Correction: A previous version of this story said State Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, sponsored House Bill 344. Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, is the bill's sponsor. Camuel is the co-sponsor. The error has been corrected. (Feb. 12, 2024)

FRANKFORT, Ky. — An ordinance banning source of income discrimination will soon be read to the entire Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council after passing committee last month.

What You Need To Know

  • A Lexington Urban County Council committee passed a ban on source of income discrimination

  • The ordinance would make it illegal for landlords to deny an applicant based solely on how they pay rent, including Section 8 voucher and other third-party payments

  • State lawmakers are considering two bills that would prohibit local governments from adopting such ordinances

  • The two bills, House Bill 18 and Senate Bill 25, would allow landlords to deny applicants if they use Section 8 vouchers or other non-traditional forms of payments

The ordinance in Lexington would make it illegal for landlords to deny an applicant based solely on how they pay rent, including Section 8 vouchers and other third-party payments.

Some Lexington legislators are applauding the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council for moving forward a ban on source of income discrimination. State Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, said the council has her support.

“53% of all housing units are rentals in my district and so people have to be able to find housing,” Camuel said.

Lexington council members passed the ordinance through committee last month. It protects tenants that pay rent using Section 8 and other non-traditional forms of payment. Now it will be read and voted on by the full council soon.

“I do think this is an ordinance that we need. I think we need to protect our community and protect our families,” Camuel said.

The council is moving forward with the ordinance despite the fact it could become unlawful. House Bill 18, a bill being considered by state lawmakers, would prohibit local governments from adopting such ordinances. Camuel says this bill is “government overreach.”

“There’s only one urban county council that takes care of and governs and makes decisions as a group they feel are right for Lexington,” Camuel said.

Senate Bill 25 would take similar measures as HB 18. State Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, says if passed, it would strike down Lexington’s ordinance.

“It would exacerbate affordable housing because then you could have prospective landlords and property owners saying we don’t want Section 8 tenants,” Thomas said.

In Lexington, 75% of Section 8 recipients are African American, according to Thomas. He says Section 8 is the same premise as a cosigner.

“What the federal government is saying in Section 8 is we will pay the rent for you. We will pay the rent, whatever your marketed rent is, we will pay that for you and yet we’re saying now that landlords do have the right to say we don’t want the federal government’s money; that makes no sense to me,” Thomas said.

Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, has introduced a bill, House Bill 344, which would ban discrimination based on income at a state level. It would protect tenants using Section 8, loans, among other things, to make their monthly rent payment.

“At the end of the day, a dollar is a dollar. If you can afford the rent and make the payment, then that should be accepted as your form of income,” Camuel said.

Supporters of HB 18 and SB 25 say property owners should be able to run their businesses how they please and generally, Section 8 tenants cause costlier damage, so a property owner is assuming a higher risk.

House Bill 18 and Senate Bill 25 have passed their respective chambers and will head to the other legislative body to be considered.

Related Stories