House passes reentry reform and nuclear energy bills

Reentry Reform Legislation

Bipartisan legislation seeking to cut down on recidivism and allow people an easier transition back into the community after serving a prison term passed out of the House on Wednesday with a 85-9 vote.

Senate Bill 120, filed and introduced by Sen. Whitney Westerfield, would help address Kentucky’s workforce shortage by providing work opportunities for individuals who are held back by a past criminal record. The bill went back to the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning to make small changes before heading to the floor. Read more about the bill here.

The Chamber has been a strong supporter of Senate Bill 120 as Chamber President and CEO Dave Adkisson serves on the Governor’s Criminal Justice Policy Assessment Council, which is the group that formulated the concepts for the legislation.

Senate Bill 120 now heads back to the Senate for concurrence before heading to the governor.
Nuclear Power Plants

The House voted Wednesday to lift Kentucky’s ban on nuclear power plant construction by passing Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Sen. Danny Carroll, with a 65-28 vote.

Not only does SB 11 lift the nuclear moratorium, but ensures that nuclear power facilities have a plan for the storage of nuclear waste. Kentucky is currently one of only eleven states that has a ban on nuclear power.

The Kentucky Chamber supports lifting the ban which would allow electricity providers to consider nuclear power when planning to meet future demand for electricity. SB 11 now heads to the governor’s desk for signature.