First, I wanted to give an update on HB 1, which is the reduction of the individual income tax. Last year, we passed HB 8, which established the framework for the individual income tax to be cut by half a percentage point increments until it is eliminated entirely. This year’s bill codifies the first reduction, to 4.5% on January 1, as well as the next reduction which would lower the income tax to 4% on January 1, 2024. This cut in the tax allows for hard-working Kentuckians to keep more of their money and choose how they want to spend, save, or invest it. The tax cut will help strengthen local economies and benefit communities, as well as make our state more competitive for both jobs and workers. The legislation is now on its way to Governor Beshear’s desk after it passed both the House and Senate chambers. While I am hopeful he will sign it, he vetoed HB 8 so we are prepared to override if necessary.
This week we saw several bills filed, including HB 3, which addresses several issues relating to Kentucky’s juvenile justice system. Key components of this bill include improving parental cooperation, detaining violent juvenile offenders, utilizing treatment programs, disclosing records, and opening a Jefferson County youth detention center. Issues have plagued our juvenile justice system for years, but recently we have seen an uptick in security concerns in centers across the state. HB 3 addresses some of these concerns, especially with the language establishing a youth detention center. The legislature is committed to finding both short- and long-term solutions to the Department for Juvenile Justice, so juveniles, facility workers, and communities can be safer.
Another bill filed this week was HB 180, which would require health benefit plans to cover biomarker and pharmacogenetic screenings for patients with a diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. It would also require Medicaid to comply with the biomarker testing coverage requirements. Biomarker testing is a way for healthcare providers to look at a patient’s genes, proteins, and other substances that can provide information about their illness. By adding this layer of coverage, patients would have the opportunity to receive the right treatment at the right time with minimal expense, granting a statistical advantage to a better clinical outcome.
We also saw HB 200 filed this week, a bill I cosponsored, which is aimed at building the state’s healthcare workforce through public and private partnerships. Hospitals across the commonwealth are suffering with a severe workforce shortage, which affects patient outcomes and the overall health of our state. The bill would establish a program to help fill those vacancies by targeting education and workforce training. The Kentucky Healthcare Workforce Fund will be administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education. The fund would provide a dollar-for-dollar match with healthcare partners for healthcare training scholarships for Kentucky residents and for healthcare program incentives to reward excellence among healthcare educational and training programs.
Another bill I cosponsored, HB 141, would establish the Urgent-Need Insulin Program and the Continuing Access to Insulin Program. With current insulin prices so high, those who need it sometimes must choose between their life-saving medication and groceries for the week. It is crucial we help those who need this medication which is what this legislation seeks to do. The Urgent-Need Insulin Program helps ensure affordable access to insulin-eligible individuals who are in urgent need of insulin. The Continuing Access to Insulin Program ensures affordable access to insulin to eligible individuals who have an ongoing need for access. These programs would be administered by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy.
As always, I hope you will feel free to contact me with any questions or issues. I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. Please feel free to email me at Amy.Neighbors@lrc.ky.gov. If you would like more information about the legislature, you can visit the Legislative Research Commission website at legislature.ky.gov.
Benjamin D. Neal