2021 Kentucky General Assembly

2021 session of the
Kentucky General Assembly
2020 2022
The exterior of the Kentucky State Capitol building.
Overview
Legislative bodyKentucky General Assembly
JurisdictionKentucky
Senate
Members38
PresidentRobert Stivers (R–25th)
Jan. 8, 2013 - present
Majority leaderDamon Thayer (R–17th)
Jan. 8, 2013 - present
Minority LeaderMorgan McGarvey (D–19th)
Jan. 8, 2019 - Jan. 2, 2023
Party controlRepublican
House of Representatives
Members100
SpeakerDavid Osborne (R–59th)
Jan. 8, 2019 - present
Minority LeaderJoni Jenkins (D–44th)
Jan. 7, 2020 - Jan. 1, 2023
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
RegularJanuary 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)

Extraordinary session

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

Committee Chair Vice Chair
Agriculture Paul Hornback Matt Castlen
Appropriations and Revenue Christian McDaniel none
Banking and Insurance Jared Carpenter Rick Girdler
Committee on Committees Robert Stivers none
Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Wil Schroder Phillip Wheeler
Education Max Wise Steve West
Enrollment Brandon J. Storm none
Health and Services Ralph Alvarado Stephen Meredith
Judiciary Whitney Westerfield Danny Carroll
Licensing and Occupations John Schickel Jason Howell
Natural Resources and Energy Brandon Smith Johnnie Turner
Rules Robert Stivers none
State and Local Government Robby Mills Mike Nemes
Transportation Jimmy Higdon Brandon J. Storm
Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection C. B. Embry Stephen Meredith

House of Representatives committees

Committee Chair Vice Chair(s)
Agriculture Richard Heath Mark Hart
Appropriations and Revenue Jason Petrie Brandon Reed
Banking and Insurance Bart Rowland Derek Lewis
Committee on Committees David Osborne David Meade
Economic Development and Workforce Investment Russell Webber Daniel Elliott
Education Regina Bunch John Carney and Steve Riley
Elections, Const. Amendments, and Intergovermental Affairs Kevin Bratcher Scott Lewis
Enrollment David Hale none
Health Services Kimberly Poore Moser Melinda Gibbons Prunty
Judiciary C. Ed Massey Kim Banta
Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Adam Koenig Matthew Koch
Local Government Michael Meredith Deanna Frazier
Natural Resources and Energy Jim Gooch Richard White
Rules David Osborne David Meade
Small Business and Information Technology Phillip Pratt Chris Freeland
State Government Jerry T. Miller Adam Bowling and Kevin Bratcher
Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Kim King Chris Fugate
Transportation Ken Upchurch Randy Bridges
Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Walker Thomas Bobby McCool

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.

References

  • "Kentucky General Assembly 2021 Directory" (PDF). Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  1. ^ "Beshear rebukes Kentucky legislature for preventing him from issuing a mask mandate". The Lexington Herald-Leader. September 10, 2021.