The nonpartisan league has charted the rise of fast-track tactics for several longer 60-day legislative sessions, and their latest report — based on data from the short 30-day session in 2025 — revealed a similar pattern.
When the readings happen on the chamber floor before it's ever heard in committee, that whole process is just compressed in time.Becky Jones, First Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky
The league's Becky Jones points to a number of problematic maneuvers. Those include last-minute committee substitutes, which often leave the public, reporters, and even some lawmakers working off outdated bill language, and floor votes that take place immediately after committee work.
But the top concern is legislation receiving readings before any committee action.
"That's the most important thing because the committee hearings are where people have a chance to show up, sign-in, and speak about the bill. And when the readings happen on the chamber floor before it's ever heard in committee, that whole process is just compressed in time," Jones says.
The tactics drew the ire of minority Democrats during the 2025 session. Members said the process effectively keeps lawmakers "in the dark."
In response to a previous LWV report, Senate President Robert Stivers said the rules pass legal muster and the maneuvers were taking place decades ago.
"I was here in '98. I saw what was done. I was here in '97. I saw what happened in the special sessions, when bills came out in the last days because there were agreements. So I disagree with the conclusions of their report," the Manchester Republican said ahead of the 2024 session.
But the league's concern is that the maneuvers have become more commonly used over the past two decades, further sidelining constituents.
Still, Jones says her group has had direct talks with officials in Frankfort.
"We have had a response and a really good meeting, a couple of members, with (House) Speaker (David) Osborne's senior policy advisor," she adds. "He believes that there's definitely common ground and hopefully the leadership can make some changes to improve the process based on what we have identified."
The full report can be found at lwvky.org.