Good morning from Frankfort! It is Day 26 of #KYGA23 and what a day it will be!
Starting my day in the House Education Committee where lawmakers will vote on a sudden bill to audit @JCPSKY.
ICYMI:
courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
Starting my day in the House Education Committee where lawmakers will vote on a sudden bill to audit @JCPSKY.
ICYMI:
courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
The crowd for JCPS is hoppin’. Three of the roughly 11 folks here are with JCPS. 
SB 156 is up now.
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, a JCPS teacher, says she was really excited about the bill initially because it dealt with reading - but now she isn't thrilled.
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, a JCPS teacher, says she was really excited about the bill initially because it dealt with reading - but now she isn't thrilled.
She is currently running through a list of audits JCPS has gone through in recent years, starting with former Auditor Adam Edelen's 2014 review to KDE's takeover-sparking audit to a series of more targeted third-party reviews.
Sen. Stephen West says this isn't supposed to be "a negative in any way."
Large organizations should go through regular audits, and the state is responsible for oversight.
Large organizations should go through regular audits, and the state is responsible for oversight.
Rep. Lisa Willner, who was on the JCPS board during the takeover attempt, says she is taken aback by this.
She challenges West's assertion that KDE is a lil too close to JCPS to review it, reminding him KDE wanted to remove the JCPS board at the time.
She challenges West's assertion that KDE is a lil too close to JCPS to review it, reminding him KDE wanted to remove the JCPS board at the time.
Willner doesn't like the call to consider splitting the district and tried to call a committee amendment to remove it from the bill. Chair James Tipton refuses because she should have filed it yesterday even though she didn't know the sub had been filed.
Former superintendent Rep. Scott Lewis is lowkey roasting West.
We're going to have them pay for another audit to tell us what we already know, he says.
We're going to have them pay for another audit to tell us what we already know, he says.
Rep. Josie Raymond asks who asked for this.
West is like some folks in the House and Senate, ?
West is like some folks in the House and Senate, ?
JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio is at the mic.
Pollio said he found out about this bill around 9 p.m. last night.
It was an "absolute punch to the gut."
It was an "absolute punch to the gut."
Pollio is poppin' off
Bring on the audit, if that's what it takes, Pollio says. I've been through several audits here.
But not one with a predetermined outcome like splitting the district up.
But not one with a predetermined outcome like splitting the district up.
OMG
The House Education Committee just REFUSED to approve the committee sub on SB 156.
The JCPS audit language FAILS.
The House Education Committee just REFUSED to approve the committee sub on SB 156.
The JCPS audit language FAILS.
I am now in the Senate Families and Children Committee meeting on HB 470.
Background on the cmte sub
Background on the cmte sub
https://twitter.com/oliviakrauth/status/1635480242788638720
Former GOP Rep. Jerry Miller is testifying against HB 470 - his grandchild is trans.
I still screw up the pronoun thing, but I'm going to fight for my grandchild, he says.
I still screw up the pronoun thing, but I'm going to fight for my grandchild, he says.
Wasn't expecting that from him
We've heard from many of the folks who testified against HB 470 when it was in the House, including doctors and psychologists.
Sen. Karen Berg speaking now
Wow - she gets 2 minutes. She gets cut off. She asks if she could finish her sentence. Chair says no.
Bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Decker has 25 minutes for bill supporters.
It is some of the same folks of questionable standing she had in the last committee meeting, including the guy from the SPLC-identified hate group.
It is some of the same folks of questionable standing she had in the last committee meeting, including the guy from the SPLC-identified hate group.
Someone in the crowd shouted out that his group was an advocacy group and got a warning from the cmte chair
Jeanette Cooper from Partners for Ethical Care, a "nonpartisan" group that aims to "stop the unethical treatment of children under the duplicitous banner of gender identity affirmation," is speaking.
Cooper says she doesn't shave or wear makeup. I guess that makes me a man in some eyes, she says.
She got some laughs on that one. I'm not sure it was a joke.
She got some laughs on that one. I'm not sure it was a joke.
Chair Danny Carroll paused the meeting to ask a state trooper to remove someone from the crowd. Carroll got the wrong person and then the crowd refused to snitch.
No removals but tense for a second.
No removals but tense for a second.
In closing, Decker encourages the committee to consider the stories of those who have been through this and have "escaped" it.
Decker is now focusing on the million (maybe she said billion) dollar industry around providing gender affirming medical care
Carroll says they're *not* allowing senators to explain their votes due to timing.
We're pausing for some senators to come back from other committees.
Berg was speaking with Carroll and he started saying "this conversation is over" and telling her to go away
Berg was speaking with Carroll and he started saying "this conversation is over" and telling her to go away
OK now they WILL be allowed to explain.
Girdler a yes.
Harper Angel a no.
Girdler a yes.
Harper Angel a no.
Stephen Meredith, a R, is a no.
(Girdler is a R, Harper Angel is D)
(Girdler is a R, Harper Angel is D)
Tichenor, R, is a yes
Westerfield, R, is a yes
He doesn't like how far the bill goes. He plans on making changes on the floor tho - he will vote no if it comes to the floor today
He doesn't like how far the bill goes. He plans on making changes on the floor tho - he will vote no if it comes to the floor today
Julie Raque Adams, R - I've been pretty clear I don't like this bill
She said Carroll promised changes before a floor vote, so she is a yes
She said Carroll promised changes before a floor vote, so she is a yes
Wise is a yes
Carroll is a yes
Webb is a no
Carroll is a yes
Webb is a no
🚨 An altered House Bill 470 passes out of committee 6-3. It could pass out of the Senate this afternoon, but I'd be surprised if the proposed changes come that quickly.
Aight I am in the House today while @joesonka monitors the Senate. Follow along
Senate Bill 5, the parent complaint bill, just got a second reading in the House. Could get a full vote tomorrow.
House Bill 360 is up for concurrence. The House does NOT agree with the Senate's changes to HB 360, so this will head to a conference committee.
And the House also does NOT like the Senate's changes to House Bill 448. Also to conference committee! Yeehaw
SB 62 passes and we're moving through the orders of the day.
SB 107 is up. This used to deal with the Ky Board of Ed but now its main component is requiring the education commissioner be confirmed by the Senate every four years.
Rep. David Meade is now discussing Education Commissioner Jason Glass, mistakes optional KDE guidance on trans kids as "curriculum."
Again: optional guidance.
Again: optional guidance.
Meade says Glass is the one making education politicized and Beshear just watches.
Glass and many teachers I'm sure would love a word rn
Glass and many teachers I'm sure would love a word rn
SB 107, Meade says, is a way to give parents more say over their kids' education.
I fail to see how making a state education official subject to confirmation by a state entity bolsters parents voice. feels like there might be a more direct way idk
I fail to see how making a state education official subject to confirmation by a state entity bolsters parents voice. feels like there might be a more direct way idk
After a bit of ranting about Jason Glass, SB 107 passes party-line - 80-20.
SB 48 - the CHFS reorg bill - is up now.
House is DONE with the orders of the day.
Rep. Savannah Maddox just withdrew two amendments to HB 542, her workforce dev turned guns on college campuses bill.
The committee sub making that major change still remains on the House orders of the day.
HFA 1 and 2 got pulled.
apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/hb…
The committee sub making that major change still remains on the House orders of the day.
HFA 1 and 2 got pulled.
apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/hb…
SB 5 - the parent complaint bill - is on tomorrow's orders of the day for the House.
Oh - Rep. Josh Calloway just filed a floor amendment to SB 5 👀
And a floor amendment to SB 150, too.
I wonder what it could be.
I wonder what it could be.
House adjourns.
So the Senate, which may or may not take up HB 470 tonight, has been caucusing for about three hours now.
I have been on the clock for 13 hours.
I have been on the clock for 13 hours.
Senate is returning slowly
NO FURTHER BUSINESS IN THE SENATE TONIGHT
That means NO vote on HB 470 in the Kentucky Senate tonight. #KYGA23
courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
OK Senate is recessing to wait for a floor amendment to get here and that's it.
Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Senate President Robert Stivers says to expect some sort of action on HB 470 tomorrow.
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