2021 session of the Kentucky General Assembly Legislative body Kentucky General Assembly Jurisdiction Kentucky Members 38 President Robert Stivers (R –25th) Jan. 8, 2013 - presentMajority leader Damon Thayer (R –17th) Jan. 8, 2013 - presentMinority Leader Morgan McGarvey (D –19th) Jan. 8, 2019 - Jan. 2, 2023Party control Republican Members 100 Speaker David Osborne (R –59th) Jan. 8, 2019 - presentMinority Leader Joni Jenkins (D –44th) Jan. 7, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2023Party control Republican Regular January 2, 2021 (2021-01-02 ) – March 30, 2021 (2021-03-30 ) Extra. September 7, 2021 (2021-09-07 ) – September 9, 2021 (2021-09-09 )
The 2021 Kentucky General Assembly was a meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly , composed of the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives . It convened in Frankfort on January 2, 2021, and adjourned sine die on March 30, 2021. It was the second regular session of the legislature during the tenure of governor Andy Beshear . The legislature convened again in September 2021 for an extraordinary session.
Republicans maintained their majorities in both chambers following the 2020 elections for the senate and the house .
Party summary
Senate
Overview of Senate membership by party
Party(shading shows control)
Total
Vacant
Democratic
Republican
End of previous session
9
29
38
0
Begin (January 2, 2021)
8
30
38
0
Final voting share
21.1%
78.9%
Extra. session
8
29
37
1
Beginning of the next session
8
30
38
0
House of Representatives
Overview of House membership by party
Party(shading shows control)
Total
Vacant
Democratic
Republican
End of previous session
38
62
100
0
Begin (January 2, 2021)
25
75
100
0
Final voting share
25.0%
75.0%
Extra. session
25
73
98
2
Beginning of the next session
24
75
99
1
Leadership
Senate
Presiding
Majority (Republican)
Minority (Democratic)
House of Representatives
Presiding
Majority (Republican)
Minority (Democratic)
The legislature was convened by governor Andy Beshear from September 7 to 9 following a ruling of the Kentucky Supreme Court that his state of emergency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic required the approval of the legislature. The General Assembly approved the state of emergency, but banned Beshear from instituting mask mandates .[ 1]
Members
Senate
Senators in odd-numbered districts were elected in 2020 , while senators in even-numbered districts were elected in 2018 .
House of Representatives
All 100 house districts were last up for election in 2020 .
Changes in membership
Senate changes
Senate changes
State (class)
Vacated by
Reason for change
Successor
Date of successor's formal installation[ a]
22
Tom Buford (R)
Incumbent died July 6, 2021. A special election was held November 2, 2021.
Vacant until the next session
House of Representatives changes
House changes
District
Vacated by
Reason for change
Successor
Date of successor's formal installation[ a]
51
John Carney (R)
Incumbent died July 17, 2021. A special election was held November 2, 2021.
Vacant until the next session
89
Robert Goforth (R)
Incumbent resigned August 24, 2021. A special election was held November 2, 2021.
Vacant until the next session
Committees
Senate committees
House of Representatives committees
See also
Notes
^ a b When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.
References
^ "Beshear rebukes Kentucky legislature for preventing him from issuing a mask mandate". The Lexington Herald-Leader . September 10, 2021.