Joshua Watkins
Born
1985
Contact
Email · joshua.watkins@kylegislature.gov
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37
Bills sponsored
this session · 69 all-time
0
Bills co-sponsored
this session · 0 all-time
2
Enacted into law
this session · 3 all-time
1113
Recorded votes
85%
Vote participation
voted in 85% of 1113 recorded votes
Voting scorecard
26rs session · computed from recorded roll-call votes
Party unity
96.7%
based on 277 votes
Votes with own party's majority
Independence
3.3%
based on 277 votes
Votes against own party's majority
Participation
79.8%
based on 277 votes
Roll calls where a yes/no was cast
Sponsored (introduced)
69 billsCurrent session 37 bills
- HB 870 AN ACT relating to public transportation, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. In Committee
- HB 681 AN ACT relating to postsecondary education. In Committee
- HB 299 AN ACT relating to machine gun conversion devices. Passed
- HB 653 AN ACT relating to civil rights. In Committee
- HB 311 AN ACT relating to railroad crossings. Signed
- HB 755 AN ACT relating to associations and individual representation rights. In Committee
- HB 128 AN ACT relating to the regulation of recovery residences and declaring an emergency. In Committee
- HB 843 AN ACT relating to community improvement districts. In Committee
- HB 386 AN ACT relating to coverage for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings. In Committee
- HB 199 AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to the possession of cannabis. In Committee
- HB 574 AN ACT relating to preschool education programs. In Committee
- HB 572 AN ACT relating to preschool education programs. In Committee
- HB 326 AN ACT relating to residential safety. In Committee
- HB 333 AN ACT relating to housing. Signed
- HB 354 AN ACT relating to homelessness prevention, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. In Committee
- HB 152 AN ACT relating to the individual income tax rate. In Committee
- HB 157 AN ACT relating to an eligible caregiver credit. In Committee
- HB 401 AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis. In Committee
- HR 91 A RESOLUTION declaring May as Mental Health Month in Kentucky. Passed
- HB 403 AN ACT relating to workers' compensation. In Committee
- HB 32 AN ACT relating to coverage for epinephrine devices. In Committee
- HB 402 AN ACT relating to workers' compensation. In Committee
- HB 228 AN ACT relating to a tax credit for renters. In Committee
- HB 34 AN ACT relating to death benefits. Passed
- HB 195 AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative. Passed
Historical 32 bills
- HB 225 AN ACT relating to the advertising of opiate and opioid agonist drugs. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 218A to prohibit the advertising of opiate and opioid agonist drugs. Died
- HB 104 AN ACT relating to operator's license testing. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require that a driver's education program to include instruction regarding a driver's conduct during interactions with law enforecement officers; amend KRS 186.480 to require the Kentucky State Police to make a Driver Manual available in printed or electronic format that contains the information needed for an operator's license examination; require that the manual have a section regarding a driver's conduct during interactions with law enforcement officers; require that the operator's license examination includes the driver's knowledge regarding conduct during interactions with law enforcement officers; create a new section of KRS Chapter 332 to require driver training schools to include in the course of instruction for new drivers information on how a driver should act during interactions with law enforcement officers. Died
- HCR 100 A Concurrent Resolution of the House urging the U.S. government and Army Corp of Engineers to maintain the summer pool water level in Kentucky Lake from Memorial to Labor Day. Died
- HB 59 AN ACT relating to the disclosure of private cellular phone numbers. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 367 to prohibit the marketing, sharing, or selling of wireless phone numbers of subscribers without express written consent of the subscriber; amend KRS 367.990 to create a penalty between $1,000 and $10,000 for each violation. Died
- HB 60 AN ACT relating to life imprisonment for persistent felony offenders. Amend KRS 532.080 to increase the sentence to life without the possiblity of parole for offenders with three or more independent convictions for Class A or B felonies or capital offenses. Died
- HB 62 AN ACT relating to crimes and punishments. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 218A to apply a uniform penalty of mandatory drug treatment and community service to persons convicted of possessing certain drugs and paraphernalia; amend KRS 218A.140 to revise possession of counterfeit substances from a Class D felony to a Class A misdemeanor; amend KRS 218A.1415 to revise possession of a controlled substance from a Class D felony to a Class A misdemeanor; amend KRS 218A.1437 to lower possession of a methamphetamine precursor from a Class D felony to a Class A misdemeanor; amend KRS 218A.276 to require that defendants convicted of possession of a counterfeit substance under KRS 218A.140, marijuana under KRS 218A.1422, synthetic drugs under KRS 218A.1430, methamphetamine precursors under KRS 218A.1437, salvia under KRS 218A.1451, or drug paraphernalia under KRS 218A.500 complete a drug treatment program; amend KRS 218A.275 to require that defendants convicted of possession of a controlled substance under various sections of Chapter 218A complete a drug treatment program; amend KRS 431.078 to conform. Died
- HB 191 AN ACT relating to consumer protection in eye care. Amend KRS 367.680 to define terms; amend KRS 367.681 to add requirements for prescriptions for visual aid glasses; amend KRS 367.683 and 367.684 to make applicable to all contact lens and visual aid glasses sellers and dispensers; amend KRS 367.685 to require fitting based on ocular health; amend KRS 367.686 and 367.687 to make applicable to visual aid glasses; create a new section of KRS 367.680 to 367.690 to set requirements for performance and operation of assessment mechanisms for contact lenses and visual aid glasses; amend KRS 367.688 and 367.690 to make applicable to visual aid glasses; increase the fine for violations to $11,000; create a new section of KRS 367.680 to 367.690 to provide that those sections may be cited as the Consumer Protection in Eye Care Act; APPROPRIATION. Signed
- HR 44 Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Fern Adkins. Died
- HR 99 Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Frances Rebecca Clements Abell. Died
- HB 372 AN ACT relating to protections of religious organizations. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 344 to set forth legislative findings; define "discriminatory actions," "religious organization," "state benefit program," and "state government"; set forth those religious beliefs or moral convictions protected by the Act; restrict state government from taking discriminatory actions against religious organizations for certain actions; allow a person to assert a claim against state government as a defense against certain discriminatory actions; require that a person assert a claim within two years; waive sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunities except those of liability under the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution; declare that the protections of free exercise of religious beliefs afforded are in addition to protections under federal and state law and federal and state constitutions; specify that if any application or provisions of the Act that is held invalid under the law, the remainder of the Act and application of its provisions shall not be affected. Died
- HR 295 Honor Fred Clem. Died
- HR 27 Recognize February 17 to 24, 2018, as FFA Week in Kentucky. Died
- HR 319 Honor Jody Richards upon his retirement from the House of Representatives. Died
- HR 251 Honor Sturgill Simpson. Died
- HR 245 Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Officer Scotty Hamilton. Died
- HR 96 Memorialize the forty-fifth anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Died
- HR 206 Recognize All Masons Day on February 28, 2018. Died
- HB 61 AN ACT relating to criminal attempted murder. Amend KRS 439.3401 to make criminal attempt to commit murder of a peace officer or a firefighter an offense for which at least 85 percent of the sentence must be served before probation or parole. Died
- HR 292 Honor Robert L. King upon his retirement. Died
- HR 45 Adjourn in honor and loving memory of former Kentucky State Representative Louis Johnson. Died
- HR 40 Declare January 17, 2018, to be Hunger Free Kentucky Day. Died
- HR 252 Recognize March as Irish American Heritage Month for Kentucky. Died
- HR 279 Honor Joyce Honaker upon winning the 2018 Vic Hellard Jr. Award for exemplary public service. Died
- HR 134 Recognize the role that the hospitality industry can play in disrupting child sex trafficking and encouraging residents, employees, and agencies to use hotels and venues which are signatories of the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct. Died
- HR 76 Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Bart Ross Elder. Died
Voting record
Current session 50 votes
| Bill | Vote | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB 732
AN ACT relating to worker benefits.
Adopt |
Yea | fail | March 24, 2026 |
|
HB 534
AN ACT relating to elections.
Suspend the Rules |
Yea | fail | March 05, 2026 |
|
HB 504
AN ACT making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the Judicial Branch of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its various officers, boards, commissions, subdivisions, and other state-supported activities.
maintenance, support, and functioning of the Judicial |
Nay | pass | — |
|
HB 503
AN ACT making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, and support of the Legislative Branch of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
maintenance, and support of the Legislative Branch of |
Nay | pass | March 03, 2026 |
|
HB 500
AN ACT relating to appropriations measures providing funding and establishing conditions for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its various officers, cabinets, departments, boards, commissions, institutions, subdivisions, agencies, and other state-supported activities.
funding and establishing conditions for the |
Nay | pass | — |
|
HB 380
AN ACT relating to the regulation of digital asset business.
kiosk business. |
Yea | pass | March 13, 2026 |
|
HB 84
AN ACT relating to legal liability for local governments and declaring an emergency.
governments. |
Yea | pass | January 30, 2026 |
|
HB 2
AN ACT relating to Medicaid, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
EMERGENCY |
Nay | pass | February 27, 2026 |
|
SB 189
AN ACT relating to the regulation of digital asset business.
kiosks. |
Yea | pass | April 01, 2026 |
|
SB 104
AN ACT relating to first responders.
Adopt |
Yea | fail | March 25, 2026 |
|
SB 56
AN ACT relating to utilization controls for nonopioid analgesics in the Medicaid program.
analgesics in the Medicaid program. |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
HB 139
AN ACT relating to elections and declaring an emergency.
Veto Override |
Nay | pass | April 14, 2026 |
|
SB 116
AN ACT relating to physician assistants.
Pass |
Yea | pass | March 27, 2026 |
|
SB 97
AN ACT relating to coverage for prostheses and orthoses.
Pass |
Yea | pass | March 27, 2026 |
|
SB 49
AN ACT relating to battery stewardship.
Pass |
Yea | pass | March 26, 2026 |
|
SB 4
AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
Pass |
Nay | pass | March 20, 2026 |
|
HJR 77
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of coal resource viability and energy affordability in eastern Kentucky and declaring an emergency.
Adopt |
Not Voting | pass | March 18, 2026 |
|
HB 385
AN ACT relating to state-operated mental health facilities.
Pass |
Yea | pass | February 06, 2026 |
|
HB 314
AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency.
Pass |
Nay | pass | February 02, 2026 |
|
HB 869
AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.
Final Passage |
Nay | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 37
AN ACT relating to state symbols.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 37
AN ACT relating to state symbols.
Adopt |
Not Voting | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 37
AN ACT relating to state symbols.
Suspend the Rules |
Not Voting | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
HB 826
AN ACT relating to education.
Final Passage |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
HR 141
A RESOLUTION censuring Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Kelly Thompson for his intemperate remarks that threatened attorneys and legislators participating in pending impeachment proceedings with professional discipline and criminal prosecution, and directing a complaint to be filed against him with the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Adopt |
Nay | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
HR 141
A RESOLUTION censuring Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Kelly Thompson for his intemperate remarks that threatened attorneys and legislators participating in pending impeachment proceedings with professional discipline and criminal prosecution, and directing a complaint to be filed against him with the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Previous Question |
Nay | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 197
AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
Pass |
Nay | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
HB 727
AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
Final Passage |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 261
AN ACT relating to pedestrian swinging bridges.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 324
AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 98
AN ACT relating to welding safety.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 66
AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SJR 116
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders.
Adopt |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SJR 116
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders.
Suspend the Rules |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SJR 74
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Legislative Research Commission and state agencies to collaborate to create a statewide fiscal map of substance use disorder programs and funding sources.
Adopt |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 129
AN ACT relating to unemployment insurance.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 56
AN ACT relating to utilization controls for nonopioid analgesics in the Medicaid program.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 56
AN ACT relating to utilization controls for nonopioid analgesics in the Medicaid program.
Suspend the Rules |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 312
AN ACT relating to court-ordered transports.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 214
AN ACT relating to agriculture and declaring an emergency.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SCR 66
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to explore opportunities to participate in federal nuclear-related programs and to expand their curricula to offer courses and degree paths to train the workforce that will construct and operate the next generation of nuclear energy facilities.
Adopt |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 70
AN ACT relating to the Public Pension Oversight Board.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 133
AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.
Pass |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
HB 311
AN ACT relating to railroad crossings.
Final Passage |
Yea | pass | April 15, 2026 |
|
SB 291
AN ACT relating to recyclers and declaring an emergency.
Veto Override |
Yea | pass | April 14, 2026 |
|
SB 263
AN ACT relating to education.
Veto Override |
Nay | pass | April 14, 2026 |
|
SB 251
AN ACT relating to the Department of Corrections.
Veto Override |
Nay | pass | April 14, 2026 |
|
HB 504
AN ACT making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the Judicial Branch of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its various officers, boards, commissions, subdivisions, and other state-supported activities.
Veto Override |
Nay | pass | April 14, 2026 |
|
HB 904
AN ACT relating to gaming.
Veto Override |
Nay | pass | April 14, 2026 |
|
SB 173
AN ACT relating to legislative oversight of the Medicaid state plan and declaring an emergency.
Veto Override |
Nay | pass | April 14, 2026 |