| 2017 session of the Kentucky General Assembly | |||||
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_(cropped).jpg/1280px-U.S._Route_60_Frankfort,_KY_(23892062134)_(cropped).jpg) The Kentucky State Capitol in 2016 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Kentucky General Assembly | ||||
| Jurisdiction | Kentucky | ||||
| Term | January 3, 2017 – March 30, 2017 | ||||
| Senate | |||||
| Members | 38 | ||||
| President | Robert Stivers (R–25th) Jan. 8, 2013 - present | ||||
| Majority leader | Damon Thayer (R–17th) Jan. 8, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2025 | ||||
| Minority Leader | Ray Jones II (D–19th) Jan. 6, 2015 - Jan. 7, 2019 | ||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||
| House of Representatives | |||||
| Members | 100 | ||||
| Speaker | Jeff Hoover (R–83rd) Jan. 3, 2017 - January 8, 2018 | ||||
| Minority Leader | Rocky Adkins (D–99th) Jan. 3, 2017 - Dec. 10, 2019 | ||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||
The 2017 Kentucky General Assembly was a meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly, composed of the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives. It convened in Frankfort on January 3, 2017, and adjourned sine die on March 30, 2017. It was the second regular session of the legislature during the tenure of governor Matt Bevin.
Republicans maintained their majority following the 2016 election for the senate, while flipping control of the house from the Democratic Party for the first time since the 1919 election. This was the first session with a Republican majority in the house of representatives since the 1920 session.
Party summary
Senate
| Party (shading shows control)
|
Total | Vacant | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| End of previous session | 11 | 27 | 38 | 0 |
| Begin (January 3, 2017) | 11 | 27 | 38 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 28.9% | 71.1% | ||
| Beginning of the next session | 11 | 27 | 38 | 0 |
House of Representatives
| Party (shading shows control)
|
Total | Vacant | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| End of previous session | 53 | 47 | 100 | 0 |
| Begin (January 3, 2017) | 36 | 64 | 100 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 36.0% | 64.0% | ||
| Beginning of the next session | 36 | 62 | 98 | 2 |
Leadership
Senate
Presiding
Majority (Republican)
- Majority Leader: Damon Thayer
- Majority Whip: Jimmy Higdon
- Majority Caucus Chair: Dan Seum
Minority (Democratic)
- Minority Leader: Ray Jones II
- Minority Whip: Julian Carroll
- Minority Caucus Chair: Dorsey Ridley
House of Representatives
Presiding
- Speaker: Jeff Hoover (R)
- Speaker pro tempore: David W. Osborne (R)
Majority (Republican)
- Majority Leader: Jonathan Shell
- Majority Whip: Kevin Bratcher
- Majority Caucus Chair: David Meade
Minority (Democratic)
- Minority Leader: Rocky Adkins
- Minority Whip: Wilson Stone
- Minority Caucus Chair: Dennis Keene
Members
Senate
Senators in odd-numbered districts were elected in 2016, while senators in even-numbered districts were elected in 2014.
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 Senate composition by district Held by Democrats Held by Republicans
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House of Representatives
All 100 house districts were last up for election in 2016.
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Changes in membership
Senate changes
There were no changes in Senate membership during this session.
House of Representatives changes
There were no changes in House of Representatives membership during this session.
Committees
Senate committees
| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Paul Hornback | Stephen West |
| Appropriations and Revenue | Christian McDaniel | Stanley H. Humphries |
| Banking and Insurance | Tom Buford | Jared Carpenter |
| Committee on Committees | Robert Stivers | none |
| Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor | Alice Forgy Kerr | Rick Girdler |
| Education | Mike Wilson | Max Wise |
| Enrollment | Max Wise | none |
| Health and Welfare | Julie Raque Adams | Ralph Alvarado |
| Judiciary | Whitney Westerfield | Wil Schroder |
| Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations | John Schickel | Paul Hornback |
| Natural Resources and Energy | Jared Carpenter | Brandon Smith |
| Rules | Robert Stivers | none |
| State and Local Government | Joseph Bowen | Stanley H. Humphries |
| Transportation | Ernie Harris | Brandon Smith |
| Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection | Albert Robinson | C. B. Embry |
House of Representatives committees
| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Richard Heath | Mark Hart |
| Appropriations and Revenue | Steven Rudy | Ken Fleming |
| Banking and Insurance | Bart Rowland | Scott Wells |
| Committee on Committees | Jeff Hoover | Jonathan Shell |
| Economic Development and Workforce Investment | Jim DeCesare | Phillip Pratt |
| Education | John Carney | Steve Riley |
| Elections, Const. Amendments, and Intergovermental Affairs | Kenny Imes | DJ Johnson |
| Enrollment | Donna Mayfield | none |
| Health and Family Services | Addia Wuchner | Melinda Gibbons Prunty |
| Judiciary | Joseph Fischer | Jason Petrie |
| Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations | Adam Koenig | Chad McCoy |
| Local Government | Michael Meredith | Rob Rothenburger |
| Natural Resources and Energy | Jim Gooch Jr. | Chris Fugate |
| Rules | Jeff Hoover | Jonathan Shell |
| Small Business and Information Technology | Diane St. Onge | Larry D. Brown |
| State Government | Jerry T. Miller | Kenny Imes |
| Tourism and Outdoor Recreation | Tommy Turner | David Hale |
| Transportation | Marie Rader | Robby Mills and Walker Thomas |
| Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection | Tim Moore | Donna Mayfield |
See also
- 2016 Kentucky elections (elections leading to this session)
- List of Kentucky General Assemblies
Notes
References
- "Kentucky General Assembly 2017 Directory" (PDF). Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
