Upcoming legislative session expected to look different than previous years

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — This year’s legislative session is expected to look a little different.

“I think this is going to be one of those years where we really return to the original intent of the short session. We have used the short session very aggressively,” Speaker of the House David Osborne said.

In past years, Speaker Osborne says they’ve made major policy changes.

“We return it to its original mission where we use it to tweak things, to study things,” he said.

Plus, with a new president in the oval office, some things could look a little different in Kentucky government.

“Some of the potential things that could change would be changes to the Medicaid program that we might have to readily address,” Osborne said.

He also said there will be changes to the Department of Education.

On Wednesday, President Trump signed a sweeping education executive order which could enhance school choice for parents and school funding.

“Are those resources reaching the students and the teachers in the classrooms where it’s intended to go, how we can make that more efficient,” Osborne said.

At the start of January, legislators worked to lower the income tax rate. Now, their focus is on efficient funding.

“We look at all state programs and state agencies to make sure they’re operating efficiently and that they’re using tax-payer dollars in the most efficient way possible,” he said.

Overall, Speaker Osborne says Kentuckians should expect this session to look a little slower but still expect effective changes throughout the Commonwealth.