Airbnb lobbyists and two Republican legislators are pushing through legislation that would prevent Lexington and other Kentucky cities from limiting the number of short-term rentals.
If you want to keep Lexington’s current short-term rental regulations and not have our neighborhood become even more exploited by absentee landlords, contact legislators to oppose this Frankfort power grab.
Suggestions for those contacts are below, but first some background:
Sen. Steve West, a Paris Republican, introduced Senate Bill 110. When it failed to get a committee hearing, its content was added to House Bill 490, which seeks to give Airbnb special treatment in paying local taxes.
HB 490 is sponsored by Rep. Patrick Flannery, an Olive Hill Republican. The combined bill was assigned to the House Local Government committee, which Flannery chairs.
The committee’s substitute bill was the subject of a hearing yesterday that was stacked in favor of proponents, who included two Airbnb representatives, Sen. West and a representative from the libertarian group Americans for Prosperity. Airbnb has been spending big money to lobby legislators for this change. Their arguments were that short-term rentals are important revenue generators for cities and Kentucky’s tourism economy, and property owners should be able to do whatever they want with their property.
Excellent comments opposing the bill came from J.D. Chaney, CEO of the Kentucky League of Cities. He argued that this should be an issue of local control — not a Frankfort power grab — and that property rights also apply to people who want to live in stable neighborhoods rather than hollowed-out transient districts. He also noted that Kentucky has a housing shortage, and this will make it worse.
You can watch the committee hearing by clicking here. Discussion of this bill begins 25 minutes into the meeting.
The bill likely would have been approved by the committee yesterday and sent to the House floor for a vote, but the committee lacked a quorum. It likely will come back up for a vote at the committee’s meeting Tuesday (March 11), likely at 9 a.m.
Already, about 1,000 Lexington homes and apartments have been converted into short-term rentals, reducing supply and increasing prices. Tbe Mentelle, Kenwick and Bell Court neighborhoods already have dozens of former homes that are now short-term rentals: We don’t need more.
Contact legislators, including the bill’s sponsors and lawmakers from other areas of Lexington, to oppose these bills. You can find their contact info here. You can also call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 to leave a message for all legislators.
Sample Scripts:
I am calling to oppose HB 490 and SB 110. These bills would limit or take away local governments’ ability to regulate short-term rentals, which are unique to each community. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work. Please vote NO to keep local decision-making in local hands.
I am calling to oppose HB 490 and SB 110. These bills would limit or take away local governments’ ability to regulate short-term rentals. While those pushing these bills claim they protect property rights, they deny the property rights of others who want to live in a stable neighborhood — not one hollowed out by short-term rentals. Please vote NO on these bills.
I am calling to oppose HB 490 and SB 110. These bills would limit or take away local governments’ ability to regulate short-term rentals. My neighborhood already has dozens of short-term rentals. They are driving up home and rent prices and hurting the quality of life in my neighborhood. I have property rights, too! Please vote NO on these bills.
I am calling to oppose HB 490 and SB 110. These bills would limit or take away local governments’ ability to regulate short-term rentals. Lexington and Kentucky have a housing shortage. Short-term rentals have already taken away 1,000 housing units in Lexington and driven up home prices and rents. This bill will only make things worse. Please vote NO on these bills.
