Latest news with #KentuckyFilmOffice
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gov. Beshear signs bill to create Kentucky Film Office
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Governor Andy Beshear signs a bill which officials believe will help to bring more money to the Commonwealth. Tuskegee Airmen honored at Owensboro airport annual celebration Senate Bill 1 was singed into law to create the Kentucky Film Office. Kentucky has seen an increase in interest from production companies around the country to film movies, television shows, and music videos in the state, and the Kentucky Film Office will now be the first point of contact for future productions. The Kentucky Film Office will also serve to bring in more filming interest to the state, and track the economic impact the film industry has on Kentucky. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lights, camera, action! Beshear signs bill establishing Kentucky Film Office
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — Filmmaking and showrunning opportunities are set to rise to new levels in the Commonwealth following the signature of a bill on Wednesday establishing the Kentucky Film Office (KFO). Kentucky, like most other states, offers financial incentives to attract film and TV productions. In 2022, the industry generated $200 million in revenue for the state, on top of an estimated $128 million brought in locally from all the extra spending these productions bring, like dining or set construction. Industry leaders believe a state film office would help make those numbers bigger. Gov. Beshear vetoes 9 bills on education, healthcare, and more on Wednesday SB 1 passed unanimously during its initial vote on March 4 and passed with a 77-8 vote 10 days later before being signed Wednesday. The KFO will increase the workforce in local and regional film production with training programs while also marketing the Bluegrass as a film location. 'The film office will serve as the hub for marketing, industry coordination, workforce development, and solidifying Kentucky's position as an attractive destination for feature film production,' Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville) told lawmakers in February. South Laurel High School earns Blue Ribbon Lighthouse designation Woman charged in connection with slaying of Louisville corrections officer Lights, camera, action! Beshear signs bill establishing Kentucky Film Office The office will work in tandem with the Kentucky Film Leadership Council, also established in the bill, which will consist of seven members to help strategize industry-related decisions. This will reportedly be done in partnership with the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, and the Education and Labor Cabinet. The law officially establishing the Kentucky Film Office goes into effect July 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Beshear vetoes 9 bills on education, healthcare, and more on Wednesday
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — The General Assembly is set to reconvene for the final days of the regular legislative session. In the final moments of the veto period, Gov. Andy Beshear took action on 15 bills on March 26 by signing three, vetoing nine, and returning three without signature. These 17 bills received Gov. Beshear's signature, 4 vetoed for worker's rights and constitutional violations Here are all the bills Gov. Andy Beshear signed, vetoed, and returned without his signature on Tuesday 'I'm proud to support two bills that will help our students get the very best education,' said Gov. Beshear. 'And I am excited to see Kentucky's film industry grow and bring new jobs and opportunities to families across the commonwealth.' Beshear said his vetoes would protect public education and Kentuckians' access to health care. Here's a look at the three bills signed into law on Wednesday: House Bill 208 requires school districts to implement a policy limiting cellphone use in schools during instructional time. House Bill 298 helps low-performing schools seek assistance to improve student outcomes. Senate Bill 1 creates the Kentucky Film Office, promoting the growth of the Kentucky film industry. These three bills will also go into effect without the governor's signature. Here's which and why they weren't signed: Beshear called House Bill 775 a 'bait-and-switch' bill, where, at the beginning of the session, lawmakers told committee members that the guardrails for income tax reductions would stay in place, and many pushed for and voted for a tax reduction (House Bill 1) based on that information. Beshear stated that later in the session, lawmakers passed this bill and reportedly violated their statements and testimony. Senate Bill 2, Beshear said, he does not believe that the state should pay for gender reassignment surgeries for convicted felons, as this would mean those in prison would receive better access to medical care than a law-abiding citizen. However, courts have ruled that federal law may require some nonsurgical care. House Bill 520 aims to protect certain law enforcement documents from being distributed through open records requests. Gov. Beshear said he supports transparency but understands the need to protect ongoing criminal investigations. In a sudden shakeup, the University of Louisville's president resigns and her successor is chosen Gov. Beshear vetoes 9 bills on education, healthcare, and more on Wednesday US Marshals in Detroit charge man in connection with deadly Ohio Street shooting Beshear said he vetoed the following bills in an effort to protect public education and protect tax dollars: House Bill 240 would require kindergarten students to be given a universal screening to determine their readiness to move on to primary school. Beshear said that this wouldn't solve the issue of children not being prepared for kindergarten or first grade and instead urged for universal pre-K. House Bill 346 would reportedly allow at least one entity to sidestep the majority of the emission fees it owes to the commonwealth. House Bill 552 reportedly violates the Kentucky Constitution by creating a legislative board to carry out an executive function by advancing bilateral trade and investment between Kentucky and Ireland. House Bill 695, Beshear said, would create barriers and delays for more than 1,600,000 Kentucky adults and children who access health care through Medicaid and the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program, or KCHIP. House Joint Resolution 46 received line-item vetoes to correct the names of roads. Senate Bill 19 would violate when kindergarteners cannot stay silent in their seats and reportedly would not allow students whose religious practices include standing prayer to do so. Senate Bill 25 received line-item vetoes because Beshear noted the bill contradicts what lawmakers said last year when they moved to make the Office of the Ombudsman independent. Senate Bill 183 prevents the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority from having discretion over monitoring companies. Senate Bill 207 could create unequal educational standards between local school districts. Beginning Thursday, the General Assembly could override any of the governor's 25 vetoed bills by reaching a majority vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
From AI rules to Medicaid changes: 40 bills on track to become law in Kentucky
The sprint is over. In the last full week of Kentucky's legislative session, lawmakers pushed more than 100 bills through both chambers, sending them on to Gov. Andy Beshear to sign, veto or let become law without his signature. That includes controversial bills banning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public universities, clarifying when abortions are legal and prohibiting Medicaid from funding hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgeries. Beshear has until March 26 to decide what he'll do with each bill passed. After that, Republican-controlled legislature will meet for two final days so lawmakers can choose whether to override the Democratic governor's vetoes. Below is information on 40 bills (and one resolution) that have been sent on to this desk. Find all bills that have been delivered to Beshear here. Find bills Beshear has already signed into law here. More: In stunning final hour, 3 controversial bills pass Kentucky legislature : Creates a Kentucky Film Office to encourage and incentive film production in the Bluegrass State. : Prohibits public funds from being spent on hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery for inmates. : Lets state universities directly pay student-athletes through "name, image and likeness" agreements. This bill was signed into law by Beshear on March 13. : Establishes regulations for the use of artificial intelligence by state agencies and requires disclosure when AI-generated content is used in political messaging. : Requires schools to have a moment of silence at the start of each school day. It also lets school boards allow students to be excused for up to one hour each week for "moral instruction." : Establishes a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board, requires state agencies to give software access to the state auditor and requires each state agency to submit biannual reports on cost-saving measures and possible staff reductions, among other measures. : Prevents the Cabinet for Health and Family Services from disapproving someone for a child placement — including through foster care and adoption — because they have a disability. : Criminalizes sexual extortion, or "sextortion." This bill was signed into law on March 12. : Ensures courts do not defer to state agencies' interpretations of laws. : Reduces pollution protections for some water resources, including groundwater. : Requires all tobacco and vape retailers to obtain a license through the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and grants the department enforcement authority. : Updates an existing law for high school sports to add information regarding mandatory reporting around child abuse and neglect for students, parents and coaches. : Makes tampering with a gift card a felony. : Regulates hemp-based beverages by capping THC at five milligrams per drink and moving regulatory authority under the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. : Authorizes public schools to become "schools of innovation." : Voids a controversial line-item budget veto by Beshear that prevented state lawmakers from exempting "bullion currency" — or gold and silver coins — from taxation. It also give people who have paid sales taxes on gold and silver since August the power to use the courts to seek a refund along with $1,000 for "each day that the violation occurred," paid by the governor's office. : Bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs and offices at public colleges and universities. : Requires all new regulations put in place by state cabinets that would cause an economic impact of $500,000 or greater over a two-year period to be approved by the legislature before going into effect. It's modeled after a federal bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, known as the REINS Act. : Lets property owners request law enforcement to remove "squatters," or people unlawfully occupying their property. : Lowers the age teens are eligible to apply for a driver's permit from 16 to 15. : Enhances criminal penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection. : Removes the certificate of need requirement for freestanding birth centers. An amendment also outlines medical conditions and obstetrical complications that are not considered abortion under Kentucky law. : Allows air pollution control boards to only consider methods or tests that are accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for enforcement. That excludes citizen-collected pollution data. : Authorizes posthumous adoption if a child dies while going through the court proceeding. This bill was signed into law on March 15. : Mandates that a person is guilty of theft if they fail to vacate a rented property by an agreed time. This bill was signed into law on March 15. : Requires local school boards to adopt policies banning cellphones during instructional time, except during an emergency or if authorized by a teacher. : Requires hospitals to provide training for emergency department staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, protocols and resources. This bill was signed into law on March 12. : Allows kindergarteners to repeat a year if they don't meet certain academic standards. : Lets school districts establish virtual programs and caps enrollment of nonresident students in those programs to 1% of the previous year's total enrollment statewide. It also allows the commissioner of education to grant up to five disaster relief days for each school district. : Requires the Kentucky Department of Education to identify schools for comprehensive support and improvement annually, instead of every three years. : Designates June as "Kentucky History Month." : Requires high school students to take a financial literacy course. : Prevents the state from adopting or enforcing any occupational safety and health administrative regulations that are more strict than federal standards. : Criminalizes interference with a legislative proceeding. The bill is a response to a 2023 protest in the House gallery over anti-trans legislation, during which 19 people were arrested. : Lets universities fire employees, regardless of status, if they fail to meet performance and productivity requirements. : Strikes down Beshear's executive order banning conversion therapy and prohibits Medicaid from funding hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery. : Lets law enforcement agencies deny records requests if the release "could pose an articulable risk of harm" to the agency or its investigation. : Requires Medicaid recipients to work in order to receive benefits and prohibits the Department for Medicaid Services from making changes without approval from the General Assembly. : Lets individuals accept cryptocurrency and other digital assets as payment for goods and services. : Changes how Kentucky can lower its income tax, among other measures. : Returns a Ten Commandments monument for display on the Capitol grounds. Reach the Courier Journal politics team at cjpolitics@ This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky legislature: These bills are on track to become law in 2025
