Kentucky Senate Democrats

09/15/2026

Good morning, Kentucky! A busy day is ahead. For more information on today's legislative calendar, visit https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/legislativecalendar The meetings will be livestreamed on ket.org/legislature

09/11/2026

25 years ago, nearly 3,000 people left home on an ordinary Tuesday and never came back.

September 11 did not stop taking lives when the smoke cleared. First responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and neighbors spent years battling illnesses caused by the air at Ground Zero. Their families have carried every loss, every day.

We remember because memory carries a duty: to care for those still living with its consequences, and to ensure that such courage and sacrifice are remembered and honored.

That is what it means to

09/10/2026

REMINDER‼️ MEDICAID REALITY CHECK LISTENING TOUR KICKS OFF THIS EVENING IN LEXINGTON.

If you rely on Medicaid, care for someone who does, work in health care, or simply care about access to health care in Kentucky, we hope to see and hear from you.

Come tell your story, hear from others, and be part of the conversation.

WHERE: Consolidated Baptist Church (1625 Russell Cave Rd., Lexington, KY)

WHEN: TODAY- Thursday, September 10, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

The event is designed to allow community members to share personal stories about how Medicaid affects their lives and access to health care.

09/08/2026

Changes are coming to Medicaid in Kentucky, and the people who depend on it deserve a voice in what comes next.

If you are in or around Lexington, receive Medicaid, care for someone who does, work in health care, or care about access to quality health care in our communities, we want to hear from you this Thursday.

Share your experience. Hear from your neighbors. Help lawmakers better understand what Medicaid means for Kentuckians and the people who care for them.

Your story belongs in this conversation.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from the Kentucky Senate Democrats!

Today, we honor the working people whose skill, sacrifice and determination built our commonwealth and continue to move Kentucky forward. We remain committed to standing with Kentucky workers and ensuring every person has the opportunity to earn a fair wage, work in safe conditions and build a secure future for their family.

09/04/2026

FLOCK CAMERAS AND DATA CENTERS DISCUSSED BY LAWMAKERS IN FRANKFORT

Two issues that have been front and center across the country were before Kentucky lawmakers in Frankfort this week. Interim Joint Committees examined the growing use of automated license-plate readers (FLOCK Cameras) and the significant energy and infrastructure demands associated with data centers.

Based on testimony, did you know that…

📷 Flock cameras do more than read license plates. According to committee testimony, some systems can make details such as a vehicle’s color, roof rack, bumper stickers, and visible damage searchable.

🔐 Searches require a stated reason and are preserved in an audit trail. Supporters say the technology helps solve crimes and locate missing people, while civil-liberties advocates warn that large, connected camera networks could track a person’s movements over time.

⚖️ Kentucky’s House Bill 58, passed during the 2026 session, establishes permitted uses, agency policies, audits, criminal penalties for misuse, and a 90-day limit on retaining images from Flock cameras. Some witnesses urged lawmakers to consider additional protections, including warrants for most searches and shorter retention periods.

⚡ A data center operating a 1,000-GPU cluster can experience an estimated 67-megawatt power swing in roughly one second, which creates new challenges for Kentucky’s electric grid.

💧 During an outage, data centers may use tanks of chilled water to protect equipment during the 10 to 45 seconds it takes backup power to activate.

Senate Democrats inquired about how much water these cooling systems require. This is an important question as Kentucky considers the effects of data-center development on our energy and natural resources.

Our caucus will continue asking questions and working to ensure new technologies serve Kentuckians while protecting their privacy, resources, and communities.

Watch the committee testimony on Flock Cameras:
https://www.youtube.com/live/P9qKeYJET8Y?si=r-84UYzEhPb_PqJA&t=3547

Watch the committee testimony on Data Centers:
https://www.youtube.com/live/yZbhLUqHYSw?si=c8YQcP__IAfmuCxH&t=3831

09/03/2026

It'll be another busy day in Frankfort! For more information on today's meetings, visit https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar You can watch the meetings live online at ket.org/legislature

09/02/2026

Another busy day of interim meetings in Frankfort! Tune in at the link below to watch live coverage.

Today's meetings will be livestreamed on www.youtube.com/ For more information, visit https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar

09/01/2026

For more than 30 years, the former Rhodia chemical plant has sat vacant in Louisville’s Algonquin neighborhood, holding back investment and serving as a daily reminder of environmental injustice.

Keturah Herron, KY State Senator, listened to residents and took action.

Senate Bill 222, sponsored by Herron, was passed unanimously by the General Assembly during the 2026 session, creating a fair process to move remediated brownfield properties toward redevelopment when state environmental experts determine that outdated land-use restrictions are no longer necessary. The law still provides notice, an opportunity to object, and judicial review while preventing communities from being trapped in years of unnecessary delay.

Now, SB 222 is helping remove a major barrier to plans for affordable housing, commercial space, and outdoor areas in West Louisville.

This is what responsive, community-driven leadership looks like.

Read more about why Sen. Herron championed this legislation at the link in the comments ⬇