PADUCAH — The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a Public Policy Series Luncheon featuring local state legislators. The goal was to celebrate and reflect on the policy wins from Kentucky's 2025 legislative session.
Sen. Danny Carroll, Rep. Kim Holloway, Rep. Chris Freeland, Rep. Randy Bridges, and House Floor Leader Steven Rudy sit in a row to discuss the policy wins from Kentucky's 2025 legislative session.
The luncheon included Floor Leader Steven Rudy, Sen. Danny Carroll, and Reps. Randy Bridges, Kim Holloway, and Chris Freeland. They reflected on policy wins, including House Bill 1, House Bill 15, Senate Bill 77, and Senate Bill 179.
The most significant topic of the afternoon was Senate Bill 179, which will create the nuclear energy development grant program to support projects that advance and attract nuclear energy-related investments across Kentucky.
Kentucky District 2 Sen. Danny Carroll said Kentucky's nuclear energy efforts received a major financial boost this session, far beyond what he expected. Initially requesting only $50,000 for economic development through the nuclear authority, lawmakers ultimately distributed $40 million to support nuclear research and oversight at the University of Kentucky.
"When we set up the nuclear authority, $50,000 is what we had hoped to set aside just for economic development," Carroll said. "We got $40 million that was sent to the University of Kentucky for the operations of the authority, and the other, the Energy Commission. I didn't have any anticipation that we'd be able to do anything with that."
Carroll emphasized that Western Kentucky is positioning itself as a national leader in the nuclear energy sector. He believes the region's momentum will fuel economic growth and attract new residents and industries.
Sen. Danny Carroll speaks at the Public Policy Luncheon hosted by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce on May 1.
"Make no mistake about it, our part of the state is leading the way in the nuclear energy revolution within the Commonwealth of Kentucky," Carroll said. It's going to affect everyone in this room, as that goes in our economy, our ability to bring residents into this area. It is great, and it's great for us to be at the forefront of that."
Looking ahead, Carroll said Kentucky needs to prioritize investment in nuclear infrastructure and support businesses that use fuel. He believes the state has the potential to become a national hub for advanced nuclear development, but only if lawmakers remain proactive.
"Right now, for the supporting business — for the fuel aspect of it — we are one of the prime sites in this entire country for that development, and there are fuel enrichment facilities being built in other places, and they're needed," Carroll said. "We need a domestic supply of enriched uranium to fuel these reactors. So that's great for us, but it's a step-by-step process. There are meetings that are taking place all the time within the private sector, with utilities in our state, and just looking to come to our state to build it themselves, to build on and operate."
House Bill 1 was discussed, which passed early in the 2025 legislative session, lowering the personal income tax from 4% to 3.5% effective Jan. 1, 2026. The results are tax reductions of $712 million in personal income.
"We really want people to move to Kentucky, and we think that is the number one driver to get them to move here," Rudy said. "Our goal is to get to zero as soon as possible, without breaking the state's budget, and taking care of the needs that the state has."
Rudy also highlighted House Bill 15, which allows 15-year-olds to apply for driver's permits. He said this change has already had a noticeable impact in his home county.
Rep. Randy Bridges, left, and House Floor Leader Steven Rudy, right, listen to questions asked by the audience at the Public Policy Luncheon on May 1.
"A lot of positive feedback, a lot of excitement from parents and students across the state," Rudy said. You know, we were truly on an island when it came to the high threshold to get your permit. All the states around us allow 15-year-olds to get their permits, and now we do as well. They'll have it for a whole year and be able to get their license with a year's worth of training instead of six months."
Senate Bill 77 was discussed. It will allow Murray State University to begin working with the Council of Postsecondary Education and accrediting bodies to pursue a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
"What really broke it was when somebody realized, 'Oh, do you know how many institutions in the country can't add a doctorate because a state has a law preventing it? Six. They all happen to be in Kentucky,'" Rudy said. "Hopefully, Murray State will be able to benefit from that and get their veterinary school."
