Following the Kentucky General Assembly: With Apologies to Niccolo Machiavelli and the ABC Children's Programming Division

Abstract:     
No lawyer's knowledge of Kentucky law is safe while the state legislature is in session. Everything from the rules for the taxation of small businesses to the procedures of juvenile courts is subject to change in this period and it is often important to monitor these developments on behalf of current and future clients. To do so, it is necessary to understand something of Kentucky legislative procedure. This article looks at the Kentucky legislative process, noting the myriad limits on lawmaking imposed by the state constitution. These include rules restricting the length of sessions, mandates setting super-majorities for bills raising or spending state funds, and the requirement that all provisions of a bill be on the same topic. Tools for tracking legislation are also discussed.

Keywords: Kentucky legislative process

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