SB 9 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to housing districts.

Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 65 to define terms; establish the process for a local government to establish a residential infrastructure development district and for dissolution of a district; authorize a local government to issue bonds and other obligations to pay for infrastructure costs within a residential infrastructure development district; authorize a local government to collect special assessments on property within the residential infrastructure development district to pay for infrastructure costs and use special assessment revenue for administrative costs unless restricted; establish that the special assessment constitutes a lien, address lien priority, require delinquent property taxes to be paid prior to a special assessment, and allow for redemption of property sold as a result of delinquent payment of a special assessment; permit local governments to act jointly to establish and maintain a residential infrastructure development district; define terms and allow a local government to establish a housing development district and a Housing Incentive Payment Program; allow a local government to exempt housing developments within a housing development district from planning and zoning following a public hearing; permit other local taxing authorities to participate in a housing development district; allow a local government to accept applications from developers to undertake projects within a housing development district; allow a local government to negotiate with a developer whose application it has accepted regarding rates associated with incentive payments to the developer; establish a means by which a developer shall be paid incentive payments by a local government; require area development districts to provide assistance to a local government in establishing a housing development district; require the Cabinet for Economic Development to promote awareness of the housing development district and incentive program and the Certified Child Care Community Designation program set out in KRS 199.891; require the cabinet to post information including a list of local governments that have established housing development districts and have obtained the certified child care community designation to its website; require local governments that have established housing development districts to provide information to the Department for Local Government regarding the district and utilization of the incentive program; require the Department for Local Government to submit a report to LRC summarizing information received from local governments regarding housing development districts; provide that the Act shall not be construed to prohibit a local government from establishing any other incentive program for housing development.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill underwent significant formatting and structural reorganization, likely due to a change in bill number or tracking ID. Substantively, the definition of 'Infrastructure costs' was expanded to explicitly include the appraised value of donated land if it exceeds the developer's demonstrated cost, potentially increasing the financial burden on developers. Additionally, the requirements for the 'Initiating petition' were modified to include a new item regarding mortgage or lien holder approvals and a new clause requiring the developer to confirm that owners have received prior approval before inclusion in the district.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on housing districts, but the financial thresholds for 'Infrastructure costs' were effectively widened to include higher land values, and the eligibility process for property inclusion now strictly requires mortgage or lien holder consent.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'Infrastructure costs' was updated to state that the value of donated land is valued at the higher of the developer's demonstrated cost or the appraised value, which could increase the amount of special assessments levied on property owners.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added to the initiating petition process, mandating that the developer or owner must obtain signed approval from any mortgage or lien holder before a property can be included in the district.

A new condition was added to the petition requirements, stating that the developer must confirm that the mortgage or lien holder has received the necessary approval set out in the petition.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was changed from '26 RS BR 1742' to '26 RS SB 9/GA', and the page count increased from 14 to 15, indicating a renumbering or reorganization of the document.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

403
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 44
Feb 17, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican38
34 Yea 3 Nay 1
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
7
Committee
11
Amendments
3
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee report (1) filed in House and Senate
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee appointed in House and Senate
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
floor amendments (3) and (4) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 71-21 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Committee
to Local Government (H)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 35-2 with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
to State & Local Government (S)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.