Senate President Robert Stivers was presented a 2021 County Advocate award by the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) Board of Directors at its meeting Thursday.
The award was presented to President Stivers for his support of bills that helped advance the work of county government during the 2021 legislative session.
The County Advocate award will be presented to legislators who supported counties throughout the 2021 session by sponsoring or shepherding legislation that helps counties continue to provide services, and by opposing legislation that limits the ability of counties to serve our mutual constituents by imposing unfunded mandates or limit home rule.
Stivers is the first recipient of this 2021 award.
KACo President and Madison County Judge/Executive Reagan Taylor presented the award on behalf of the board.
“We are so grateful to you, President Stivers, for your work during session on behalf of counties and sharing your vision for counties and the needs across our state,” Taylor said. “Your leadership on the opioid settlement, broadband and other issues was much appreciated, and we want to present you with this award for your efforts.”
Since beginning his legislative service in 1997, Stivers has been an advocate for county government on issues including coal counties, lack of adequate revenue, jails and public safety, effects of annexation and more.
During the 2021 session, President Stivers sponsored and supported a variety of bills that advanced issues important to counties. He sponsored Senate Bill 5, which extended narrowly tailored COVID-19 liability protection to counties, businesses, schools and healthcare providers.
With his support, many other bills were passed this session that positively impacted counties, including funding for broadband (HB382), water and sewer needs (SB36), jail financial assistance (HB556), elections (HB574) and the opioid settlement distribution (HB427).
