Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Kentucky
Phillip Wheeler
Republican · Senator

Phillip Wheeler

Represents District 31 in the State Senate.

Official site ↗ Email
Votes with Republicans
94%
on 87 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 98%
Cast a vote
96%
Yea or Nay on 417 of 436 roll calls · Senate median 98%
Their bills that became law
11 of 30
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 7
Roll calls on record
436
2026 Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 10, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 2026 Regular Session.

How Phillip Wheeler votes

A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.

Where Phillip Wheeler sits in the Senate

Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Phillip Wheeler is circled.

Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party

5 of 87 party-line votes.

SB195 · AN ACT relating to participants in the legal system.
In plain English Requires written notice 60 days before filing civil lawsuits, limits insurance claims, restricts medical malpractice suits, and bars recovery for those more than 50% at fault, among other changes.
Nay
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4075 · 2026-03-31 · Passed 29–9 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB199 · AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
Nay
Senate: Veto Override RSN# 4084 · 2026-03-31 · Passed 24–12 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB199 · AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
Nay
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3954 · 2026-03-19 · Passed 24–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB199 · AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
Nay
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3886 · 2026-03-05 · Passed 23–13 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB152 · AN ACT relating to education.
Nay
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3838 · 2026-02-19 · Passed 27–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
Closest votes they cast

Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.

SB199 · AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
Nay
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3886 · 2026-03-05 · Passed 23–13
HB904 · AN ACT relating to gaming.
In plain English Requires the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation to regulate fantasy contest operators through licensing, geolocation technology, fraud prevention, and audit requirements, among other changes.
Yea
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4138 · 2026-04-01 · Passed 24–13
SB251 · AN ACT relating to the Department of Corrections.
In plain English Allows the Department of Corrections to set execution protocols through internal policy instead of requiring formal administrative regulations.
Yea
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3936 · 2026-03-16 · Passed 24–11
SB223 · AN ACT relating to the regulation of cannabis-infused beverages.
Yea
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3965 · 2026-03-20 · Passed 25–11
SB45 · AN ACT relating to agritourism.
Yea
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3821 · 2026-02-12 · Passed 26–12
Democrats they vote with most

Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.

Keturah HerronDemocrat · District 35 · 91 shared contested votes
16%
Karen BergDemocrat · District 26 · 83 shared contested votes
13%
Gary ClemonsDemocrat · District 37 · 90 shared contested votes
12%
Their session, month by month

Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (19 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.

2026-01: 21 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-02: 53 roll calls, 8 without a Yea or Nay2026-03: 206 roll calls, 9 without a Yea or Nay2026-04: 156 roll calls, 2 without a Yea or NayJan 2026Apr 2026
← Kentucky Delegation
Their bills, from filing to law

Bills Phillip Wheeler was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.

Introduced30
Out of committee13
Passed one chamber12
Passed both chambers11
Became law11
Never left committee17

For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.

What their bills are about
Technical Corrections 7Energy 6State Agencies 5Memorials 5Economic Development 5Labor and Industry 4
AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
In plain English Creates a tiered county system for Kentucky business tax incentives based on unemployment rates and population rankings.
Official synopsis: Create a new section of Subchapter 32 of KRS Chapter 154 to establish a tiered county system for eligible companies to receive incentives under the Kentucky Business Investment Program; amends KRS 154.32-010 to define "tier"; amends KRS 154.32-020 and 154.32-040 to conform; amend KRS 154.32-050…
Became lawdelivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 202) · 2026-04-27
AN ACT relating to welding safety.
In plain English Requires structural steel welding projects to hire certified welders and meet national standards, except for work on homeowner or farmer property.
Official synopsis: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 198B to establish requirements for projects using structural steel welding, such as hiring a certified welder and meeting national welding standards; define terms; exempt welding projects performed or requested on the premises of a homeowner or farmer; EFFECTIVE…
Became lawsigned by Governor (Acts Ch. 201) · 2026-04-27
A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Frances Smith Coleman.
Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Frances Smith Coleman.
Became lawadopted by voice vote · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Bobbie Lou Rasnick.
Adjourn the Senate in honor and loving memory of Bobbie Lou Rasnick.
Became lawadopted by voice vote · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Paul Todd Case to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees.
In plain English Confirms the reappointment of Paul Todd Case to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees through June 30, 2031.
Official synopsis: Confirm the reappointment of Paul Todd Case to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees for a term expiring June 30, 2031.
Not out of committeeadopted 38-0 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Jeremiah Parsons.
Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Jeremiah Parsons.
Became lawadopted by voice vote · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION recognizing the tremendous skill and efficiency of the United States of America's elite Delta Force for the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Recognize the United States of America's elite Delta Force for the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Became lawadopted by voice vote · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to workforce development and declaring an emergency.
In plain English Allows the governor to approve workforce training programs for federal Workforce Pell Grants in consultation with the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board.
Official synopsis: Create a new section of KRS 151B to grant the governor, in consultation with the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, the authority to approve all eligible workforce training programs for federal Workforce Pell Grants and coordinate approval of eligible workforce training programs to avoid duplicative payments;…
Became lawsigned by Governor (Acts Ch. 132) · 2026-04-13
AN ACT relating to the Department of Workers' Claims and declaring an emergency.
In plain English Creates the Department of Workers' Claims under the Governor's office and requires its commissioner to have at least eight years of workers' compensation legal experience.
Official synopsis: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 342 to establish the Department of Workers' Claims to be administratively attached to the Office of the Governor; amend KRS 342.122 to provide that the combined budgets of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Workers' Compensation Nominating…
Became lawbecame law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 61) · 2026-04-09
A JOINT RESOLUTION regarding utility fuel adjustment clauses under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission and declaring an emergency.
Order the Public Service Commission to open a new or include in an existing administrative case by May 15, 2026, to review the fuel adjustment charge to reduce volatility in the surcharge; receive comments from the public and affected parties on the fuel adjustment charge;…
Passed one chamberreceived in House · 2026-03-17
AN ACT relating to unemployment insurance.
Amend KRS 341.350, relating to unemployment insurance, to lengthen the verified definite return-to-work or recall-to-work period from 16 weeks to 12 months and add protections for employees whose place of employment can reasonably be expected to resume operations within 12 months following a natural disaster.
Not out of committeereturned to Committee on Committees (S) · 2026-03-17
AN ACT relating to retail electric suppliers.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 278 to declare that policy of the Commonwealth is for retail electric suppliers under the Public Service Commission (PSC) to procure electric generation sufficient to meet customer demand using an open, competitive process and at a rate that is…
Out of committee2nd reading, to Rules · 2026-03-05
AN ACT relating to economic development.
Amend KRS 148.853, relating to tourism development incentives, to increase the time a seasonal tourism attraction project is required to be open to the public from 6 months to 9 months in order to qualify for an extension in the term of its incentive agreement.
Not out of committeeto Committee on Committees (S) · 2026-03-02
AN ACT relating to economic development.
Amend KRS 154.10-040 to add gender-neutral language.
Not out of committeeto Committee on Committees (S) · 2026-03-02
AN ACT relating to transportation.
Amend KRS 186.230 and 186.120 to conform to gender-neutral language.
Not out of committeeto Committee on Committees (S) · 2026-03-02

“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.

Loading committees…
SR244 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Marilyn Mason to the Kentucky Housing Corporation Board of Directors. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4223)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR243 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Chad Mills to the Kentucky Housing Corporation Board of Directors. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4222)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SB197 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4263)
Passed · 35-1
Yea
SB98 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to welding safety. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4259)
Passed · 37-0
Yea
SB133 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4257)
Passed · 37-0
Yea
HB869 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4264)
Passed · 37-0
Yea
SB324 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4261)
Passed · 37-0
Yea
HB220 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to pension spiking in the systems administered by the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4189)
Passed · 36-0
Yea
HB826 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4256)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SB66 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4260)
Passed · 36-0
Yea
SR268 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of as Joseph Koester to Board of Directors of the Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance Authority. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4246)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR237 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Edward Hatchett to the Kentucky State University Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4216)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR231 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrew Wood to the Public Service Commission. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4210)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR258 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kenton W. Bottoms II to the Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4237)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR271 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Dr. Kenny Burdine to the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4249)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR257 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Debra Wulfeck to the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4236)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR269 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of William Jones to the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance Authority. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4247)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR253 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Mark Kleiner to the Kentucky Lottery Corporation Board of Directors. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4232)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR245 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Amy Miller to the Board of Tax Appeals. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4224)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR227 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Anne Veno to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4206)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR273 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steven Olt to the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4251)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR228 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Hope Jones to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4207)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR251 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Kathryn Thomas to the Board of Claims. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4230)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR264 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Fritz Giesecke to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4242)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR266 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Sean Garber to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4244)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR216 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Nicholas Pace to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4195)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR265 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Madison Silvert to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4243)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR248 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of James P. Gray II to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4227)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR218 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Michael R. Eaves to the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4197)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR252 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of John Stovall to the Kentucky Lottery Corporation Board of Directors. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4231)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR247 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Paul Todd Case to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4226)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR230 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Arthur Ryan to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4209)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR241 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Justin Kyle Mitchell to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4220)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR272 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Frank Penn to the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4250)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR233 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ken Hunt to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4212)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR213 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jai Y. Bokey to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4192)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR263 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Heather Graham to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4241)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR242 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Elijah Edwards to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4221)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR246 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Leon Clark Williams to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4225)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR238 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Merideth Murphy Pittman to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4217)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR229 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Monica Kennison to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4208)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR232 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Angela Hatton to the Public Service Commission. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4211)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR239 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Lisa Marie Rudzinski to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4218)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR250 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Hilary Sykes to the Crime Victims Compensation Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4229)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR249 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Elaine Wilson to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4228)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR260 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrew Marshall Coyle to the Kentucky State Fair Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4238)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR215 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Elizabeth G. Dinkins to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4194)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR267 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of F. Bruce Williams to the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance Authority. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4245)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR234 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Tara Horn to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4213)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR221 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Misdee Wrigley Miller to the Kentucky Film Leadership Council. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4200)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR254 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Victoria Grooms to the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4233)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR223 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steve Zahn to the Kentucky Film Leadership Council. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4202)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR224 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Soozie Eastman as a member of the Kentucky Film Leadership Council. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4203)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR262 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Darrin Benton to the Kentucky State Fair Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4240)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR217 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Wilton Currie Milliken to the Western Kentucky University Board of Regents. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4196)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR219 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of William Crawford to the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4198)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR226 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Michael James to the Parole Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4205)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR276 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jonathan Rabinowitz to the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4254)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR270 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Michael McGhee to the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance Authority. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4248)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
SR222 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jeremy Winton as a member of the Kentucky Film Leadership Council. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4201)
Passed · 38-0
Yea
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 436 total roll-call votes this session).
Voting data provided by LegiScan, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Capitol-Mail Office
📍Room Annex 215, 702 Capital Ave., Frankfort, KY 40601
Follow Phillip Wheeler

One email a week, only when there’s something: every time they broke with their party, and the closest votes they cast. Free, and you can stop any time.

+ Advertise on this pageReach District 31 constituents