Have a burning question or suggestion for Kentucky’s legislators? Café LOUIE is here to give your voice a mic and your thoughts a stage at its monthly meetings with elected officials.
Café LOUIE is a partnership between the Library Foundation, the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL), the Leadership Louisville Center, and the Friends of the Library. The annual series is designed to facilitate community interaction with state and local legislators.
Each month, from January to March, the meetings are held 9-10 a.m. at a different LFPL location — see the 2024 schedule below.
Community members can grab a cup of Heine Brothers coffee and ask questions to a cast of rotating officials, including Kentucky State Senate members, Kentucky House Representatives, Metro Councilpersons, and mayors. A trained facilitator will direct + moderate the discussion.
Meetings occur Saturdays from 9–10 a.m. | Screenshot from lfplfoundation.org
Screenshot from Café LOUIE
Here are some fast facts about each legislative branch.
Kentucky State Senate
- Comprised of 38 members elected from single-member districts
- Meet in Frankfort annually starting in January — sessions last 60 legislative days in even-numbered years and 30 days in odd-numbered years
- Senate candidates must be at least 30-years-old, a citizen of Kentucky, and have lived in their district for at least one year prior to election.
- No term limits
- Find your state senator
Kentucky House of Representatives
- Composed of 100 representatives elected from single-member districts
- House candidates must be at least 24-years-old, a citizen of Kentucky, and have lived in their district at least one year prior to election
- Elected every two years
- Find your state representative
Louisville Metro Council
- Established in 2003 after the merger between the City of Louisville and Jefferson County
- Consists of 26 seats corresponding to districts throughout Jefferson County
- Elected every four years in a staggered process.
- Find your councilperson