House Bill 338 would require landlords to redact the names of minors from any eviction document and automatically expunge dismissed evictions from a person’s record.
Many Commonwealth residents live paycheck to paycheck, and one emergency or car repair can set a family back on rent. If they’ve caught up and no longer face eviction, the initial filing can impact their ability to secure future housing.
State Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville, is the lead sponsor of the bill.
"This has overwhelming support," said Witten. "It passed the the House floor 95 to zero, we worked with a bunch of stakeholders, including the apartment association, the circuit court clerks, the district court judges."
44% of Kentucky renters are cost-burdened, and many live under the threat of eviction. Resources for people facing evictions, including legal explanations, can be found at KYJustice.org.
Sara Hemingway, executive director of the Marilyn and William Young Foundation in Owensboro, said many children across the state are struggling with homelessness or transitional housing, or have moved multiple times with their parents.
She said she believes the state owes it to them to offer a clean state.
"If they are listed on an eviction notice or restriction through no fault of their own," said Hemingway, "then we're already setting them up as an adult to have almost like an X on their back, that they can't even get ahead."
Most Kentucky renters facing eviction have at least one child present in the household, according to Kentucky Youth Advocates.
Bloom Kentucky, an organization that advocates for policies that prevent and mitigate Adverse Child Experiences, has supported the bill, noting that evictions are stressful and scary for kids.
