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HB 295KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Kentucky HB 295 regulates residential tenant screening fees, notice requirements, and security deposit damage disclosures

Original title: AN ACT relating to the screening of residential tenants.

Last action · January 16, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsor: Sarah Stalker

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 295 prohibits landlords from collecting tenant screening fees until they provide written notice of comparable rental units, pricing, and screening criteria, and requires landlords to provide written reasons for any rental application denial within 14 days.

Why it matters

Residential rental applicants gain the legal right to recover fees plus statutory damages if landlords fail to follow disclosure and refund rules, while landlords face new written notice mandates before accepting application payments or s.

Background

The General Assembly is the state legislature of Kentucky responsible for enacting statutory law. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

residential tenants

Residential tenants receive new pre-screening disclosures, written denial reasons, mandatory security deposit damage listings, and statutory recovery rights for non-compliance.

Directly affected

landlords

Landlords must adopt written screening criteria, provide detailed pre-fee disclosures, issue 14-day denial notices, and supply pre-occupancy damage lists before collecting security deposits.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can a landlord charge me an applicant screening fee?

A landlord cannot charge a screening fee until they give you written notice containing estimates of comparable units, rental amounts, availability dates, the number of pending applications, and specific written screening criteria.

What happens if my rental application is denied?

The landlord must provide you with a written statement of one or more reasons for the denial within 14 days, including the names of any credit reporting agencies used and any right to appeal.

Can a landlord keep my security deposit if there was pre-existing damage?

A landlord cannot retain any portion of a unless they provide a comprehensive listing of existing damage and estimated repair costs before you tender the deposit, and you have the right to inspect the premises to verify it.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Jan 16, 2026HouseCommittee
to Judiciary (H)
Jan 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

General Assembly, Sarah Stalker

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Enacting body of the Commonwealth of Kentucky”Map →

PersonSarah Stalker“Bill sponsor”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz35
Current news / social attention level

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