2023 Regular Session • Kentucky Legislature
HB547: AN ACT relating to First Amendment rights in public schools.
Legislative Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to prohibit a school district from punishing an employee for engaging in private religious expression otherwise protected by the First Amendment absent a showing of engaging in actual coercion; provide specific examples of protected activity; establish limits of applicability.
Bill History
2/22/2023
introduced in House
House of Representatives
2/22/2023
to Committee on Committees (H)
House of Representatives
3/2/2023
to Education (H)
House of Representatives
3/7/2023
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
House of Representatives
3/8/2023
2nd reading, to Rules
House of Representatives
3/8/2023
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 09, 2023
House of Representatives
3/9/2023
3rd reading, passed 81-12
House of Representatives
3/10/2023
received in Senate
Senate
3/10/2023
to Committee on Committees (S)
Senate
3/10/2023
to Education (S)
Senate
3/14/2023
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
Senate
3/15/2023
2nd reading, to Rules
Senate
3/15/2023
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 16, 2023
Senate
3/16/2023
3rd reading, passed 32 -5
Senate
3/16/2023
received in House
House of Representatives
3/16/2023
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
House of Representatives
3/16/2023
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
House of Representatives
3/16/2023
delivered to Governor
House of Representatives
3/24/2023
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 89)
House of Representatives
Roll Call Votes
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 2682
3/16/2023
32
Yea
5
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
House: Third Reading RCS# 190
3/9/2023
81
Yea
12
Nay
0
Not Voting
7
Absent
Result: PASSED
Status Information
Current Status
Passed(3/24/2023)
Chamber
House of Representatives
Sine DiePrior Session
Sponsors
Republican: 53
Primary Sponsor

Chris Fugate
Republican
Co-Sponsors (52)
Jason Petrie
Republican
Shane Baker
Republican
Kimberly Banta
Republican
Jared Bauman
Republican
Danny Bentley
Republican
John Blanton
Republican
Adam Bowling
Republican
Kevin Bratcher
Republican
Steve Bratcher
Republican
Josh Bray
Republican
Randy Bridges
Republican
Emily Callaway
Republican
Josh Calloway
Republican
Jennifer Henson Decker
Republican
Ryan Dotson
Republican
Robert Duvall
Republican
Daniel Elliott
Republican
Deanna Frazier Gordon
Republican
Chris Freeland
Republican
Jim Gooch
Republican
David Hale
Republican
Mark Hart
Republican
Richard Heath
Republican
John Hodgson
Republican
Mary Imes
Republican
DJ Johnson
Republican
Jacob Justice
Republican
Kim King
Republican
Scott Lewis
Republican
Matt Lockett
Republican
Savannah Maddox
Republican
Candy Massaroni
Republican
Bobby McCool
Republican
David Meade
Republican
Kimberly Moser
Republican
Jason Nemes
Republican
David Osborne
Republican
Michael Pollock
Republican
Phillip Pratt
Republican
Steve Rawlings
Republican
William Reed
Republican
Steven Rudy
Republican
Scott Sharp
Republican
Tom Smith
Republican
Nancy Tate
Republican
Walker Thomas
Republican
Killian Timoney
Republican
James Tipton
Republican
Timmy Truett
Republican
Russell Webber
Republican
Billy Wesley
Republican
Richard White
Republican