Sen. Gary Boswell from Owensboro is working on two new bills in Kentucky that aim to change some important rules. One bill focuses on who gets to be on library boards, while the other makes hunting a bit simpler for adults.
Library Board Appointments
Currently, when it’s time to appoint members to library boards, the state librarian chooses two candidates. The county judge-executive then can recommend one of them. If neither candidate is accepted, the process repeats. Only after two rounds of candidates can the judge-executive recommend someone else, but that choice still needs approval from the Fiscal Court.
Boswell’s Senate Bill 71 wants to change this system. He believes it will make the process easier and give local officials more control. By allowing county judges to make direct appointments, he thinks it will reduce unnecessary delays and conflicts in the community. He explained that local leaders would be better equipped to handle these decisions rather than state officials.
Boswell also pointed out that if the community disagrees with an appointment, they can voice their opinions during elections.
Changes to Hunter Education
The second bill, Senate Bill 72, aims to update Kentucky’s hunting regulations. It proposes to eliminate the hunter education requirement for adults over 18. Currently, all adults born after 1975 must complete a hunter safety course to hunt legally.
Boswell argues this change will support responsible hunting while removing obstacles for mature hunters. He tried to scrap the hunter education requirement entirely before but believes this compromise has a better chance of passing. The bill will still require those under 18 to take the course, but adults will not need to for a hunting license.
He expressed his concern that the current rules discourage new hunters, especially those who wish to start hunting later in life. He noted that it’s odd to require a safety course for hunting when adults can carry concealed weapons without training.
Boswell stated, “If someone has safely handled firearms for years, they shouldn’t have to complete a class just to go hunting.” He believes many people learn to hunt through family traditions and should be allowed to do so without extra hurdles.
For more details on these bills and other legislative measures, check out Legislature.ky.gov.
