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Legislative Update: Lawmakers move to protect property owners with eminent domain changes
Private property rights have long been a cornerstone of Kentucky’s identity, shaping not only our economy, but our culture and way of life. In fact, the first settlers to blaze a trail and build a life here did so because they wanted to own property and be able to build a life. From family farms…
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Legislative Update: Session Results—Appropriations and Revenue, Part 1
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY MCCOOL The Appropriations and Revenue Committee is one of the most influential committees in the legislature because it oversees how state funds are raised and spent. Every budget, tax policy, and major financial decision must pass through this committee, making it central to setting the state’s priorities and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Its…
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How SB 181 impacts teacher-student communications
During the 2025 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation focused on protecting and supporting Kentucky’s most vulnerable. Without a doubt, at the top of that list are our children. One of the most significant measures passed to protect our youth was Senate Bill 181. This legislation addresses electronic communications like texts…
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Martin County ‘cheated’ out of water and wastewater funding
BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — When House Joint Resolution 30 came up for a vote in the state Legislature on Feb. 27, Representative Bobby McCool voted “no,” citing the bill’s failure to allocate funding to Martin County despite its long-standing water and wastewater issues. McCool congratulated the water and wastewater recipients listed in…
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McCool takes aim at charges driving up electric utility bills
FRANKFORT — State Representative Bobby McCool of Van Lear has introduced House Bill 616, a measure designed to bring fairness and transparency to electric utility billing. The measure would remove taxes, fees and other charges on electric bills that are not directly related to electricity service and connection requirements. “Electricity bills across the state have…
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The symbols of Christmas guide us throughout the year
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY MCCOOL “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” — Luke 2:7 These words capture the humble birth of Jesus Christ and echo through generations, forming the foundation of Christmas…
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Representative Bobby McCool’s Legislative Update: Legislation clears committees, full House
As snow covered much of the Commonwealth, we left Frankfort on Friday with more than 350 House bills and resolutions filed for consideration. We have four weeks before the deadline to file new House bills on Feb. 26, so I expect we will see several hundred more. You can read summaries of each piece of…
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Representative Bobby McCool’s Legislative update: Lawmakers convene 2024 Regular Session
Since adjourning the 2023 Regular Session, I have used this update to share our work to prepare for this session. Interim committees met and heard testimony, gathered information, and focused on how to use the knowledge and data gained to craft thoughtful, intentional policies to help address the challenges our state faces. Because we did…
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Legislative Update: Why We Vote
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY MCCOOL “The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.” Louis Brandeis, Kentuckian and Associate Supreme Court Justice Nov. 7 is Election Day and while most of the nation’s attention is turned to next year’s presidential election, Kentuckians will vote this…
