Legislative Update: tech incentive bill passes House, malpractice legislation moves through committee

Medical malpractice fix legislation passes committee

Senate Bill 31, legislation to allow doctors to express sympathy without it being used against them in a malpractice suit, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday with favorable expression.

Bill sponsor Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a doctor from Winchester, explained that a doctor saying “I’m sorry” to a grieving family or loved one can currently be used as an expression of guilt in a malpractice suit, something he feels needs to be corrected.

Alvarado said this is a policy to try to encourage communication and a measure that has been passed by 37 other states.

Senate Bill 31 now heads to the full Senate.

Bill to incentivize tech investments passes House

Legislation to add data centers to the definition of manufacturing in order to attract tech investments passed the House on consent Wednesday.

House Bill 237 would add tier 3 and tier 4 tech centers, which encompasses large tech companies like Google and Amazon, to the definition of manufacturing which will help Kentucky attract these type of tech investments, bill sponsor Rep. Jim DeCesare said in committee last week.

DeCesare added that the bill will help the Commonwealth compete with states like Tennessee with the state’s low cost energy and other assets along with the incentives offered with the new designation.

House Bill 237 now heads to the Senate to be heard in committee.