In some ways, this year's meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly is the same as ever. Committee meetings are in the Annex, where the public can observe and provide comments as legislators discuss bills. But once legislators file into the temporary chambers where the full House and Senate meet, it's not as easy as just showing up and sitting down.
“There are no galleries in the House or Senate this session,” said Laura Cullen Glasscock, editor and publisher of The Kentucky Gazette, “Which does prevent the public from interacting with lawmakers, but it doesn’t prevent them from seeing the action.”
The Kentucky Open Meetings Act requires public access to House and Senate meetings. For many years, KET has hosted live streams from each chamber. At the start of the COVID pandemic, the Legislative Research Commission began streaming committee meetings to YouTube; now, the LRC has added streams of chamber proceedings to that channel as well, which are played in viewing rooms in the Annex that are open to the public.
Still, the physical limitations extend beyond the chambers themselves. The daily page program, which allowed Kentucky students to spend time on the legislative floor delivering messages to lawmakers, has been temporarily eliminated. The Capitol Rotunda - a gathering place for rallies and demonstrations within earshot of lawmakers - is also closed to the public.
While these changes can make it difficult for constituents to be physically present with their elected officials, Bob Babbage, a veteran lobbyist and former Kentucky Secretary of State, said there are still plenty of reasons to come to the Capitol.
“If you’re in the Annex, the big building behind the Capitol on the campus, that’s where a lot of work gets done, because that’s where committees meet. If I knew you were on a committee, I could find you in that room before the committee started or after it ended, chances are.”
Members of the public can attend committee meetings in person, where they can observe discussions and provide testimony on bills.
Advocacy groups have adapted to the new flow of foot-traffic by creating their own opportunities for interaction. Over the past week, university delegations have hosted breakfasts and lunches for legislators in the Annex cafeteria, and organizations like CASA have held gatherings where lawmakers, staff, and advocates can meet face-to-face.
The key, Babbage emphasized, is being proactive.
"If you want to come to Frankfort and you want to intercept people, meet people, talk about things that are important to you, there are good ways to do that. It's just not the same as before,” said Babbage. “If people seek out their own legislator before they go, let them know they're coming, schedule something, that's a great way to get started.”
The LRC’s website offers tools to help constituents prepare for these in-person meetings. Visitors can search for bills by topic or number, read a bill's full text, track legislation as it moves through committees and chambers, and find contact information for their legislators. Understanding the status of legislation before arriving in Frankfort can make brief meetings with lawmakers more effective.
"If you walk on the campus and you're not somewhat emotional about being there, then you probably won't enjoy it. And if I ever feel that way, I just shouldn't come back. I get there every day and feel privileged to be a part of it," said Babbage.
"We get mad at it a lot, probably more than ever. People are angry constantly with government and running down officials… Except, when they get to know theirs and get to work with a few people who care about what they care about, it definitely changes our reaction and shows what can happen when we pull together."