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Update 4/2/08 more ...
Chart of Bills, 2/1/08
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Small Business Caucus Day at the Capitol more
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Kentucky
State Legislation
The Kentucky General Assembly has only two legislative days left
to take action on bills that have seen some activity. April 14th and
15th are the final days with sine die on the 15th. So far very few
bills have passed both houses and been sent to the Governor.
Generally, that might be a good thing. This year almost a record
number of bills have been introduced after a very slow January start.
KMHI is monitoring 10 Senate, 47 House bills and 1 House Concurrent
Resolution for a total of 58 bills, about 15 more than usual. Of the
bills monitored about 20 were seriously considered and directly would
have an affect on the industry.
Here are the highlights of the session with respect to industry
related bills to date:
SB 22 – Home inspector licensing with favorable KMHI amendment –
Passed House, now in Senate. KMHI supports.
SB 43 – Transfer land-lease community regulation from Health and
Family Services Cabinet to State Fire Marshal. In Senate - No action
KMHI supports.
SB 76 – Requires Certified Installer seal to be placed on manufactured
homes prior to the home being energized. Passed Senate and House. To
be enrolled and sent to Governor. KMHI supports.
HB 2 – Relates to use of efficient energy. Provides that manufactured
and modular home retailers will get tax credit for sale of Energy Star
homes as allocated by the state. Passed House-In Senate. KMHI
supports.
HB 149 – Provides efficient energy savings to homeowners as incentive
from utility providers. In House-No action-KMHI supports.
HB 153 – Provides low-income heating energy assistance to needy. In
House-No action- KMHI supports.
HB 156 – Mandates manufactured home retailers to provide weather
radios to purchasers of new and pre-owned homes. Two favorable floor
amendments for industry. On House orders for passage, but KMHI is
trying to keep it from passing without amendments. KMHI opposes.
HB 193 – House version of SB 43. In House-No action. KMHI supports.
HB 434 – Sets standards for technical companies that are required to
be licensed to remediate mold in residential and commercial
properties. Passed House-In Senate- KMHI supports.
HB 552 – Regulates residential mortgages and brokers, low and high
cost homes loans – manufactured homes sold as chattel are exempt.
Addresses predatory lending, etc. Best of several bills, agreed to by
interested parties. Passed House, on Senate orders, pending floor
action. KMHI supports this version sponsored by Representative
Thompson.
HB 651 – Clarify and correct arbitrary removal of blanket transport
permit for violation of over dimensional vehicle regulations. Provides
due process and fair sanctions. In House-No action. KMHI supports
except for long process to get resolved. KMHI is working with
Transportation Cabinet to adopt regulations under current law to take
care of this matter. Regulations are drafted and should be ready for
submission soon.
HB 765 – Technical amendments to law passed last year on
methamphetamine contamination and clean up. Passed House on Senate
Consent calendar for floor action. KMHI supports.
HB 533 – Small Business incentive program (ICARE) for offering health
care insurance to employees was re-authorized as passed in 2006 except
the program will include employers with 2-50 employees.
Appropriations, however, may not be available-pending state budget.
Passed House-In Senate. KMHI supports.
KMHI and other interested organizations were instrumental in the
defeat of several bills that would have been devastating to the home
selling and lending industries. Many other “predatory” lending and
“high cost” home loan bills were not considered.
Currently the General Assembly is devoting its energy to the state
budget including reductions in spending and whether there will be some
type of increase in new revenue. Members will be provided a full
report on industry related bills in the 2008 Kentucky General session
after the “dust” settles.
Small Business
Caucus Day
KMHI was well represented at the the Small Business Caucus Day at
the Kentucky State Capitol on January 23, 2008. KMHI staff, members
and guests in attendance were:
Thad Vann - KMHI executive director, Scott Grider - Mortgage
Broker (Guest of D. Overstreet), Darrell Overstreet - Key Mortgage
Company, Columbia, KY,Don and Yvonne Emerson - Kentucky Home
Development, Russell Springs, KY, James Lunsford - Lunsford Homes,
Berea, KY, Betty Whittaker - KMHI Assistant Executive Director, and
Bill Welty - Welty Enterprises, Carrollton, KY (missing from this
picture).
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