The work for the 2025 legislative session is well underway in the state’s capital. January may be months in the future, but insiders know that the fall and early winter are when much of the policy “sausage-making” happens. In the case a law needs clarification or a policy needs overhaul, now is the time for the work to begin.
From June through December, House and Senate committees meet jointly once a month during what’s called the “interim session.” Here, lawmakers develop major policy and discuss anticipated issues for the upcoming session. Everyone from subject matter experts to government officials and major stakeholders are consulted on areas of interest. The conversations and presentations are engaging and constructive as the post-session temperature is cooled and no votes are taken.
Beyond the standard committees that consider bills during the legislative session—Appropriations & Revenue, Health Services, Judiciary, etc.—one can always anticipate what major issues may be addressed by taking a look at the task forces created by legislative leadership at the end of every session.
This year’s interim groups include the Workforce Attraction & Retention Task Force, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, the Kentucky Housing Task Force, and the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force.
Workforce Attraction & Retention Task Force
With co-chairs Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) and Rep. Robert Duvall (R-Bowling Green), the temporary committee has been digging deep into the root causes and difficulty of attracting and retaining skilled workers in Kentucky.
Wise and Duvall are currently examining demographic and economic trends impacting the workforce as well as analyzing top education and workforce development programs. The task force is also studying successful workforce marketing strategies from other states.
By December, members are expected to provide policy recommendations to address workforce challenges and improve economic growth as well as produce a statewide marketing plan for attracting and retaining talent. They continue to consult Kentucky businesses, business owners, and stakeholders critical to economic improvements.
Kentucky Housing Task Force
Dedicated to addressing housing challenges across the state, this task force is led by co-chairs Sen. Robby Mills (R-Henderson) and Rep. Susan Witten (R-Louisville). Membership represents different geographic regions of the state, both rural and urban. House and Senate leaders are examining existing state and local housing policies. This adds up to existing zoning, regulations and procedures that pose both barriers and opportunities for progress.
The Housing Task Force also plans to assess the impact of land use, infrastructure, zoning and community planning on housing development and availability. Upon completion of a thorough national analysis, lawmakers will provide their recommendations to increase housing supply, affordability and accessibility for Kentucky residents.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force
Co-chaired by Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-Lexington) and Rep. Josh Bray (R-Mount Vernon), the group is examining how other states, federal programs and Kentucky businesses are integrating AI systems into their operations, identifying how these systems are developed, used and procured.
At the end of the interim, the committee is expected to produce an inventory of current AI systems employed by Kentucky agencies; consumer protection measures for both the public and private sectors related to AI; and recommendations for optimizing AI use in Kentucky government operations, including procurement policies and legislative initiatives.
Of note is co-chair Bray’s policy work on permitting and regulating autonomous vehicles in Kentucky (HB7)—the bill overcame a gubernatorial veto, including shared Republican and Democrat opposition citing safety and labor concerns.
Efficient & Effective School District Governance Task Force
Jefferson County Public Schools, the largest school district in the state, is vitally important to many legislators, particularly elected Louisvillians. With Sen. Mike Nemes (R-Shepherdsville) and retired educator and school administrator Rep. Kim Banta (R-Fort Mitchell) as leaders, the task force is set to compare JCPS’ governance and operational structures to those of similarly sized districts in other states and evaluate the role, effectiveness and impact of local school boards on student outcomes.
In addition to a comprehensive review of research and reports on school district size, governance, and student achievement, the group will collect input from education experts, parents of JCPS students, and parents who chose not to enroll their children.
Ultimately, the task force will share reviews on experiences of other states with regard to creating new school districts and altering school board composition.
Budget Surplus
Top of mind for legislators is always funding. For the fourth year in a row, Kentucky will have a major surplus in the bank—an extra billion and change. So the question becomes: Will the legislature open the budget again in January? Major one-time investments were made in the 2024 session and 2025 is not technically a budget year as Kentucky creates a two-year spending plan in every even calendar year.
Should that happen, the natural leaders of those discussions are House and Senate Appropriation & Revenue Chairs Rep. Jason Petrie (R-Elkton) and Sen. Christian McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights).
National Conferences
All of these discussions have been happening in the context of major national conferences, including the National Conferences of State Legislature, which took place in Louisville August 5-7 with legislators and subject-matter experts sharing ideas and policy successes and forging relationships.
At NCSL, over 5,400 legislators, staff members and industry leaders gathered, a major achievement bySenate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) and Speaker of House David Osborne (R-Prospect). Gov. Andy Beshear welcomed the convention.
The ideas exchanged, the relationships forged, the policies developed—all can be future winners for Kentucky. But like we always say, everything hinges on how hard we work in the off-season. The time is here.
