Gov. Beshear vetoes 'Safer Kentucky Act,' despite saying it has 'good parts'
Gov. Beshear has vetoed another bill passed during this year's legislative session, and it's one of the more controversial ones.
Beshear vetoed House Bill 5 Tuesday, also known as the "Safer Kentucky Act," which is aimed at cracking down on violent crime in Kentucky.
The bill received final passage just before the veto period but has received pushback along the way.
In addition to cutting down on crime, the bill would also make it easier for local governments to clear out homeless encampments.
Beshear said in his veto message that HB 5 contained some "good parts" but says that those portions of the bill should have been made into standalone bills.
He offered criticism for other parts of the bill, including the portion pertaining to homeless people.
"The legislature chose to include these good policies with dozens of other measures in one wieldy bill that would criminalize homelessness and significantly increase incarceration costs without any additional appropriation."
Beshear also cited the bill's lack of fiscal impact analysis as a reason to veto it.
His veto can be overridden when lawmakers reconvene on April 12 and 15 to wrap up the 2024 legislative session.