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The Kentucky General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Kentucky Senate has 38 members and the Kentucky House of Representatives has 100 members. Prior to a 1992 constitutional amendment the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky presided over the Senate; the 1992 amendment created a new office of President of the Senate to be held by one of the 38 senators.
The Kentucky General Assembly meets in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky. The House and Senate chambers are on opposite ends of the third floor of the capitol building, and legislators have offices in the nearby Capitol Annex building.
The Kentucky General Assembly is served by a nonpartisan agency called the Legislative Research Commission.
Session Dates
The General Assembly meets annually in Frankfort, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. In even-numbered years, sessions may not last more than 60 legislative days, and cannot extend beyond April 15. In odd-numbered years, sessions may not last more than 30 legislative days, and cannot extend beyond March 30.
Special sessions may be called by the Governor of Kentucky at any time for any duration.
Legislative Districts
The General Assembly must divide the state into 38 Senate and 100 House districts. Districts are required to be as nearly equal in population as possible. Districts can be formed by joining more than one county, but the counties forming a district must be contiguous, according to Section 33 of the state constitution. Districts must be reviewed every 10 years and be re-divided if necessary.
Terms and Qualifications of Members
A State Senator must:
- be at least 30 years old;
- be a citizen of Kentucky;
- have resided in the state at least 6 years and the district at least 1 year prior to election.
A State Representative must:
- be at least 24 years old;
- be a citizen of Kentucky
- have resided in the state at least 2 years and the district at least 1 year prior to election.
Leadership
Senate
- President (elected by full body): David L. Williams (R-16)
- President Pro-Tempore (elected by full body): Katie Kratz Stine (R-24)
- Majority Leader: Dan Kelly (R-14)
- Majority Whip: Dan Seum (R-38)
- Minority Leader: Ed Worley (D-34)
- Minority Whip: Joey Pendelton (D-3)
House
- Speaker (elected by full body): Jody Richards (D-20)
- Speaker Pro Tempore (elected by full body): Larry Clark (D-46)
- Majority Leader: Rocky Adkins (D-99)
- Majority Whip: Joe Barrows (D-56)
- Minority Leader: Jeffrey Hoover (R-83)
- Minority Whip: Ken Upchurch (R-52)
Standing Committees
- Senate
- Chair: David L. Williams
- Chair: David L. Williams
- Chair: Elizabeth Tori
- Chair: Tom Jensen
- Chair: Charlie Borders
- Chair: Ernie Harris
- Chair: Brett Guthrie
- Chair: Jack Westwood
- Chair: Tom Buford
- Chair: Robert Stivers
- Chair: Bob Leeper
- Chair: Tom Buford
- Chair: Alice Kerr
- Chair: Julie Denton
- Chair: Julie Denton
- Chair: Robert Stivers
- Chair: Gary Tapp
- Chair: Damon Thayer
- Chair: Brent Guthrie
- Chair: Elizabeth Tori
- House
- Chair: Jody Richards
- Chair: Jody Richards
- Chair: Susan Westrom
- Chair: Tom McKee
- Chair: Harry Moberly
- Chair: John Arnold
- Chair: John Will Stacy
- Chair: Royce Adams
- Chair: Jimmie Lee
- Chair: Jesse Crenshaw
- Chair: Rob Wilkey
- Chair: James Bruce
- Chair: Ruth Ann Palumbo
- Chair: Frank Rasche
- Chair: Adrian Arnold
- Chair: Tom Burch
- Chair: Gross Lindsay
- Chair: J.R. Gray
- Chair: Denver Butler
- Chair: Steve Riggs
- Chair: James Gooch
- Chair: Mike Weaver
- Chair: Mike Cherry
- Chair: Eddie Ballard
- Chair: Hubert Collins
Current Composition
House
| Affiliation | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 56 | |
| Republican Party | 44 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Senate
| Affiliation | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 21 | |
| Democratic Party | 16 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
| Total | 38 | |
"Kentucky General Assembly"