Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB326: AN ACT relating to residential safety.
Status: In committee, January 20, 2026
Create a new section of KRS 227.200 to 227.400 to require an owner, seller, or lessor to have functional smoke detectors in all existing single-family and multifamily residential units; require a seller or lessor to verify compliance in an affidavit prior to transfer or tenancy of property; direct that seller or landlord may be subject to a civil penalty for violation; exempt real estate licensees from liability.
What the bill says
An act relating to residential safety.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to residential safety. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS 227.200 TO 227.400 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, as of December 31, 2026, all existing single-family dwellings and multifamily residential units shall have at least one (1) working smoke detector inside each dwelling or unit that or (b) Powered by a nonremovable, tamper proof, ten (10) year lithium battery. (2) Any required smoke detector shall be installed in each single-family dwelling or multifamily residential unit prior to the sale, lease, change of ownership, or change in tenancy of the dwelling or unit. (3) It shall be the responsibility of the property owner, seller, or lessor to test and provide a working smoke detector in a single-family dwelling or multifamily residential unit. The seller or lessor shall attest to the presence and functioning of the required smoke detector by providing a signed affidavit to or (b) Lessee prior to the tenancy of the property. (4) Failure to provide the affidavit required by subsection (3) of this section shall not invalidate the transfer or lease, but the seller or landlord may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per violation. The state fire …
Sponsors
- Joshua Watkins (D, HD-042) · primary sponsor
- Michael Meredith (R, HD-019)
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Chris Freeland (R, HD-006)
Latest actions
- : to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Property, Housing, Building, And Construction, Licensing, Safety, Local Mandate, Firefighters And Fire Departments, Public Safety, Real Estate
Common questions
- What is HB326?
- HB326 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to residential safety.
- What does HB326 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to residential safety.
- What is the status of HB326?
- In committee as of January 20, 2026. Latest action: to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) (January 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB326?
- Joshua Watkins (D, HD-042), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB326?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb326.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.