Crime of interrupting legislative proceeding close to becoming Kentucky law
Republished from Kentucky Lantern
FRANKFORT — A bill to make interrupting legislative proceedings a crime in Kentucky is close to becoming a law.
The Senate voted 30-7 on party lines to approve House Bill 399 Thursday morning. The Republican-backed bill passed the House last week.
Sponsored by former state trooper Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, the bill would create the crime of interrupting a legislative proceeding at the Capitol, classified as a Class A misdemeanor or, on a third or subsequent offense, a Class D felony. A person would be guilty by causing an interruption with “the intent to disrupt, impede, or prevent the General Assembly from conducting business.”
Blanton filed the bill last session as a response to more than a dozen protestors arrested and removed from the House gallery while lawmakers debated a veto override of an anti-transgender bill in 2023.
This session, Democrats have railed against the measure. During Thursday’s Senate debate, Democrats argued the bill could stifle Kentuckians who want to make their opposition to legislation known in Frankfort. Sen. Robin Webb, of Grayson, who has been in the legislature for nearly three decades, said she could recall only a couple of incidents that were “egregious enough” to justify creating a new crime when existing laws already provide adequate penalties.
“We have a system of laws now that cover conduct, regardless of where you are in the commonwealth, and we have some of the best security detail in the world here. I feel pretty safe,” she said.
However, Republicans argued that protestors can sometimes interrupt proceedings to the point that conducting business becomes difficult. Sen. Phillip Wheeler, of Pikeville, said the bill has “absolutely nothing to do with protest,” adding people can still “protest all you want in this building or outside or on any government grounds.”
“We’re all sitting down here to do a job,” he said, adding that often in the final days of session, time is precious and minutes count when taking votes and debating bills.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear could veto the bill as soon as Saturday, but the Republican-controlled General Assembly can easily override him.
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