Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Kentucky
Votes with Republicans
100%
on 86 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 98%
Cast a vote
89%
Yea or Nay on 386 of 436 roll calls · Senate median 98%
Their bills that became law
2 of 8
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 Rick Girdler 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 Rick Girdler 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. Rick Girdler is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
0 of 86 party-line votes.
They voted with most Republicans on every party-line vote this session.
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB199 · AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
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.
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4138 · 2026-04-01 · Passed 24–13
SB223 · AN ACT relating to the regulation of cannabis-infused beverages.
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3965 · 2026-03-20 · Passed 25–11
SB45 · AN ACT relating to agritourism.
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3821 · 2026-02-12 · Passed 26–12
HB627 · AN ACT relating to insurance.
In plain English Modifies personal injury protection insurance benefits, increases work loss reimbursement limits, establishes medical expense payment requirements, and requires annual insurance fraud reporting.
Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4034 · 2026-03-27 · Passed 24–8
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 · 90 shared contested votes
12%
Gary ClemonsDemocrat · District 37 · 89 shared contested votes
9%
Karen BergDemocrat · District 26 · 83 shared contested votes
8%
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 (50 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Kentucky Delegation
YeaYeaAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentAbsentYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Rick Girdler 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.
Introduced8
Out of committee4
Passed one chamber4
Passed both chambers2
Became law2
Never left committee3
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Education, Higher 3Children and Minors 2Parental Rights 2Domestic Relations 2Confirmation of Appointments 2Courts, Circuit 1
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Tara Horn to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents.
In plain English Confirms the appointment of Tara Horn to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents through September 11, 2031.
Official synopsis: Confirm the appointment of Tara Horn to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents for a term expiring September 11, 2031.
Not out of committeeadopted 38-0 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Elaine Wilson to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees.
In plain English Confirms the appointment of Elaine Wilson to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees through June 30, 2027.
Official synopsis: Confirm the appointment of Elaine Wilson to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees for a term expiring June 30, 2027.
Not out of committeeadopted 38-0 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to grandparent visitation.
In plain English Requires courts to use a clear and convincing evidence standard when deciding grandparent visitation cases and establishes factors courts may consider.
Official synopsis: Amend KRS 405.021 to establish a clear and convincing standard of evidence in determining grandparent visitation; establish factors the court may consider in determining the best interests of the child; remove rebuttable presumption standard; amend KRS 620.090 to conform.
Passed one chamberrecommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H) · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION recognizing April 28th, 2026, as Pay It Forward Day.
Recognize April 28, 2026, as Pay It Forward Day.
Became lawadopted by voice vote · 2026-04-14
AN ACT relating to coverage for prostheses and orthoses.
In plain English Requires health benefit plans to cover prostheses and orthoses with minimum coverage standards, nondiscriminatory review decisions, and network adequacy requirements, effective January 1, 2027.
Official synopsis: Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for prostheses and orthoses; establish minimum requirements for the required coverage; require utilizations review decisions to be made in a nondiscriminatory manner; require an insurer or…
Became lawsigned by Governor (Acts Ch. 51) · 2026-04-07
AN ACT relating to speech-language pathologists.
Amend KRS 334A.035 to remove the requirement of needing to complete postgraduate professional experience to be completed under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist who holds a Kentucky license; amend KRS 334a.050, 334A.020, and 344A.085 to conform.
Passed one chamberto Committee on Committees (H) · 2026-03-06
AN ACT relating to grandparent visitation.
Amend KRS 405.021 to establish factors for a court to consider in determining the visitation rights of grandparents; amend KRS 620.090 to conform; make technical changes.
FailedWITHDRAWN · 2026-02-27
A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Glen Stykes Memorial Highway in Pulaski County.
Direct the Transportation Cabinet to designate a portion of Kentucky Route 3091 in Pulaski County as the Glen Stykes Memorial Highway.
Not out of committeeto Transportation (S) · 2026-02-17
“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)
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)
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)
SB98 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to welding safety. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4259)
SB133 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4257)
HB869 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4264)
SB324 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4261)
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)
HB826 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4256)
SB66 · 2026-04-15
AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4260)
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)
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)
SR231 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrew Wood to the Public Service Commission. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4210)
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)
SR271 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Dr. Kenny Burdine to the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4249)
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)
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)
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)
SR245 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Amy Miller to the Board of Tax Appeals. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4224)
SR227 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Anne Veno to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4206)
SR273 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steven Olt to the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4251)
SR228 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Hope Jones to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4207)
SR251 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Kathryn Thomas to the Board of Claims. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4230)
SR264 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Fritz Giesecke to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4242)
SR266 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Sean Garber to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4244)
SR216 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Nicholas Pace to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4195)
SR265 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Madison Silvert to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4243)
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)
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)
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)
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)
SR230 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Arthur Ryan to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4209)
SR241 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Justin Kyle Mitchell to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4220)
SR272 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Frank Penn to the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4250)
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)
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)
SR263 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Heather Graham to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4241)
SR242 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Elijah Edwards to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4221)
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)
SR238 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Merideth Murphy Pittman to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4217)
SR229 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Monica Kennison to the Board of Nursing. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4208)
SR232 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Angela Hatton to the Public Service Commission. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4211)
SR239 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Lisa Marie Rudzinski to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4218)
SR250 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Hilary Sykes to the Crime Victims Compensation Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4229)
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)
SR260 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrew Marshall Coyle to the Kentucky State Fair Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4238)
SR215 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Elizabeth G. Dinkins to the Education Professional Standards Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4194)
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)
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)
SR221 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Misdee Wrigley Miller to the Kentucky Film Leadership Council. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4200)
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)
SR223 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steve Zahn to the Kentucky Film Leadership Council. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4202)
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)
SR262 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Darrin Benton to the Kentucky State Fair Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4240)
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)
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)
SR226 · 2026-04-15
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Michael James to the Parole Board. (Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4205)
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)
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)
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)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 436 total roll-call votes this session).
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