Kenny Colston (KPR)

A bill that would allow random drug testing of welfare recipients was the subject of legislative boycotts and hearings today.

House Bill 26 is sponsored by Republican representative Lonnie Napier, who says the bill does not unfairly target anyone and would help rid drug abuse from those who benefit from government programs.

The bill was never expected to come for a vote in committee, leading Napier’s fellow Republicans on the panel to boycott the meeting.

Budget plans for all three branches of Kentucky’s government are on their way to the House floor after easily passing out of the House budget committee today.

The committee passed bills that would cut the judicial and legislative budgets by eight point four percent, to match the cuts already made to the executive budget.  It also adopted the changes to Governor Steve Beshear’s budget proposed yesterday.

A proposal that limits the amount of pseudoephedrine consumers can buy in a month could make it out the state House of Representatives intact.

The Senate passed a bill last week that would limit consumers to seven point two grams of pseudoephedrine every month, or roughly two boxes of cold medicine.

Lawmakers have reached a compromise on a proposal to create more educational opportunities in eastern Kentucky.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo has been advocating to move the University of Pikeville into the state university system. But that proposal doesn’'t currently have the support to become reality, which forces supporters to adopt a compromise.

The House committee charged with overseeing the budget has taken its first official steps in the process.

The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee took reports from subcommittees and accepted their recommendations at a meeting today.

The House plan deviates slightly from Governor Steve Beshear's proposal. It delays the start of substance abuse programs in Medicaid and the creation of an Adult Abuse registry, saving more than two million dollars in the process.

One Central Kentucky lawmaker is spearheading an effort to create a middle school athletic association in Kentucky.

State representative Bob Damron is the sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 155, which holds the force of law if passed.

The resolution would require the Legislative Research Commission to start a task force on middle school athletics. Damron says a new athletic association is needed so as to not add pressure to already-established entities, like the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

An effort to strengthen the training alcohol support specialists receive is moving through the General Assembly.

House Bill 335 is sponsored by state Representative Joni Jenkins. It would require drug and alcohol support to receive extra training to be licensed in that field.

Jenkins told a committee last week that the extra training hours would be the equivalent of doing coursework for a master’s degree.

Governor Steve Beshear is requesting a federal disaster declaration for parts of eastern and northern Kentucky hit by tornadoes last week.

The declaration would allow federal money to help with clean up and rebuilding. It will also help provide funds to affected businesses.

Beshear announced the move at a news conference today, saying that while monetary estimates of damages aren't yet known, he's confident the there's enough damage to meet the $5.8 million federal threshold for assistance.

It’s been another busy week in the Kentucky General Assembly. Lawmakers may have reached an agreement on regulating pseudoephedrine, Kentucky Amish might have a new option to a reflective triangle for their buggies and support is waning for University of Pikeville’s bid to become a public university. Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Kenny Colston speaks with Rick Howlett for some perspective on what’s happening in Frankfort.

A bill regulating the amount of certain cold medicines consumers can buy over the counter has passed the State Senate. The bill is intended to crack down on meth users, who use cold medicine to make the illegal drug.

Senate Bill 3 passed after an amendment raised the monthly pseudoephedrine allotment to seven point two grams per month- or the equivalent of two boxes of medicine. Previously the bill had been prescription only, then limited over-the-counter purchase to three point six grams a month.