The Kentucky General Assembly is back in session and I am looking forward to providing my constituents renewed updates on the happenings in Frankfort.

In years past, the first week of off-year “short” sessions was spent mainly on organizational matters like electing leaders and appointing committees with the work of passing bills beginning in February.

But with only 30 working days to accomplish so much, I’m proud to say the Kentucky Senate went right to work.

This was possible, in part, because the majority and minority caucuses selected their leadership in December. It allowed this chamber to begin its work immediately on the first day by naming our committee chairs, vice chairs and committee members.

By the third day of the session, the first bill was passed out of the chamber by a 31-4 vote.

The measure, known as Senate Bill 5 is a proposed amendment to the Kentucky constitution to move the elections of statewide constitutional offices to even-numbered years. Those would include the campaigns for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor of public accounts, attorney general, secretary of state and commissioner of agriculture.

SB 5 will save about $15.5 million in taxpayers’ money, double voter turnout in down-ballot races, and simplify the election system by aligning Kentucky’s election cycle with presidential elections.

I believe Kentucky voters often suffer from election fatigue as we have to vote three out of every four years.

This bill would provide relief with elections every other year.

If the General Assembly passes SB5 this session, the proposed constitutional amendment would not be placed on the ballot to be decided upon by the people until 2020.

The Senate was also able to pass several other bills Friday morning.

SB 4 requires candidates to fill all campaign finance reports electronically.

SB 50 relates to the reporting of prescriptions designed to induce abortions.

SB 8 is termed a ‘tribunal reform’ bill that relates to the privacy of teachers and superintendents on disability leave.

Lastly, SB 3 reformed our school-based decision-making (SBDM) councils by redefining the minimum parent-teacher representation on school councils. The bill also grants superintendents the ability to hire principals.

As we head into a break in the session, your input is genuinely needed. I look forward to providing a town hall summary in our community later on this month. Please watch for the announcement in our local newspapers.

I look forward to seeing you in the district.

Bill summaries, amendments and resolutions, in addition to the next day’s committee meeting schedule and agendas, are updated daily on the Kentucky Legislature’s home page at lrc.ky.gov throughout the session, with final adjournment scheduled for March 29.

If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at ralph.alvarado@lrc.ky.gov  You can also review the legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.

Sen. Ralph Alvarado (R-Winchester) represents the 28th state senate district, which includes Clark, Montgomery and part of Fayette counties.