Landlord rights bill secures senate approval

Wednesday, in Frankfort, Senator Steve West secured Senate approval for Senate Bill 25, which could impact people on Section 8 housing assistance.

Frankfort, Ky (WTVQ): Protecting the rights of landlords. Wednesday, in Frankfort, Senator Steve West secured Senate approval for Senate Bill 25, which could impact people on Section 8 housing assistance.

SB 25 outlines that landlords would not have to rent to those that participate in the housing program under federal section 8. Section 8 housing helps people find affordable housing particularly low-income families. It is one of the longest-standing affordable housing programs that issue housing vouchers to help people pay their rent.

Republican Senator Steve West, from Paris now represents part of Lexington. With recent talks about income discrimination, he says a lot of landlords reached out to him with some concerns. “If we do want to address the housing crisis” West said. “If we want more housing, we want more affordable housing then we have to protect the eco system. With local ordinances affecting eviction rights and section 8 vouchers and the housing crisis in general,” West said.

The bill passed the senate floor Wednesday with a 30-6 vote. “It’s important to note that the state, really didn’t change anything. The bills keep the status quo in place,” West said.  The bill passed out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee last week 8 to 1.

Democrat Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong from Louisville was the one who voted “no”. Armstrong says this bill would undo a lot of work that’s been done around source of income discrimination. “Making sure that people can’t be discriminated against just because there’s someone utilizing government assistance,” she said.

However, West says to have a good housing eco system, “You have to have to have low-income housing middle income housing, and high-income housing for it to work,” he said. “If you go too far with the local ordinances and you destroy that middle market, then it becomes problematic for the city.”

The bill is now headed to the state house of representatives where lawmakers have the opportunity to review the legislation.