News
Final Legislative Update - April 16, 2024
- Jennifer Breiwa Smith
- Tuesday, April 16th, 2024
The 2024 Kentucky General Assembly adjourned sine die last night. Overall, it was a positive session for postsecondary education. Below is an update on several pieces of legislation that WKU tracked this session.
Legislation that passed during the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly
House Bill 1 (HB1), Budget Surplus
House Bill 1 is an additional appropriations bill relating to the budget surplus. The bill contains one-time funding for specific projects, such as infrastructure needs, programming, and some capital. Included in the HB1 Free Conference Committee Report is $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2025-2026 to support operations at the WKU Innovation Campus. Governor Beshear line-item vetoed pieces of HB1 FCCR; however, the General Assembly overrode the vetoes. The bill was delivered to the Secretary of State. You can view HB1 FCCR here.
House Bill 6 (HB6), the Executive Branch Biennial Budget
The two-year Executive Branch Budget sets forth the funding for operations of Kentucky’s state government. The HB6 Free Conference Committee Report includes the following for WKU:
- A 4.5% inflationary increase to the base appropriation in the first year of the budget; the appropriation remains flat in the second year.
- $2,180,800 to offset the increase in the state fire and tornado insurance.
- The Gatton Academy received a 3% increase in the first year of the budget and a 6% increase in the second year.
- The Kentucky Mesonet funding remained unchanged.
- The performance funding pool was increased to $105,000,000 in year one and $115,000,000 in year two of the biennium.
- A second round of asset preservation funding was included without a university match requirement. WKU will receive $28,581,000 in asset preservation funds in each year of the biennium.
- WKU received $160,000,000 in state bonds to build a new Academic Complex facility.
HB6 FCCR received several line-item vetoes by Governor Beshear; however, the General Assembly overrode the vetoes. The bill was delivered to the Secretary of State. You can view HB6 FCCR here.
Senate Bill 1 (SB1), Endowed Research Fund
Senate Bill 1 establishes an endowed research fund to be administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education to fund research consortiums between two or more public universities. SB1 was signed by Governor Beshear. You can view SB1 here.
Senate Bill 191 (SB191), an Act Relating to Postsecondary Education Funding and Declaring an Emergency
Senate Bill 191 makes technical changes to the postsecondary education performance funding model. SB191 with House Floor Amendment 7 passed both Chambers yesterday and was delivered to Governor Beshear. You can view SB191 here.
Senate Joint Resolution 170 (SJR170), a Joint Resolution directing the Council on Postsecondary Education to Conduct a Feasibility Study on Expanding Postbaccalaureate Program Offerings at Comprehensive Universities
Senate Joint Resolution 170 directs the Council on Postsecondary Education to conduct a study on expanding postbaccalaureate program offerings at comprehensive universities, including consulting with each president of a comprehensive university to consider a regional economic development or workforce development need that may be met by a postbaccalaureate program. SJR170 with House Committee Substitute passed both Chambers yesterday and was delivered to Governor Beshear. You can view SJR170 HCS here.
Senate Resolution 276 (SR276), Confirmed the Appointment of Cynthia Jean Nichols
Senate Resolution 276 confirms the appointment of Cynthia Jean Nichols to the Western Kentucky University Board of Regents for a term expiring July 9, 2029. SR276 was adopted by the Senate yesterday. You can view SR276 here.
Legislation that failed during the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly
House Bill 228 (HB228), an Act Relating to Postsecondary Employment.
HB228 requires the board of a public postsecondary education institution to approve a performance and productivity evaluation process for all faculty members. The bill also requires faculty evaluations to be completed at least every four years and permits the board to delegate removal of a faculty member to the college or university president. HB228 was heard for discussion only on January 23 in the House Education Committee. No further action was taken on HB228. You can view HB228 here.
House Bill 630 (HB630), an Act relating to Research Doctoral Programs at Western Kentucky University
House Bill 630 contains permissive language to allow WKU to offer up to five PhD programs in areas that directly affect the workforce and economy of Kentucky. HB630 passed the House, but no further action was taken in the Senate. You can view HB630 here.
Senate Bill 6 (SB6), an Act Relating to Postsecondary Education Institutions
Senate Bill 6 was amended in the House Education Committee. The House Committee Substitute to SB6 wipes the original language and replaces it with most of House Bill 9 (HB9). SB6 HCS1 passed the House and was received in the Senate for concurrence or nonconcurrence. The Senate did not take any further action on the bill. You can view SB6 HCS1 here.
Senate Bill 201 (SB201), an Act Relating to Comprehensive Universities
Senate Bill 201 permits a comprehensive university, once specific requirements promulgated by CPE have been met, to offer limited PhD programs based on the workforce and economic needs of Kentucky. SB201 was heard for discussion only in the Senate Education Committee, no further action was taken on the bill. You can view SB201 here.
To view all legislation WKU tracked this session please click here or visit www.wku.edu/govrelations for other helpful resources.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.