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Governor Could Take Action on Religious Freedom Bill This Week

Governor Steve Beshear has one week to veto a controversial law protecting religious freedom or else it will become law.

On the federal level, if a bill isn't signed by the President within a certain period of time, it's thrown out in a process called the pocket veto.

But in Kentucky, the process is reversed.

The governor has 10 days to sign a bill into law. But if he doesn't sign or veto in that time, it becomes law anyway.

Call it a pocket law. The legislation in question is the so-called Religious Freedom bill, which allows Kentuckians to bypass laws they saw interfere with their religious beliefs. Opponents say it would overturn Fairness laws in cities across the commonwealth, and have lobbied the governor to act.

But the governor hasn't hinted at what he'll do with the bill.

Kenny Colston is the Frankfort Bureau Chief for Kentucky Public Radio (a collaborative effort of public radio stations in Kentucky). Colston has covered Kentucky's Capitol and state government since 2010. He is a Louisville native, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky. When he's not tracking down stories about Kentucky politics, you can often find him watching college sports, particularly football.