Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer was presented with his ninth Kentucky Chamber MVP Award on August 12 by Kentucky Chamber Public Affairs Director John Cox at a Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Sen. Thayer was among a select group of legislators who “went to bat” for Kentucky business during the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly by displaying conspicuous actions to strengthen business, improve competitiveness, and ensure growth. Sen. Thayer has served in the Kentucky General Assembly as a since 2003, and in the role of Majority Floor Leader since 2013. He announced in December 2023 that he would not seek another term, making the 2024 legislative session his last.
“We thank Sen. Thayer for his dedication to Kentucky’s business community throughout his career in the Senate,” said Ashli Watts, Kentucky Chamber President and CEO. “His leadership in passing pro-growth legislation has been instrumental in positioning the Commonwealth for economic success. His efforts have consistently aimed at enhancing our competitiveness, bolstering our signature industries, and creating a business environment that benefits all Kentuckians.”
Recipients of the Kentucky Chamber MVP Award show strong leadership for the business community by sponsoring or carrying Chamber priority legislation to final passage, showing leadership on passage of critical legislation to improve Kentucky, or by taking hard votes in defense of business.
During the 2024 session, Sen. Thayer was the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 299, the reorganization of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in addition to his leadership role managing the flow of legislation in the Senate and supporting key Chamber initiatives. His nine Chamber MVP Awards mark the most of any legislator to date.
The 2024 General Assembly advanced many top priorities of the Kentucky business community, and the pro-growth policies that passed saved Kentucky businesses an estimated $1.006 billion, or $589 for each employer in the Commonwealth.
While monitoring the progress of bills that create a better business climate and advance the Commonwealth, the Chamber tracks how each legislator votes on these bills. The Chamber’s MVP Award recipients displayed more than just a business-friendly voting record, but also went out of their way, and at times across party lines, to support or oppose an issue critical to the business climate in Kentucky.
Learn more about business issues during the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly in the Kentucky Chamber’s “Results for Business” publication.