Kentuckians urge you to oppose HB 173, which would strip local governments of the ability to maintain rental property registries and enforce housing safety standards. This bill jeopardizes the health and safety of families, especially children, by removing essential tools that help ensure safe housing. Rental registries are a low-cost, low-barrier solution that enables local governments to identify and address hazards, like lead poisoning, that put families and children at risk.
Every child deserves the chance to thrive, and every family deserves a safe and healthy home. Many local governments across Kentucky have implemented rental registries to track and assess housing conditions, identify hazards like lead poisoning, and ensure landlords meet basic safety standards. Without these tools, communities will be left vulnerable to unsafe living conditions, with long-term consequences for families' health and well-being.
Governments have a responsibilty to ensure health and safety standards in all industries, including housing and these registries offer an effective and accessible way for landlords and property owners to ensure compliance with built-in exemptions and incentives.
Kentuckians need you to protect the right of local governments to ensure safe housing by opposing HB 173. Our children’s future depends on it.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue.
