelers and importers from countries identified under this provision.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✗ Immigration

in committee · Kentucky · Senate May 10, 2023

S 1511: Campus Free Speech Restoration Act

The Campus Free Speech Restoration Act (S 1511) strengthens student free speech protections at colleges and universities receiving federal funding. It defines "expressive activity" broadly to include peaceful assembly, protests, distributing literature, and other First Amendment-protected speech, while prohibiting schools from restricting such activities through overly broad speech codes or "free speech zones." The bill requires institutions to clearly disclose their speech policies online and in student handbooks, establishes a complaint process for students who believe their rights were violated, and allows for loss of federal funding if institutions don't comply with the new standards. It applies to public institutions and private institutions receiving federal funds, with exemptions for religiously controlled schools.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Kentucky · Senate May 10, 2023

S 1512: DIRECT Act of 2023

This bill amends federal meat and poultry inspection laws to allow businesses to sell State-inspected meat and poultry products online. It permits retail stores, restaurants, and similar establishments to ship these products directly to household consumers via mail or carrier, in normal retail quantities, within the U.S. (excluding exports). The change specifically applies to products inspected under state programs, not federal inspection, and affects small businesses that previously could not legally sell such products online. The law does not change inspection standards but removes a barrier to direct-to-consumer e-commerce for these products.

in committee · Kentucky · House May 10, 2023

HR 3199: Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act adjusts pay for Bureau of Prisons employees currently assigned to the "Rest of U.S." pay locality. It directs that if an employee's worksite is within 200 miles of another pay locality, they will be paid according to the nearest locality with the highest pay rate - replacing the lower "Rest of U.S." rate. This applies to correctional officers and other Bureau of Prisons staff, but excludes employees whose worksite is more than 200 miles from any other locality. The change takes effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Kentucky · House May 10, 2023

HR 3179: Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2023

HR 3179, the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2023, provides federal grants to colleges offering construction and manufacturing apprenticeship programs. It funds two key initiatives: (1) Community Outreach Grants to help colleges recruit students and partner with employers, especially in rural areas and for underrepresented groups like first-generation, minority, and nontraditional students; and (2) Student Support Grants to improve retention through services like career advising, mental health resources, and childcare. The bill allocates $5 million annually (2024-2028) for these programs, with each college receiving up to $500,000 per grant. It directly affects apprenticeship colleges, their students, and local employers by expanding access to skilled trades careers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Angie Craig (D) · 32 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House May 10, 2023

HR 3170: HELPER Act of 2023

The HELPER Act of 2023 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and K-12 teachers. It allows eligible first-time homebuyers in these professions to secure mortgages with 100% financing (no down payment required) for purchasing or repairing a primary residence. To qualify, applicants must be employed as law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, or K-12 teachers, have completed housing counseling, and meet specific employment history requirements (e.g., 4 years in the role or disability-related release). The program authorizes $660,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $160,000 annually through 2030, with authority expiring after 5 years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Housing

Kentucky Congressional Bills

Bill results