1. Introduction and Committee Referral: - A bill can be introduced in either the House or Senate. - It is assigned a number, read by title and sponsor, and referred to a standing committee. 2. Committee Consideration: - Committee meetings are public, and public hearings may occur for bills of interest. - The committee can report the bill with various outcomes (favorable, unfavorable, etc.) or can kill it by not acting. 3. First Reading: - If reported favorably, the bill receives its first reading and is scheduled for the next day’s calendar. 4. Second Reading and Rules: - The bill is read a second time, sent to the Rules Committee for further consideration. 5. Third Reading and Passage: - The bill is debated and voted on; it needs a specific majority to pass (40 representatives or 16 senators for non-appropriation bills). 6. What Happens Next: - If passed, the bill goes to the other chamber for a similar process. - If both houses reach agreement, the final wording is checked. 7. Enrollment: - After approval by both chambers, the bill is signed by presiding officers and sent to the Governor. 8. Governor's Action: - The Governor can sign, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto the bill within 10 days. - A vetoed bill can be overridden by a majority vote in both houses.

A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Kentucky in several ways: 1. Attend Committee Meetings: Committee meetings are open to the public, and attending these meetings allows individuals to observe the legislative process and the discussions surrounding specific bills. 2. Participate in Public Hearings: When there is sufficient interest in a subject, public hearings are held. Members of the public can attend these hearings to express their opinions, provide testimonies, and ask questions regarding proposed legislation. 3. Engage with Legislators: Citizens can contact their state senators and representatives to share their views on specific issues or proposed legislation. This can be done through emails, phone calls, or in-person meetings. 4. Follow Legislative Sessions: The General Assembly meets annually, and members of the public can attend these sessions to observe debates and votes on legislation. 5. Join Committees or Advocacy Groups: Individuals can join or form advocacy groups that focus on specific issues, and work together to influence legislation by organizing campaigns, writing position papers, and lobbying legislators. 6. Monitor Legislative Proceedings: By keeping abreast of the bills and resolutions being introduced and discussed, citizens can stay informed about the legislative agenda and find opportunities to engage. 7. Engage during Interim Sessions: Interim joint committees meet between sessions and are open to public input. Public participation in these sessions allows individuals to discuss issues and provide recommendations.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Kentucky every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features

• real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
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1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.

6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.

7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.