The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Gov. Andy Beshear may be closer to calling a special session, which would be required if the governor seeks additional emergency funds beyond those allotted by the General Assembly.
Beshear has warned for months that the GOP-led legislature's decision to put a hard cap on how much the state can spend on disasters could hamper efforts to respond to the increasing number and severity of severe weather events and other emergencies.
"We're gonna hit that hard cap before the end of the biennium, and we're gonna need additional assistance," he said following April's severe weather. "The fact that we we're going to have to have a special session just for a legislature to say, yes, you can help people, you know, that's silly. In the end, what does it cost to protect our people from a natural disaster? It costs what it costs."
Republican Senate president Robert Stivers has said the General Assembly's emergency allocation is appropriate, and the body can be back relatively quickly if needed.
"So if he needs something and it is apparent, we can be here in one day with four hours notice to take care of an appropriation to do whatever we need to do," he said during the regular session.
Special sessions are estimated to cost around $65,000 a day.