Kentucky constitution

A Senate committee approved a constitutional amendment Wednesday that would limit the pardons of the governor before elections and inaugurations. The bill’s sponsor says it’s designed to make sure outgoing governors don’t abuse their power.

There are now competing “school choice” amendments in the Kentucky House. House Bill 2 is the second measure filed this year that would allow the state to fund private school tuition.

A perennial bill to move elections from odd-years — including the Kentucky governor’s race — to presidential election years is likely to move on to get a vote in the Senate. The proposed constitutional amendment has made it that far before, but is often held up in the House of Representatives.

Slavery and indentured servitude is illegal in Kentucky except as a punishment for a crime. The exception has deep ties to slavery, and some lawmakers hope to amend the Constitution to eliminate it.

Democrats’ redistricting challenge will be heard by state Supreme Court in September. It’s unclear if a decision will come in time for the next round of elections.

Kentucky voters said no Tuesday to a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Legislature to meet more, shifting power from the governor’s office to state lawmakers.

The more high profile of the two proposed constitutional amendments will determine the future of abortion rights in the commonwealth.

On Election Day in November, there are two amendments on the ballot in Kentucky: the much-publicized Amendment 2, which would undermine abortion rights in the state, and the lesser-known Amendment 1, which would allow the Legislature to call itself into special session.

The case before Judge Perry argues Kentucky's constitution does not allow for the state's near-total abortion ban.

Unofficial general election results show Kentucky voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to raise experience requirements and term lengths…