Ruby-red Kentucky begins new legislative session

• Kentucky lawmakers returned to Frankfort on Tuesday for a 60-day session.
• The session is expected to be dominated by negotiations over the Bluegrass state's next two-year budget and conflicts with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's policies.
• Mr. Beshear unveiled his own budget blueprint last month that includes universal kindergarten and an 11% pay increase for public school teachers.

Kentucky lawmakers returned to work Tuesday for a 60-day session dominated by negotiations over the next state budget, with both chambers closed despite voters reelecting Democrats and extending an era of divided government. A Republican supermajority will once again shape policy in the Bluegrass state. Governor Andy Beshear.

The House and Senate gaveled at noon to begin deliberations on the bill, which is expected to last until mid-April. Efforts to develop the state's comprehensive policy document, the next two-year budget, likely won't be completed until later in the session.

Mr. Beshear laid out his budget blueprint in a televised speech last month, calling for massive funding increases for public education on top of a proposed 11% pay increase for teachers and all other public school employees. The governor is also reviving efforts to provide state-funded preschool to all 4-year-olds in Kentucky. Republican lawmakers have their own agenda on education policy.

Kentucky Gov. Beshear pushes for teacher pay increases, universal preschool as legislative session approaches

Lawmakers are expected to consider hundreds of other bills in the coming months. Closer to home issues that can make headlines include abortion and school choice. Kentucky's new challenges could include efforts to curb diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.

There may be a renewed push to ease Kentucky's near-total abortion ban. Last year, a bill to add exceptions to the ban on pregnancy caused by rape or incest failed to make any progress in parliament. Beshear, a supporter of abortion rights, has made his support for these exceptions a key part of his successful re-election campaign. Kentucky's current abortion law prohibits surgical abortions unless performed to save a pregnant woman's life or prevent disabling injury.

Another potentially high-profile issue could be Kentucky's effort to put a school choice constitutional amendment on the fall ballot. The goal would be to remove constitutional hurdles to school choice efforts. This comes after school choice advocates suffered setbacks in the courts. A state judge last month struck down a law aimed at establishing a way to fund charter schools. In 2022, the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down another law designed to give tax credits for donations that support private school tuition.

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One development that will be closely watched is the governor's relationship with Republican lawmakers. Mr. Beshear's first term was marked by annual policy clashes with Republican lawmakers, who overrode numerous gubernatorial vetoes. Beshear said he also signed more than 600 bipartisan bills, including signature measures to legalize sports betting, medical marijuana and expand early voting.