APRIL 1, 2025
KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OUTCOMES FOR NEIGHBORHOODS
Dear Neighbors,
I am writing today to outline some of the bills that passed and some that did not that are of concern to neighborhoods. I want to thank those of you who engaged the Kentucky General Assembly on neighborhood issues.
1. Senate Bill 61 initially was about swimming pool regulation, but the Kentucky House of Representatives added a committee substitute to the bill that would have prohibited local governments from setting distance or density requirements for short term rental properties. The bill would have ended meaningful regulation of STRs in Fayette County. We have neighborhoods with intense clusters of STRs that were threatening neighborhood desirability and existence. Fortunately, the Urban County Government, the Fayette County Neighborhood Council, and our rural residents were able to stall the bill and prevent its passage. We are already preparing for the next session of the Kentucky General Assembly in anticipation that real estate investment and speculation interests will reintroduce the bill.
2. House bill 160 passed on the last day of the legislative session and will allow qualified modular homes (trailers) to locate in any zone allowing single family detached homes. I think this will harm less affluent neighborhoods–they will be targeted–and developers may continue to own the land and rent the trailers. The largest modular home developer in Kentucky manages multiple corporations and has very low ratings from the Better Business Bureau. Banks fully depreciate trailers in six or seven years. Trailers have relatively low density, so, even if “affordable” they are not an efficient way of providing affordable housing. Governor Beshear could still veto the bill without the threat of an override. You may contact the Governor at this website– https://governor.ky.gov/contact
3. SB 89 passed, Governor Beshear vetoed it, and the General Assembly voted to override the veto. The bill will increase water pollution in Kentucky and is very disappointing. It redefined “water” in the statutes to not include groundwater, wetlands, and small streams. Different sources of water are connected so they impact each other. The new law will help polluters and hurt everyone else.
4. HB 321 passed and restricts citizen and neighborhood rights to appeal planning and zoning cases. Likely the bill is unconstitutional for restricting access to the courts but someone will have to appeal a denial of access first.
5. SB 173 would have prevented the registration of rental properties and prevented local governments from registering and inspecting rental properties for lead paint, asbestos, and other issues. The bill failed to move likely because of significant opposition.
There were many bills of greater importance–Medicaid, for example–but these are the ones we thought most directly involved neighborhood issues I want to thank everyone who engaged the Kentucky General Assembly on issues impacting neighborhoods. Undoubtedly this will resume in 2026.
Thanks for everyone’s assistance.
Walt Gaffield, President
Fayette County Neighborhood Council, Inc.