| Kentucky Senate | |
| Coa Pic: | Seal of Kentucky.svg |
| Session Room: | Senate Chamber - Kentucky State Capitol - DSC09173.JPG |
| Term Limits: | None |
| New Session: | January 2, 2024 (adjourned) |
| Leader1: | Robert Stivers (R) |
| Election1: | January 8, 2013 |
| Leader2: | David P. Givens (R) |
| Election2: | January 8, 2019 |
| Leader3 Type: | Majority Leader |
| Leader3: | Damon Thayer (R) |
| Election3: | January 8, 2013 |
| Leader4 Type: | Minority Leader |
| Leader4: | Gerald Neal (D) |
| Election4: | January 3, 2023 |
| Members: | 38 |
| Structure1: | 2023 Kentucky Senate.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 250px |
| Political Groups1: | Majority Minority |
| Last Election1: | November 8, 2022 (19 seats) |
| Next Election1: | November 5, 2024 (19 seats) |
| Term Length: | 4 years |
| Salary: | $188.22/day + per diem (elected before January 1, 2023) $203.28/day + per diem (elected after January 1, 2023)[1] |
| Redistricting: | Legislative Control |
| Meeting Place: | Senate Chamber Kentucky State Capitol Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Website: | Legislative Research Commission |
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky senators. The Kentucky Senate meets at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort annually beginning in January. Sessions last for 60 legislative days in even-numbered years and 30 legislative days in odd-numbered years.[2]
Republicans have had control of the Senate since 2000. They currently hold 31 seats to Democrats' 7.
According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a senator must:
Per section 30 of the Kentucky Constitution, senators are elected to four year staggered terms, with half the Senate elected every two years.
Prior to a 1992 constitutional amendment, the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky presided over the Senate; the 1992 amendment created a new office of President of the Senate to be held by one of the 38 senators.
Additionally, each political party elects a floor leader, whip, and caucus chairman.
Current party leadership of the Kentucky Senate:
| Session | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 2017–2018 sessions | 27 | 11 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2019 session | 28 | 9 | 37 | 1 | ||
| 2020 session | 29 | 9 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2021–2022 sessions | 30 | 8 | 38 | 0 | ||
| January 2, 2023[3] | 31 | 6 | 37 | 1 | ||
| January 6, 2023[4] | 30 | 6 | 36 | 2 | ||
| March 2, 2023[5] | 30 | 7 | 37 | 1 | ||
| June 8, 2023[6] | 31 | 7 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Latest voting share | ||||||
Carolyn Conn Moore became the first woman to serve in the Kentucky Senate when in November 1949 she won a special election to replace her husband, J. Lee Moore, in the legislature after his death.[9] Georgia Davis Powers became the first person of color to be elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1967. Gerald Neal became the first African American ever to be elected to a leadership position in the Kentucky General Assembly in 2014.[10] Ralph Alvarado became the first Hispanic to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly when he was elected in 2014.[11]
.[12]
| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Jason Howell (R-1) | Gary Boswell (R-8) | |
| Appropriations & Revenue | Christian McDaniel (R-23) | Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-12) | |
| Banking & Insurance | Jared Carpenter (R-34) | Rick Girdler (R-15) | |
| Committee on Committees | Robert Stivers (R-25) | n/a | |
| Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor | Max Wise (R-16) | Phillip Wheeler (R-31) | |
| Education | Steve West (R-27) | Gex Williams (R-20) | |
| Enrollment | Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-12) | n/a | |
| Families and Children | Danny Carrol (R-2) | Julie Raque Adams (R-36) | |
| Health Services | Stephen Meredith (R-5) | Donald Douglas (R-22) | |
| Judiciary | Whitney Westerfield (R-3) | Phillip Wheeler (R-31) | |
| Licensing & Occupations | John Schickel (R-11) | Mike Nemes (R-38) | |
| Natural Resources & Energy | Brandon Smith (R-30) | Johnnie Turner (R-29) | |
| Rules | Robert Stivers (R-25) | n/a | |
| State & Local Government | Robby Mills (R-4) | Mike Nemes (R-38) | |
| Transportation | Jimmy Higdon (R-14) | Brandon J. Storm (R-21) | |
| Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection | Rick Girdler (R-15) | Matthew Deneen (R-10) |
See main article: Political party strength in Kentucky.