20th of February 2025 - Ian VanSteenbergh

SERIOUSLY, WHAT’S GOING ON IN FRANKFORT?

The Kentucky Legislative Session just gaveled in for 2025, again. Like I've said before, it's important to watch what's going on in Frankfort. Not only because I want to see what our Elected Officials are up to, but also because there is so much going on that can affect our lives and town. For a short session, there are a ton of bills to watch and sift through. Here's an update on bills that I've talked about and a few new bills I'm watching. 

Short-Term Rentals, Fairness Ordinances, and Limiting City Governments

Just like the title says, there's a lot going on in Frankfort this session. There's a lot to comment on, but as a Councilmember, here's what I'm keeping my eyes on:

House Bill 16: Water Fluoridation

This bill would allow local governments and the governing bodies of water treatment plants to make Fluoride optional in their water systems. This would mean that the City of Midway has to decide if we want to keep Fluoride in the water or remove it. Passed in House. Now onto Senate.

House Bill 64: Overturning Governor Beshear's Conversion Therapy Ban

Let's be honest, Conversion Therapy has no place here in Midway or Kentucky. It's why I have long supported Governor Beshear's Executive Order banning the harmful practice, that is proven to not work and only cause further harm. I find it disheartening that legislators would seek to overturn the Governor's Executive Order, making conversion therapy legal again. Hate has no home here. In House Committee. 

House Bill 143: Legal Liability on Local Governments

If I'm entirely honest, this bill is extremely vague and broad. It considers that if there are any damages, especially in a "riot", that the city takes all legal responsibility. The bill explains that if a government "could have prevented the damage" it is liable for any injuries or damage. This is increasingly vague and I think we can all agree that the statement could be applied very differently, considering who considers what could have been prevented. In House Committee.

Senate Bill 60/House Bill 177: Anti-Fairness Law

Midway was the 8th city in Kentucky to pass a Fairness Ordinance, ensuring that no one shall be discriminated against. Seems like a good idea, right? Unfortunately, lawmakers in Frankfort would like to take that away from us. They would rather tell us how to run our cities. It's been almost 10 years since we passed the Fairness Ordinance, why are lawmakers pushing to get rid of it? This would also ensure that individuals, interest groups, and national organizations could sue the City because of our Fairness Ordinance. I find this concerning and dangerous. I'll be emailing legislators in Frankfort and I hope you join me, sending a message that what we do in our city should be our decision, not the state's! If you want a more in-depth breakdown, read more here.  Senate Bill 60 Passed Senate. Now in House. 

House Bill 495: Pro-Conversion Therapy

This bill encourages licensed mental healthcare professionals in Kentucky to subject patients under the age of 18 to dangerous “conversion therapy” (and not to mention, is medical malpractice). “Conversion therapy” attempts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity through methods that may include aversion therapy, shaming, hypnosis, talk therapy, or other harmful techniques. This has been condemned by almost every major medical and counseling organization in the country, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and more. The American Medical Association, for instance, refers to conversion therapy as “clinically and ethically inappropriate,” and the National Association of Social Workers affirms that conversion therapy “can negatively affect one’s mental health and cannot and will not change sexual orientation or gender identity.” This has no place in Midway, let alone Kentucky. Passed First Reading in House Committee. Moves Onto Second Reading then Floor Vote. 

House Bill 253: Centralizing Occupational Taxes

Recently, Midway passed a resoution opposing this bill. This would remove local government's authority to collect occupation taxes and instead transfer those powers to the State Treasuer's office. This takes away power and control from each individual city's government to levy and collect taxes. In House Committee.

House Bill 169: Partisan School Board Elections

This one is pretty straightfoward. Instead of having nonpartisan school board seats, like we currently have, each candidate would have to list their political party registration. I flagged this one because I personally prefer our nonpartisan races, such as School Board and City Council, because instead of running on party platforms and arguing about politics, we actually get things done (and not to mention that partisan politics RARELY comes up at any of these governing bodies!). In House Committee.

Senate Bill 110: Banning Local Government Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals

If there is one thing I heard on the campaign trail the most, it was about Short-Term Rentals (STRs), better known as Airbnbs. It's something all of my consitutents want us to control, not the Kentucky Legislature. However, this bill would not allow us to regulate any short-term rentals, something that comes down to basic Planning & Zoning, which every county and city controls. Once again, Frankfort should not be telling us how to run our own cities, especially from Elected Officials who have never been in our town. In Senate Committee.

House Bill 693: Business Owner Representation in Voting

Here's how the bill reads: "Amend KRS 116.035 to provide that a voter shall be deemed a resident of a city within the county of his or her habitation if the voter has at least a 50 percent ownership in a property located within the city precinct." What does that mean? I don't really know. From what I've read, it sounds like a business owner (or someone who owns a building outside of their primary address) can vote in a different jurisdication than that of their primary residence. This leaves me with more questions than answers, especially, do these people vote based on their business or primary address or both? How would that work? It is definitely one I'm keeping my eye on to not only learn more, but how it might affect Midway. In House Committee.