Kentucky bill to cut state worker protections heads to governor

Kentucky bill to cut state worker protections heads to governor

(Sylvia Goodman / KPR )A sweeping measure to strip state worker protections to the federal minimum is headed to the governor's desk for a signature.House Bill 398 would rollback or shift a number of protections currently in place for Kentucky workers — Gov. Andy Beshear said it would void at least 16 Kentucky-specific regulations. For example, it would strip the state’s requirement for worker fall protections at heights 10 feet and up. Federal s…

Kentucky Senate sends bill weakening miner safety protection to governor’s desk

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, urged lawmakers to loosen a mine safety law "to aid and assist the small coal mines without putting people at risk." (LRC Public Information) The GOP-controlled Kentucky Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to give final passage to a bill weakening a safety protection for coal miners put in place after the death of a Harlan County miner. House Bill 196, sponsored by Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyers…

Senate Passes Measure Aligning State Health and Safety Regulations with OSHA - The Bottom Line

In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, a measure that aligns the state’s occupation and safety regulations with federal standards passed the Kentucky Senate 28-9 Thursday. House Bill 398, sponsored by Rep. Walker Thomas, now goes to the House for concurrence. Passing the House on February 26, the bill maintains workplace health and safety measures while increasing the Commonwealth’s competitiveness by aligning Kentucky’s occupational…