Kentucky House of Representatives

Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
 None
History
New session started
 January 6, 2015
Leadership
Speaker of the House
Greg Stumbo (D)
since January 12, 2009
Speaker pro Tempore
Jody Richards (D)
since January 6, 2015
Majority Leader
Rocky Adkins (D)
since January 4, 2005
Minority Leader
Jeffrey Hoover (R)
since January 2, 2001
Structure
Seats 100
Kentucky state legislature diagram house.svg
Political groups

Governing party

Opposition party

  •   Republican (46)
Length of term
 2 years
Authority The Legislative Department, Section 29, Kentucky Constitution
Salary $186.73/day + per diem
Elections
Last election
 November 4, 2014
(100 seats)
Next election
 November 8, 2016
(100 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Kentucky State Capitol
Frankfort, Kentucky
Website
Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve the principle of equal representation. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits. The Kentucky House of Representatives convenes at the State Capitol in Frankfort.

History

The first meeting of the Kentucky House of Representatives was in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1792, shortly after statehood. During the first legislative session, legislators chose Frankfort, Kentucky to be the permanent state capital.

After women gained suffrage in Kentucky, Mary Elliott Flanery was elected as the first female member of the Kentucky House of Representative. She took her seat January 1922 and was the first female legislator elected south of the Mason-Dixon Line.[1]

Powers and legislative process

Section 47 of the Kentucky Constitution stipulates that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives.

Membership

Current composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 59 41 100 0
Begin 55 45 100 0
End of previous legislature 54 46
Begin 54 46 100 0
Latest voting share 54% 46%

Terms and qualifications

According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a state representative must: be a citizen of Kentucky, be at least 24 years old at the time of election, have resided in the state at least 2 years and the district at least 1 year prior to election. Per section 30 of the Kentucky Constitution, representatives are elected every two years in the November following a regular session of the General Assembly.

Leadership

The Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives is the chief presiding officer of the Kentucky House. The Speaker's official duties include maintaining order in the House, recognizing members during debate, appointing committee chairs and determining the composition of committees, and determining which committee has jurisdiction over which bill. Traditionally, the Speaker has also served as Chair of the Rules Committee and the Committee on Committees.

When the Speaker is absent from the floor or otherwise unavailable, the Speaker pro tempore fills in as the chief presiding officer of the House.

In addition to the Speaker and Speaker pro tem, each party caucus elects a floor leader, a whip, and caucus chair.

Leaders

Position Name Party Residence District
Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo Democratic Prestonsburg 95
Speaker pro tempore Jody Richards Democratic Bowling Green 20
Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins Democratic Sandy Hook 99
Majority Whip Johnny Bell Democratic Glasgow 23
Majority Caucus Chair Sannie Overly Democratic Paris 72
Minority Floor Leader Jeffrey Hoover Republican Jamestown 83
Minority Whip Jim DeCesare Republican Bowling Green 17
Minority Caucus Chair Stan Lee Republican Lexington 45

Current membership

District Representative Party Hometown County(ies) Elected Committee Chair Vice Chair
1 Steven Rudy Rep West Paducah Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, Fulton, McCracken 2005 State Government
2 Richard Heath Rep Mayfield Graves, McCracken 2012
3 Gerald Watkins Dem Paducah McCracken 2013
4 Lynn Bechler Rep Marion Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, McCracken 2013
5 Kenny Imes Dem Murray Calloway, Trigg 2013
6 Will Coursey Dem Benton Lyon, Marshall, McCracken 2008
7 Suzanne Miles† Rep Owensboro Daviess, Henderson, Union 2013
8 John Tilley Dem Hopkinsville Christian, Trigg 2007JudiciarySeniors, Military Affairs & Public Safety
9 Myron Dossett Rep Pembroke Christian 2007 Economic Development; Seniors, Military Affairs & Public Safety
10 Ben Waide Rep Madisonville Hopkins 2011
11 David Watkins Dem Henderson Henderson 2007 Health & Welfare
12 Jim Gooch Dem Providence Daviess, Hopkins, McLean, Webster 1995 Natural Resources & Environment
13 Jim Glenn Dem Owensboro Daviess 2007 State Government
14 Tommy Thompson Dem Owensboro Daviess, Ohio 2003
15 Brent Yonts Dem Greenville Christian, Hopkins, Muhlenberg 1997 Appropriations & Revenue; Judiciary
16 Martha Jane King Dem Lewisburg Logan, Todd 2009 Budget Review, Judiciary and Justice
17 C.B. Embry Rep Morgantown Butler, Grayson, Hardin 2003
18 Dwight Butler Rep Dayton Breckinridge, Bullitt, Daviess, Hancock, Hardin 1995 Agriculture & Small Business
19 Michael MeredithRep Brownsville Edmonson, Hart, LaRue 2011
20 Jody Richards Dem Bowling Green Warren 1976
21 Jim DeCesare Rep Rockfield Warren 2005
22 Wilson Stone Dem Scottsville Allen, Simpson, Warren 2009 Education
23 Johnny Bell Dem Glasgow Barren, Warren 2007 Transportation
24 Terry Mills Dem Lebanon Casey, Marion, Pulaski 2010
25 Jimmie Lee Dem Elizabethtown Hardin 1993
26 Tim Moore Rep Elizabethtown Hardin 2007
27 Jeff Greer Dem Brandenburg Bullitt, Meade, Hardin 2007Banking & InsuranceSeniors, Military Affairs & Public Safety
28 Charles Miller Dem Louisville Jefferson 1998 Labor & Industry; Licensing & Occupations
29 Kevin Bratcher Rep Louisville Jefferson 1997
30 Tom Burch Dem Louisville Jefferson 1978 (1972–75)Health & Welfare
31 Steve Riggs Dem Louisville Jefferson 1991 Local GovernmentBanking & Insurance
32 Julie Raque Adams Rep Louisville Jefferson 2011
33 Ron Crimm Rep Louisville Jefferson 1997 Banking & Insurance
34 Mary Lou Marzian Dem Louisville Jefferson 1994
35 Jim Wayne Dem Louisville Jefferson 1991 Local Government
36 Jonathan Shell Rep Lancaster Garrard, Madison 2013
37 Jeffery Donohue Dem Fairdale Jefferson 2013
38 Denver Butler Dem Louisville Jefferson 2013 Labor & Industry
39 Robert R. Damron Dem Nicholasville Jessamine, Fayette 1993
40 Dennis Horlander Dem Shively Jefferson 1996
41 Tom Riner Dem Louisville Jefferson 1982 Education
42 Reginald Meeks Dem Louisville Jefferson 2001 Licensing & Occupations
43 Darryl T. Owens Dem Louisville Jefferson 2005 Judiciary
44 Joni Jenkins Dem Shively Jefferson 1995 Labor & Industry
45 Stan Lee Rep Lexington Fayette 2001
46 Larry Clark Dem Louisville Jefferson 1984
47 Rick Rand Dem Bedford Carroll, Henry, Oldham, Trimble 2003Appropriations & Revenue
48 Bob M. DeWeese Rep Louisville Jefferson 1993Appropriations & Revenue
49 Russell Webber Rep Shepherdsville Bullitt 2013Education
50 David Floyd Rep Bardstown Bullitt, Nelson, Spencer 2005
51 John "Bam" Carney Rep Campbellsville Adair, Taylor 2009 Economic Development, Education
52 Ken Upchurch† Rep Monticello McCreary, Pulaski, Wayne 2013
53 Bart Rowland Rep Tompkinsville Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe, Monroe 2012
54 Mike Harmon Rep Danville Boyle, Washington 2003 Tourism Development & Energy
55 Kim King Rep Harrodsburg Anderson, Mercer, Spencer 2011
56 James Kay† Dem Versailles Fayette, Franklin, Woodford 2013 Education Seniors, Military Affairs & Public Safety; State Government
57 Derrick Graham Dem Frankfort Franklin 2003 State Government
58 Brad Montell Rep Shelbyville Shelby, Spencer 2003
59 David Osborne Rep Prospect Jefferson, Oldham 2005 Licensing & Occupations
60 Sal Santoro Rep Florence Boone 2007
61 Brian LinderRep Dry Ridge Gallatin, Grant, Owen 2012 Agriculture & Small Business
62 Ryan Quarles Rep Georgetown Fayette, Scott 2011
63 Diane St. Onge Rep Lakeside Park Kenton 2013
64 Thomas Kerr Rep Taylor Mill Kenton 1985
65 Arnold Simpson Dem Covington Kenton 1994 Appropriations & Revenue
66 Addia Wuchner Rep Burlington Boone 2005
67 Dennis Keene Dem Wilder Campbell 2005 Licensing & Occupations Economic Development
68 Joseph M. Fischer Rep Ft. Thomas Campbell 1999 Judiciary; Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs
69 Adam Koenig Rep Erlanger Boone, Campbell, Kenton 2007 Local Government
70 Mike Denham Dem Maysville Bracken, Fleming, Mason 2001 Agriculture & Small Business; Banking & Insurance; Local Government
71 John Will Stacy Dem West Liberty Menifee, Morgan, Rowan, Wolfe 1993
72 Sannie Overly Dem Paris Bath, Bourbon, Fayette, Nicholas 2008
73 Donna Mayfield Rep Winchester Clark, Madison 2011
74 Richard Henderson Dem Jeffersonville Montgomery, Powell, Wolfe 2007 Agriculture & Small Business
75 Kelly Flood Dem Lexington Fayette 2009
76 Ruth Ann Palumbo Dem Lexington Fayette 1991 Economic Development
77 Jesse Crenshaw Dem Lexington Fayette 1993
78 Tom McKee Dem Cynthiana Campbell, Harrison, Pendleton, Robertson 1997 Agriculture & Small Business
79 Susan Westrom Dem Lexington Fayette 1999 Enrollment Licensing & Occupations
80 David Meade Rep Stanford Lincoln, Pulaski, Rockcastle 2013
81 Rita Smart Dem Richmond Madison 2011
82 Regina Bunch Rep Laurel, Whitley 2011
83 Jeff Hoover Rep Jamestown Clinton, Pulaski, Russell 1997
84 Fitz Steele Dem Hazard Harlan, Perry 2009 Natural Resources & Environment; Tourism Development & Energy
85 Tommy Turner Rep Somerset Laurel, Pulaski 1997 Transportation
86 Jim Stewart Rep Flat Lick Knox, Laurel 1997 Labor & Industry; Natural Resources & Environment
87 Rick G. Nelson Dem Middlesboro Bell, Harlan 2001 Labor & Industry
88 Robert Benvenuti III Rep Lexington Fayette 2013
89 Marie Rader Rep McKee Jackson, Laurel, Owsley 1997 Transportation
90 Tim Couch Rep Hyden Clay, Harlan, Leslie 2003 Natural Resources & Environment
91 Toby Herald Rep Beattyville Breathitt, Estill, Lee 2013
92 John Short Dem Hindman Knott, Letcher, Magoffin 2011
93 Keith Hall Dem Phelps Pike 2001 Natural Resources & Environment
94 Leslie Combs Dem Pikeville Harlan, Letcher, Pike 2007 Transportation
95 Greg Stumbo Dem Prestonsburg Floyd 2008 (1980-04) Committees, Rules
96 Jill York Rep Grayson Carter, Lewis 2009
97 Hubert Collins Dem Wittensville Floyd, Johnson, Martin, Pike 1991 Transportation
98 Tanya Pullin Dem South Shore Boyd, Greenup 2001 Military Affairs & Public Safety
99 Rocky Adkins Dem Sandy Hook Boyd, Elliott, Lawrence, Rowan 1987
100 Kevin Sinnette Dem Ashland Boyd 2009 Banking & Insurance

† Winner of a special election

See also

References

  1. ↑ Powers, James C. (1992). John E. Kleber, ed. The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 323–324. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Retrieved 11 March 2010.

External links