Tagged: 2013 General Assembly

Even though they managed to pass pension and tax reforms in this year's regular legislative session, Kentucky lawmakers haven't necessarily dodged a special session.

A few big issues remain for lawmakers, mainly the redrawing of legislative districts and further tax reform.

Governor Steve Beshear has continued to discuss the need for more tax reform, largely to pay for education. And he says he's not ruling out calling a special session sometime this year.

"I'm going to have continuing conversations through the summer with House and Senate leadership on that too. We're just taking it one step at a time and see where we go,” the Governor said.

Beshear is also considering whether redistricting should be tackled in a special session. Legally, lawmakers have until next year, but Beshear says he wants candidates to know their districts well before campaigning begins.

With action by the governor on every bill passed in the 2013 session, some of the more interesting new laws are starting to stick out.

There are always a few bills that get lobbyists and lawmakers rolling their eyes, and this year is no different.

For example: did you know a bill was signed into law describing Ale-8-One as "an original" Kentucky soft drink? We also now have a law honoring Winchester as the birthplace of beer cheese.

Another law re-classifies a handful of Kentucky cities as larger than they really are.

Thanks to Kentucky lawmakers, someone in a family trust or small business can now bid for items at an auction outside of those entities.

And lastly, there's a law that lets people hunt coyotes anytime, any place, with shotguns. Kentuckians can now rest assured that they can legally bag as many of animals as they want.