[♪♪] GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: HOUSING IN KENTUCKY.

KENTUCKY HAS A HOUSING SHORTAGE OF ABOUT 206-THOUSAND UNITS, ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION — AND IT’S CLOSE TO BEING AN EVEN SPLIT BETWEEN RENTAL UNITS AND FOR-SALE UNITS.

AND THE PROBLEM IS EXPECTED TO GET WORSE, WITH KENTUCKY FACING A LIKELY SHORTAGE OF 287-THOUSAND UNITS BY 2029.

WHY DOES THIS SHORTAGE EXIST, AND WHY HAS IT WORSENED IN RECENT YEARS?

AND HOW DO HOUSING COSTS COMPARE TO AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN KENTUCKY?

WE’LL TALK ABOUT THOSE QUESTIONS, AND LOOK AT KENTUCKY’S HOMELESS NUMBERS, WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF HOME BUILDERS, REALTORS, AND HOUSING ADVOCATES.

WE’RE JOINED, IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO, BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN WITTEN, A REPUBLICAN FROM LOUISVILLE, AND CO-CHAIR OF THE KENTUCKY HOUSING TASK FORCE.

WE HAVE SIX GUESTS IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO: ANETHA SANFORD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF KENTUCKY; WENDY SMITH, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING PROGRAMS AT THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION; JOSH SUMMERS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT KENTUCKY REALTORS; STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOSHUA WATKINS, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE, AND A MEMBER OF THE KENTUCKY HOUSING TASK FORCE; TIMOTHY SCHENK, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE KENTUCKY BANKERS ASSOCIATION; AND ADRIENNE BUSH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOMELESS AND HOUSING COALITION OF KENTUCKY.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY X — FORMERLY TWITTER -- AT PUB AFFAIRS KET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO K-Y TONIGHT AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G. OR USE THE WEB FORM AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G SLASH K-Y TONIGHT.

OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

IN LEXINGTON AND TO SEPTEMBER SUSAN WITTEN IN LOUISVILLE.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC OF THING YOU HEAR ABOUT HOUSE SOMETHING ONE OF THEM.

WE KNOW MS. WENDY SMITH COSTS ARE UP AND INVENTORY IS DOWN.

THE KENTUCKY MEDIAN HOME COST IS UP 49% IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

APRIL 2020152K.

NOW APRIL 2025 THE AVERAGE HOME PRICE WENT UP TO 226K.

IN THE INVENTORY IS DOWN BY 20 SOMETHING PERCENT SINCE 2018.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE NUMBERS?

AND HOW SEVERE IS THE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN KENTUCKY AND ANY DIFFERENT FROM NATIONWIDE?

>> IT'S VERY SEVERE AND I WOULD SAY IT IS A CRISIS.

A CRISIS, BECAUSE THE NUMBER HAS GOTTEN SO LARGE AND THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING CURRENTLY THAT WOULD MAKE US THINK THE TRAJECTORY IS GOING TO CHANGE.

THE BIGGEST REASON WE NEED MORE THAN 200,000 UNITS RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE STATE FOR ALL INCOMES GOES BACK TO THE 2008 HOUSING CRISIS AND THE RECESSION THAT FOLLOWED.

WE LOST SO MANY HOME BUILDERS BECAUSE OF THE MORTGAGE CRISIS AND THE FORECLOSES AND THOSE HOME BUILDERS, RETIRED, GOT INTO ANOTHER LINE OF WORK AND YOU ARE LOSING THE CONTRACTORS THAT WORK FOR THEM.

WE LOST AN INDUSTRY AND THERE WEREN'T GENERATIONS LEARNING THAT WORK AND COMING UP BEHIND THEM TAKING OVER FAMILY BUSINESSES.

NOW WE HAVE SOME COUNTIES THAT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO BEG AND PLEAD TO GET A HOME BUILDER OR APARTMENT BUILDER TO COME AND WE HAVE HOME BUILDERS THAT HAVE THEIR PICK WHAT KIND OF HOME TO BUILD.

AND THE MARGINS HAVE GOTTEN TIGHT FOR THEM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS BUT THE BIGGEST GOES BACK TO WE ARE NOT BUILDING ON AVERAGE WHAT WE USED TO BUILD IN 2006 AND 2007.

>> AND THAT TESTIMONIES FROM THE 2008 RECESSION.

TO YOU ANETHA SANFORD BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE HOME BUILDERS.

AND MANY CONSUMERS MAY SAY I DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR DEVELOPERS, THEY FEEL LIKE SOME WHO ARE STARTING TO ENTER THE MARKET MAY FEEL THEY ARE PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET.

HELP CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND THE MARGINS DEVELOPERS AND THE CONSIDERATIONS THEY MAKE?

>> I SAY ALL THE TIME WHEN I SPEAK TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOME BUILDING THEY DRIVE DOWN A STREET AND SEE A SOP.

GOING UP.

WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING.

ACQUIRING THE LAND, STUDIES HAVING TO BE DONE AND THOSE GO INTO THE COST OF THE HOME.

AND THERE'S SO MANY OTHER FACTORS, TOO WITH OUR BUILDERS.

I MEAN THERE'S OVERREGULATION.

I HOPE WE GET TO HAVE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

THERE'S AN INCREASE, OF COURSE, IN THE INTEREST RATES WE KNOW THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN THE BUILDING MATERIAL SUPPLY ISSUE.

I MEAN SINCE COVID WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS JUST CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

AND WHAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN ES IO TOSOF TOMOF TT TH IS ULTIMATELY PASSED DOWN TO THAT HOME BUYER AND THAT RENTER.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT SLIP AWAY.

>> Renee: WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTEREST RATES THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE THAT IS UNDER THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND WE HEAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.

SOATN URRGIZIO TO YOU BANKERS TEIFD RAFOBOTHSS A A SURVEY YOUD DONE THAT FOCUSES ON THE KEY PROBLEMS HIGH INTEREST RATES WAS NUMBER ONE AND ALSO WITHIN THAT LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE CAUSING THIS HOUSINGRISS.

STH UTUSRID WEDRERT TTRE MINUYS GIVE US CONTEXT FOR THE SURVEY AND THAT LAST ITEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR CO-CHAIR WITTEN AND THE JOINT HOUSING TASK FORCE FOR ALLOWING US TO TESTIFY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDER STATISTICS THEY ARE CLEAR THE TWO HIGHEST CONCERNS ARE INTEREST RATES AND OUR PROPOSAL TO THE HOUSING TASK FORCE IS THE BADGERS WE'RE UNIQUELY ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SOME PROCEDURES THAT AND THE MEDIAN INCOME SPACE OUR PROPOSAL WAS THAT WE HAVE $20 MILLION PROPOSED TO BE SET FORTH BY THE BANKERS IN A REVOLVING FUND THAT CAN GO TO ROWAND COUNTY THERE IS A 12% HOUSING SHORTAGE THEY ARE HAVING TO DRIVE HOURS TO COMMUTE TO WORK THOSE JOBS.

WE PREPARE TO WORK WITH EVERYONE AT THE TABLE AS GREAT PARTNERS AND CONSTITUENTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

TO PUT FORTH A PLAN TO TAP INTO THE HOUSING CRISIS.

>> Renee: AND A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WE HEAR ABOUT THAT.

LET ME ASK YOU MORE HOW THAT WORKS IN A LITTLE BIT.

ADRIENNE TO YOU YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PROGRAM BEFORE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS ISSUES AND HOUSING IS A PART OF WHAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE REASONS HOUSING BEING UNAFFORDABLE WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU ADD TO THE REASONS WHY?

>> I WOULD ADD -- AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK, I APPRECIATE IT.

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AT THE HOMELESS AND HOUSING COALITION OF KENTUCKY WE ARE CONCERNED WITH RENTS, WITH HOW HIGH RENTS ARE ARE.

AND WE THINK THAT IT CAN BE TIED BANG TO JUST THE SHORTAGE OF UNITS.

WHILE WEIGH NEED UNITS ACROSS THE BOARD IN HOMEOWNERSHIP AND IN THE RENTAL MARKET, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING LOWER WAGE JOBS, ELDERLY FOLKS, DISABLED FOLKS, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF THE RENTAL MARKET AND THE HOMEOWNERSHIP MARKET.

WHEN YOU GET A 100 RENT INCREASE IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE UNSUSTAINABLE AND IT CAN BE TIED BACK TO THE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING UNITS ON THE MARKET.

>> Renee: RECENTLY AT THAT SAME HOUSING TASK FORCE WE HAVE BEEN MENTIONING THE MEDIAN FROM THE PEW CENTER THE MEDIAN MONTHLY RENT INCREASED 42% FROM JANUARY 2017 TO MAY 2025.

THAT'S MAJOR AND THAT HURTS LOW AND MODERATE INCOME EARNERS THE MOST.

I WANT YOU REPRESENTATIVE WATKINS TO CHIME IN ABOUT THE REPRESENTATIVERS AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES?

>> I THINK THAT AS A FRESHMAN WHO OFTENTIMES TELL PEOPLE I'M NOT SO FAR REMOVED FROM BEING A REGULAR PERSON.

I REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RENT AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE EVERYDAY WHO OWN THEIR HOMES AND WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

AND IT IMPACTS ME AS A LEGISLATOR.

MAKES ME GRATEFUL TO BE ON THE TO BE I COME OUT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT I AM A SOLUTIONS DRIVEN LEGISLATOR AND I WANT TO SEE ACTION.

PEOPLE WANT US TO PROVIDE ACTION AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR FOR THOSE TOPICS WE'VE HEARD.

IT'S SIMPLE COMES DOWN TO THREE THINGS.

WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

AND NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSE SOMETHING ACCESSIBLE.

WHILE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND WHO CAN AFFORD IT FROM THE RENTERS TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE CONNECTED.

JOBS ARE NOT GOING TO COME TO OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES IF PEOPLE CAN'T HAVE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTHCARE AND CHILDCARE.

YOU HAVE TO THINK OF HOUSING AS A HEALTHCARE MOTIVE AND LET THAT DRIVE OUR DECISIONS FORWARD.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

AND THAT QUESTION TO YOU BECAUSE THE CHAMBER TESTIFIED TO THE ECONOMIC MANY PACK HOUSING HAS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION WHEN THOSE THINGS THAT REPRESENTATIVE WATKINS MENTIONED.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND YOU WERE ON THE PROGRAM WHEN THE TASK FORCE WAS GETTING STARTED WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE THAT TIME?

AND WHERE DO YOU SEE SOME MOVEMENT WHERE KENTUCKY CAN MAKE A REAL IMPACT IN HELPING THOSE AFFORD AND ACCESS HOUSING IN KENTUCKY?

>> SURE.

THANK YOU, RENEE THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

YEAH, IT HAS BEEN A WILD YEAR.

A YEAR AGO WE WERE JUST TRYING TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND WHAT THE ISSUE WAS IN KENTUCKY.

AND THEN WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS OVER 200,000 UNITS ACROSS ALL 120 COUNTIES, URBAN, RURAL, SUBURBAN, SINGLE, MUTUALSY FAMILY ONCE WE UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS NO ONE IN KENTUCKY THAT WAS NOT BEING AFFECTED BY THIS, THEN WE TRIED TO DIVE IN.

AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT ON A STATE LEVEL THAT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

AND JOSH IS RIGHT.

IT IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HEAR HOUSING THEY THINK IT IS A LOCAL ISSUE AND A LOT OF TIMES THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE A LARGE HAND IN THAT AND THEY QUESTION HOW MUCH THE STATE NEEDS TO INTERVENE.

BUT I WOULD ARGUE AND I WOULD LOVE EVERYONE ELSE'S OPINION, I THINK HAS BECOME A STATE ISSUE BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT EVERYONE IN THE STATE AND IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE AS WELL.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE ON THE STATE LEVEL CAN AFFECT.

AND I PUT THEM IN THREE BUCKETS AS FAR AS BUILD.

ONE IS A BILL THAT AFFECTS ZONING.

ONE THAT AFFECTS BUILDING AND REGULATION AND THE FUNDING BILLS.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS ALL THREE, BECAUSE THIS ISSUE DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT OR OVER A YEAR.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX IT WITH ONE BILL OR OVERNIGHT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE COMPILING A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF BILLS AND IDEAS THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN THERE IS NO DISPUTE AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES THIS ISSUE DOES REQUIRE A STATE SOLUTION, RIGHT?

OR IS THERE DEBATE ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT FOR THE MOST PART EVERYONE HAS COME AROUND TO UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE DOES NEED TO BE SOME FORM OF STATE SOLUTION.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?

THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE UP FOR DEBATE.

BUT I THINK THAT EVERYONE IS REALLY ONBOARD AND TRYING TO COME TO THE TABLE.

NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE.

SO WE'RE REALLY LISTENING TO ALL IDEAS AND JUST REALLY EXCITED EVEN ABOUT THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS OF OUR TASK FORCE TO HEAR SOME ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER.

>> Renee: AND THIS MAY SEEM TAN GENITAL BUT THERE WAS TESTIMONY NOT JUST NEW HOME BUILDS BUT FEWER HOMEOWNERS CAN AFFORD TO UPGRADE THEIR AGING HOMES LEADING TO DETERIORATING HOUSING STOCK.

47.7% OF KENTUCKY HOMES ARE OVER 45 YEARS OF AGE.

DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT?

>> THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

THE AGING HOMES IN KENTUCKY IT JUST DRIVES THE COST.

SO WE DO HAVE -- WE ARE I'M PUTTING TOGETHER A BILL THAT DOES ADDRESS SOME HISTORICAL REHABILITATION TAX CREDITS FOR ANY PROPERTIES THAT ARE 50 YEARS OR OLDER.

THAT CAN REALLY BE A CARROT TO HELP RENOVATE AND IMPROVE OUR OLDER UNITS.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AND REALLY LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM NEW BUILDS TO RENOVATING OUR EXISTING PROPERTIES.

>> Renee: JOSH SUMMERS YOU WERE SHAKING YOUR HEAD TALKING ABOUT THE AGING OF THE HOME STOCK ALREADY.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

I AGREE AND THESE ARE OUR PARTNERS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

REALTORS THE GOAL IS FOR KENTUCKIANS TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM, THE LARGEST ASSET PURCHASE.

THE ZONING AND PLANNING AND BARRIERS YOU ARE SEEING THIS HAS BEEN PART OF THE DISRUPTION IN THAT SUPPLY CHAIN FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.

AND WE'RE NOW CATCHING UP.

EAANPEOU WT CAN WE DO?

AND THE CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, IF YOUR HOME PURCHASE AND WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING CONSUMES MORE THAN 30% THAT IS A PROBLEM.

HERE IN "KENTUCKY TO THE WORLD"IANS SPEND 35-40% OF THEIR INCOME SOMETIMES HIGHER ESPECIALLY ON THE RENTAL SIDE.

KENTUCKY REALTORS WE WANT TO BUILD HOUSES AND WANT HOMEOWNERSHIP AND WE DO THAT BY FIGURING OUT ALL THE EXAMPLES AND HOW DO WE MOVE THAT NEEDLE.

AN EXAMPLE IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE STATE, IF YOU LOOK AT JEFFERSON COUNTY THE AVERAGE SALES PRICE 341,000, FAYETTE 437,000, KENTON COUNTY 321,000.

>> Renee: AND THIS IS THE AVERAGE.

>> AVERAGE SALES PRICE.

WARREN COUNTY 343,000.

MCCRACKEN 316.

212,000.

MENEBU AHAENOROUND THE STATE, IT THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS.

THESE CONVERSATIONS AND HOW WE STRUCTURE THIS BUILDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PLAYS A PART IN THE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF KENTUCKY.

AND WE CAN DO THAT TOGETHER.

>> Renee: IS IT STILL A SELLER'S MARKET?

>> YES, MA'AM.

DEPENDS.

IT DEPENDS.

>> Renee: ON?

>> WHAT COUNTY, WHERE YOU'RE AT IT IS A LITTLE BIT.

THE MARKET COOLED A LITTLE BIT.

E TESTAT TOMOWO I BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME 25 YEARS AGO, I BOUGHT A 133,000 AT 8%.

IT IS JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

SO WE'RE SEEING THAT MOVEMENT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT EVERYONE IS WAITING ON THE INTEREST RATES.

>> Renee: WHAT SHOULD COME FROM WASHINGTON WHETHER IT'S THE FEDS OR WHAT OTHER POLICY DO YOU THINK WOULD HELP THRIVE THIS FORWARD?

>> IF THEY FOCUSED ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAKING SURE THAT YOU BRING INDUSTRY INTO OUR COUNTIES WE CAN HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

THE SCHOOLS, ALL THE THINGS NECESSARY SO WE CAN BUILD THE HOMES THAT ARE THERE, AND WE CAN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS SOME HOMES WILL BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE OTHER HOMES.

BUT IF WE CAN FOCUS ON THAT PRICE POINT THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THAT AREA.

THAT'S THE GOAL.

>> Renee: CAN IT NOT BE A CHECK AND AND EGG THING IF YOU HAVE THE INDUSTRY AND HOUSES COME NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION WE ARE FOCUSED USUALLY ON MODERATE TO NO INCOME KENTUCKIANS FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS WHO NEED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO GET THEIR HOME.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WE'RE LOSING GROUND IN OUR EXISTING PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE HAVE ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WITH COSTS GOING UP IT MEANS WE'RE BUILDING FEWER HOMES OR ABLE TO HELP FEWER KENTUCKIANS.

WE HAVE CITY, COUNTY LEADERS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS COMING TO US AND THEY NEVER USED TO BECAUSE WE DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WANTING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR NEED TO GET MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING MORE FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERSHIP AND WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT LOCAL AREAS MIGHT BE MAYORS WHO MIGHT HAVE A BIG INDUSTRY COME IN, TOUR THEIR COMMUNITY, LOOK AT SITES, BE VERY INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AND THEN SAY WHERE'S THE HOUSING?

AND SOMETIMES THEY LOSE THEM OR WE ARE SEEING SOME COMMUNITIES AROUND KENTUCKY WHERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING THE REINS AND BUILDING HOUSING IN THE HOPES THAT THE IT LETS THEM KEEP AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES.

>> Renee: INTERESTING.

REPRESENTATIVE WATKINS?

>> I LOVE TO LISTEN TO ALL OF THIS.

I TOOK NOTES AS WE WERE TALKING I BELIEVE IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY BUILDING MORE HOUSING BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO HAVE HOUSING CAN KEEP IT.

AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE THINK OF HOUSING WE THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO OWN BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR RENTERS.

WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE BEING KEPT AWAY FROM HOUSING DUE TO EVICTIONS AND SUCH AND REP WITTEN AND OTHERS ARE WORKING ON AND WE DID THINGS LIKE THAT ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, TOO EXPUNGEMENT AND THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

>> Renee: EXPLAIN THIS TO THE AUDIENCE WHY IS EXPUNGEMENT IMPORTANT?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BUT THERE ARE SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION YOU GET AN EVICTION ON YOUR RECORD AND YOU GO TO APPLY FOR ANOTHER HOUSING UNIT AND SUCH, A LOT OF LANDLORDS WILL NOT TAKE YOU IF YOU HAVE THAT EVICTION.

IF THAT EVICTION LET'S SAY YOU WERE ON A CHILD.

WHAT WE SAY THAT SHOULDN'T IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO GET HOUSING WHEN YOU ARE NOW AN ADULT OR IF THE CASE WAS DISMISSED FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON YOUR RECORD THAT SHOULD BE EXPUNGED AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE HOUSING.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE KENTUCKIANS TO HAVE SECURE HOUSING?

YOU HAVE A SECURE HOUSE, YOU HAVE A SECURE FUTURE AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD.

LASTLY I WILL TALK ABOUT OUR SENIORS A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME IF YOU CAN'T KEEP IT THAT OLD SONG, A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME I'M DATING MYSELF.

SOME CAN SAY IT'S NOT THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM.

IF IT GETS BILLS PASSED I'M HAPPY TO SING A TUNE.

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE DONE THEIR PART FOR SOCIETY IN KENTUCKY AND HAVE LIVED THAT AMERICAN DREAM WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR OHMS AS WELL.

MY PARENTS ARE 68 AND 71 AND LIVE IN KRYSTEN COUNTY AND THINK ABOUT THEM STAYING IN THEIR HOMES.

FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR SENIORS AGING IN PLACE ALL OF THAT MATTERS.

>> Renee: YOU WERE CHOMPING AT THE BIT ON THIS.

JUMP IN?

>> I'M GLAD THAT JOSH TALKED ABOUT THE EVICTION EXPUNGEMENT BILL WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SO MUCH OF THE SOLUTIONS WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE SUPPLY SIDE.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING UNITS BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO JOSH'S POINT WHEN WE ARE UNFAIRLY PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM RENTING JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD A PRIOR EVICTION, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PAID UP THEY DON'T OWE MONEY THEN THAT IS UNFAIR AND IT PREVENTS THEM FROM GETTING A HOME.

SO WE'RE -- I'M EXCITED ABOUT PUSHING THAT BILL THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IT HEARD IN JUDICIARY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO IN THE INTERIM.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET TEED UP AND IT CAN BE AN EARLY WIN FOR THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.

>> Renee: WHAT ABOUT REP WITTEN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS THERE ROOM TO EMBRACE THAT IDEA?

FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE 65 YEARS AND OLDER, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE?

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS AND I THINK WILL BE HEARING A FEW IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT BILLS THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

IT IS A BUDGET YEAR, AS YOU KNOW.

SO NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE THESE REALLY HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED.

>> Renee: THE FISCAL INPACK OF THESE MEASURES, TOO YOU ARE TRYING TO WEIGH AND UNDERSTAND.

MS. BUSH TO YOU THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED SOME LEGISLATION REGARDING HOUSING AND THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED THAT MAY IN YOUR VIEW SEEM TO BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE CONVERSATION WE'RE AHAVING TONIGHT AND DO YOU HOPE FOR A REVERSE VALVE THOSE?

>> THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AROUND THE GROWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

AND THAT HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY AND HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE ALSO WANT TO REMAIN SOLUTIONS FOCUSED.

AND WORK ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER.

HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY IS ONE AREA.

OBVIOUSLY THE TASK FORCE IS WORKING 0 AND THIS PANEL HAS BEEN CONVENED ON.

WE ALSO LOOK AT OUR LANDLORD AND TENANT LAWS ACROSS THE STATE JUST BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB EIGHT YEARS AGO I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH OUR LANDLORD TENANT LAW AND THE PATCHWORK OF LAWS ACROSS KENTUCKY REALLY IMPACT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING EVICTIONS WHO ARE FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT.

WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN IS SEEKING TO REFILE THE EVICTION RECORD SEALING BILL.

>> Renee: ALL THESE IDEAS SO FAR SEEM TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT?

>> I THINK SO.

THE THIRD BUCKET FROM HHCK'S PERSPECTIVE IS SEEKING THE MINIMIZE THE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE TO GET HOUSING.

IN PARTICULAR.

A FEW YEARS AGO, AND ACTUALLY IT WAS PASSED BY REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN, WE SAW NO COST BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNHOUSED AND THAT IS A COMMON SENSE SOLUTION AND WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT.

>> Renee: AND REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN HOW IS THAT LAW WORKING?

DO YOU KNOW?

>> I'M HEARING FROM ADRIENNE AND FROM GEORGE EXLAND THAT IT HAS REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING DROPPED THE BARRIER FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S SO DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT THAT IS JUST ONE MORE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

AND MAYBE ADRIENNE CAN SPEAK MORE TO IT.

BUT I'M HEARING IT'S BEEN HELPFUL.

>> Renee: HAS IT BEEN?

>> DEFINITELY THAT AND THE ID STREAMLINING PROCESS ALSO FOR THE SAME POPULATION.

FIRST IT WAS CHAMPIONED BY REPRESENTATIVE BRIDGES FROM PADUCAH A FEW YEARS BACK.

AND AS PART OF THE REVENUE BILL, IN 2024, THAT ALSO GOT PUT IN THE NO COST CATEGORY AND THAT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL AS A HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDER SERVING PEOPLE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THOSE DOCUMENTS TO REESTABLISH IDENTITY.

>> KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION HAS A NUMBER OF HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS AND DO SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS FOR 87 COUNTIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH TO GET RENT ASSISTANCE TO GET REHOUSED AND REBUILD YOUR LIFE, KEEP YOUR JOBS, YOUR KIDS AND YOUR CAR YOU HAVE TO HAVE ID YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF IDENTITY, TO BE ABLE TO GET RAPID REHOUSING OR A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER.

WE MIGHT HAVE A VETERAN WHO WE HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTS WE CAN'T GET THEM THE HELP.

IT SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS AND GETS FOLKS REHOUSED AND BACK INTO THEIR REGULAR LIFE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Renee: THIS QUESTION FROM MARTIN RIVERS FROM LEXINGTON.

WHAT ZONING OR OTHER REGULATION CHANGES WOULD BE MOST IMPORTANT TO INCREASE HOUSING STOCK?

>> TOUGH ONE?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PREVENTS US FROM TACKLING THE HOUSING CRISIS IS SOME OF THE CREWS ON MANUFACTURED HOUSING.

WE'VE HAD A TRADITIONAL VIEW THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A HOME BRICK AND MARTYR BUT MANUFACTURED HOUSING HAS COME A LONG WAY.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY ALTERNATIVE ON THE TABLE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HOME BUILDERS AND THE PRESSURES THEY COULD BUILD 365 DAYS A YEAR, 24 HOURS A DAY AND IT WOULD INTO THE MEET OUR CRISIS.

WE WILL TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF HOUSING AND HOW THAT FITS WITHIN DIFFERENT T HE TNKUTDEHE BOE' GNG TEE T NUMBERS THAT KHC HAD TO PREVENT THAT FROM 300,000 HOMES.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF PROPOSALS FOR THAT MIXED-USE HOUSING AND THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS CAN PUT A DENT IN THE NUMBERS.

>> Renee: YOU WANT TO COMMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT TEXAS IS VIEWED LIKE AS A MODEL STAN AND THEY HAVE DONE THINGS TO DEAL WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS AND ONE IS ALLOWING THE EXPANDED USE OF MANUFACTURED HOUSING SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE A PRECONCEIVED ESOTERIC IDEA OF WHAT MANUFACTURED HOUSING LOOKS LIKE BUT IT'S COME A LONG WAY.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT EMBRACING THAT IDEA HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS A BILL THAT I PASSED LAST YEAR HOUSE BILL 160 DEALING WITH QUALIFIED MANUFACTURED HOME S AND MADE SURE IT WAS NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST VERSUS SITE BUILD AS LONG AS THEY HAD THE SAME STANDARDS AS A SITE BUILT HOME.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EASY BILL 0 PASS, BUT SOME OF THE MAYBE THE NIMBYISM WE'VE HEARD ABOUT WE HAD TO EDUCATE A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THAT QUALIFIED MANUFACTURED HOME IS NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS 20, 30 YEARS AGO.

THESE ARE REALLY WONDERFUL HOMES THAT CAN BE BUILT QUICKER, AND LESS EXPENSIVE THAN A SITE BUILT HOME AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE OPTIONS LIKE THAT.

AND MOST OF THE QUALIFIED MANUFACTURED HOMES ARE THE 1200 SQUARE-FOOT, 3 BED, TWO BATH HOUSE WHAT WE USED TO CALL A STARTER HOME THAT WE ARE SEEING HAS JUST BEEN ELIMINATED IN THIS MARKET.

WE'RE SEEING BUILDERS THEY BUILD LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR McMANSIONS AND THIS WORKING FAMILY HOME IS JUST DISAPPEARING.

SO THAT IS JUST ONE MANUFACTURED HOMES IS ONE AREA THAT CAN REALLY FILL THAT VOID.

>> Renee: MS. SANFORD, NIMBYISM NOT IN MY BACKYARD I WANT YOU TO ADDRESS THAT AND THE QUALIFIED MANUFACTURED HOMES THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BE SEEING IN KENTUCKY MORE OF?

>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT AND AS FAR AS THE NIMBYISM WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE'VE ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY MANY OF US HERE IN THIS ROOM HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME OWN A PIECE OF KENTUCKY.

HAVE OUR ROOTS HERE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO ALLOW OTHERS TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE NIMBYISM.

AND I LOOK AT STREAMLINING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS APPROVAL HELPS MOVE DEVELOPMENTS FORWARD FASTER AND GET MORE HOUSING.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY A COUPLE SESSIONS AGO TO WORK WITH REPRESENTATIVE RUDY ON A BILL TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF OUR DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS WILL COME AND BUILD IF THE RULES ARE CLEAR AND THE RULES DON'T CHANGE IN THE PROCESS.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN WILL HELP DRIVE DOWN THE COST.

>> Renee: ARE THE RULES CHANGING?

>> SOMETIMES THE RULES DO CHANGE IN THE PROCESS.

>> Renee: REALLY?

LIKE WHAT?

>> I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

IT WOULD BE A DEVELOPMENT THAT A DEVELOPER PROPOSED SIX FEET OF SIDEWALK AND LATER IT MAY CHANGE AND THEY WOULD LIKE EIGHT FEET OF SIDEWALK.

AND THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL COST THAT GOES DOWN TO THE CONSUMER.

THAT IS ONEF EETR ILRSAV DE A TMEOU JO O TIN TO MEET THE NEEDS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND WE WORK THEM ON THINGS WHEN YOU GET MORE RESTRICTION OR THE GOAL LINE MOVES PROJECTS CAN BE HELD UP SOMETIMES YEARS AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN REALTIME.

MMICIOIS CAR ANG THAT THE AL FMS OF GEREN >> Renee: I WANT YOU TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE $20 MILLION YOU POD HA AITE TO PUT U T BANKERS HAVE SEEN THE NEED WE HAVE BANKS IN ALL 120 COUNTIES AND KENTUCKY HOUSING DID THEY GREAT STUDY AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO TARGET IS WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THE NEEDS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH 70% OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF HOUSING ARE 80% OR BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BASED ON CENSUS THEY ARE BE OWE THAT.

AND THE BANKS ARE ABLE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE WE CAN AFFECT THE INTEREST RATES AND NUMBER TWO WE ARE UNDER FEDERAL THCOUNY RNVTMT ARENTND ANWEE WKEITURFERA STAKEHOLDERS D SUPERVISORS IN SORT THEY'VE SAID LOOK YOU ALL CAN SERVICE UP TO 80S OF AMI AND THAT COUNT TOWARDS YOUR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT CREDITS.

WE HAVE $20 MILLION PLEDGED FROM THE BANKS AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR FROM THE ASSEMBLY IS $20 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS ON THE BACK END NOT UNTIL THE DOORS ARE COMPLETED.

CREATING NEW FORMS OF HOUSING AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH IT IS A BLIND FUND.

WE TALK ABOUT LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE A LOT.

L UROUIEAV NEEDS.

THE THOUGHT BEHIND THIS IS WE CAN RUN TO WHEREVER THE NEED IS AND WE HAVE BANKERS WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE WATKINS DO YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA?

>> I'M INTRIGUED BY IT.

ANYTHING THAT ADDS MORE HOUSING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING THE HOUSING AND ZONING ISSUES WHERE WE PUT THAT HOUSING IS REALLY INTERESTING.

I WILL SPEAK TO JEFFERSON COUNTY.

UP TO 70% OF JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ZONED SINGLE FAMILY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO ADD MORE DENSITY AS WE CALL IT FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO PUT ON OUR NERD HATS IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE THE LAND MASS THAT IS SINGLE FAMILY ZONED.

SOME OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT THAT MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE THE ADU'S CAN HELP ADD TO HOUSING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS COULD DO SO.

LAND BANKS LOUISVILLE HAS ONE AS WELL AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

AND WE HEARD ABOUT NIMBYISM BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT YIGB.

>> IT'S YES -- I DIDN'T DO IT, ALTHOUGH IT IS YES IN GOD'S BACKYARD.

THAT'S BEEN A BILL THAT HAS BEEN FILED AS I WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE STALKER ON THAT AND THAT ALLOWS HOUSES OF FAITH OR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS TO GET IN THE GAME AS WELL.

THEY ARE SEEING THEIR PARISHIONERS SAYING I NEED HOUSING TOO.

A LOT OF CHURCHES HAVE A LOT OF LAND AND A LOT OF PROPERTY AND THEY WANT THE ABILITY TO ADD HOUSING UNITS ON THAT PROPERTY AS WELL.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HOPE WE START TO DO IN THE 26TH SESSION AND MOVE THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> Renee: REP WITTEN WHAT DO YOU THINK IN ADU'S AND YES IN GOD'S BACKYARD?

TWO THOUGHTS?

>> I'M FAMILY WITH THE BILL.

AND -- FAMILIAR WITH THE BILL.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT HAD SOME CONCERNS AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS COME TOGETHER TO REALLY TRY TO MAKE THIS A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION.

SO I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING IT COME UP IN THE FINAL FORM.

I DO THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT ZONING SOLUTIONS, I WAS AT A WENT ON A CALL THE OTHER DAY, FOR THE AEI HOUSING CENTER AND THEY WERE TALKING A LOT ABOUT LOT FLEXIBILITY, LOT SIZE FLEXIBILITY FOR NEW SUBDIVISIONS AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT IT FOR EVERY SINGLE STATE AND IF WE HAD THAT MAKING IT A SMALLER LOT SIZE FOR NEW SUBDIVISIONS ONLY THAT WOULD INCREASE ALMOST 6500 NEW HOMES PER YEAR IN KENTUCKY.

AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF HOMES IF IT IS A SMALLER LOT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A SMALLER HOME.

AND THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF HOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT US A BILL THAT ADDRESSES LOT SIZE.

>> Renee: YEAH.

>> SO, ONE OF THE MODELS OR HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT MANY OF YOU KNOW WE PARTNERED WITH THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER ON A STUDY FOR BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH, BUT IT'S THE INDIANA MODEL AND WENDY AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS.

IT IS A RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.

IT IS LOW INTEREST REVOLVING FUND THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE HOUSING FRIENDLY ZONING.

IT INCENTIVIZES WE LIKE IT THE MOST BECAUSE IT HAS THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPERS WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING THE HOUSING THAT THEY COMMUNITY NEEDS.

THIS IS A MODEL WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE GOES BEYOND WATER AND SEWER IT WOULD BE LAND ACQUISITION, STREET LIGHTS IT COULD BE SIDEWALKS IT COULD BE ROAD EXPANSION AND THESE, AGAIN, ARE JUST INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY A HUGE COST OF A HOME.

SO EVEN IN INDIANA, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE IN SOME AREAS TO BRING DOWN THE PER LOT COST BY $25,000.

THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE WE COULD GET INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP BY >>en: SHIAN T AST O TT YOABTHI WT DO Y TNKOUDU AROSA W?

>> THE REALTORS KNOW IF THEY CAN BE DELIVERED WE CAN SELL IT AND WE WANT TO GET BEHIND ALL THE INITIATIVES BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A DRIVER WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE SOLUTIONS IN THAT MODEL IS INCREDIBLE AND I THINK IT'S INTOAV HEENIT EOUS G TAV TM.

E O T D WEEE >> Renee: AND SOME PEOPLE QUESTION CAN LOT SIZES GET SMALLER AND SOME DEVELOPED DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU CAN DO THIS AND REACH YOUR NEIGHBOR.

THEY WORRY ABOUT SAFETY FOR VINYL SIDED HOUSES.

OS WHI IS SUBSTANDARD BECAUSE THE HOUSES ARE CLOSER TOGETHER.

>> OUR BUILDING STANDARDS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH AND DELIVERING A GREAT PRODUCT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS BEING A BARRIER.

I CAN TELL YOU YOU SEE IT ACROSS KENTUCKY.

THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

I TALK TO OTHER STATE'S ALL THE TIME AND HOW MANY HOUSES ARE YOU GOING TO DELIVER?

I HAVE NO IDEA WE'LL SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

NKG DURYOAKURITHE THAT WE ALL ARE SAYING THE SAME MESSAGE WHEN WE TAKE TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRODUCT AND I CAN TELL YOU THE BUILDER I'VE ENCOUNTERED THEY DO A GREAT JOB ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SELL THAT PRODUCT AND BRING IT TO THE REALTORS.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO DELIVER THAT AMERICAN DREAM.

THAT'S IT.

>> Renee: ANY QUESTION OR CONCERN ADRIENNE BUSH YOU HAVE ABOUT SMALLER LOT SIZES OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS?

>> NO.

SMALLER LOT SIZES AS WELL AS FLEXIBILITY IN PARKING REQUIREMENTS WHETHER IT'S FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR FROM SAY A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SMALL THINGS -- WELL, THINGS THAT WERE SMALL ON THE FACE OF IT THAT HAVE GONE WHEN THEY START TO ADD UP, IT HAS REALLY DRIVEN UP THE COST OF BUILDING.

SO THERE'S NO DISAGREEMENT FROM OUR END.

>> Renee: THE OTHER QUESTION OFTEN COMES UP IN THE HOUSING DEBATE IS A RURAL DEVELOPMENT FARMLAND PRESERVATION ALL OF THOSE THINGS ABOUT PRESERVING CULTURE AND HERITAGE AND FARMLAND.

JUST FOR THE ESTHETIC APPEAL OF IT, WENDY, TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU SEE THAT ISSUE?

>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

MY EDUCATION IS IN URBAN PLANNING AND THERE WAS A BIG PUSH IN THE 90s AGAINST GROWTH AGAINST SPRAWL, IF YOU WILL.

AND I FEEL IMPLICATED IN MY PROFESSION IN THAT WE MIGHT HAVE GONE TOO FAR IN MAKING IT TOO HARD TO BUILD TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

IN NOT CREATING INCENTIVES TO BUILD DENSE, AND UP NEAR TRANSIT SO THERE ARE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES VERSUS SPRAWL.

AND LEXINGTON IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THEY HAVE THIS URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE HORSE FARMS BUT IT'S DRIVES COSTS AND LEXINGTON NEEDS TO GET DENSER AND MORE VERTICAL TO HOUSE MORE FOLKS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND AND JOSH TOUCHED ON IT THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

AND WE ARE COMPETING WITH ALL OF THE OTHER STATES TO GET MORE HOUSING SO THAT WE CAN COMPETE ECONOMICALLY TO KEEP JOBS, KEEP POPULATION AND CONTINUE TO BE A VIBRANT GROWING STATE.

AND IN THE STATES THAT WIN THIS, THAT FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE MORE HOUSING MORE HOUSING TYPES, ARE GOING TO WIN.

AND WE ARE SEEING REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY ACTUALLY SEE THEIR HOUSING COSTS GO DOWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD MORE.

AUSTIN IS A GREAT EXAMPLE IT IS NOT AN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED CITY BUT RENTS HAVE GONE DOWN 6% IN AUSTIN BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILDING.

WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THIS WE ARE IN THIS NATIONWIDE COMPETITION TO BE ABLE TO BRING UNITS TO MARKET AND HOUSE ALL OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS IN A RANGE OF AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR THEM SO WE KEEP JOBS AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES VIBRANT.

>> Renee: BACK TO THE ADU'S ACCESSIBLE DWELLING UNITS IS THAT A STATE THING?

OR CAN LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HANDLE THAT?

WHO HANDLES THAT?

>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE AN OPTION ACROSS THE STATE.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S RECENT CHANGES TO STATE LAW THAT HAS SHIFTED THAT ABILITY TO DECIDE TO FRANKFORT AND THERE ARE TIMES THAT FRANKFORT SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND THERE ARE TIMES I THINK IT SHOULD NOT.

THE INTERESTING QUESTION FOR GOVERNMENT DECIDING WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO GET IN THE GAME.

I THINK ADU'S NEED TO BE ON THE TABLE WITH A FEW HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE OPTION TO CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

WE ALL NEED HOUSING, JEFFERSON COUNTY IS DIFFERENT FROM MURRAY, KENTUCKY.

LOUISVILLE AND IS DIFFERENT FROM COVINGTON.

AND SO ON.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AND WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Renee: REP WITTEN WHAT ABOUT HOME RULE NO PUN INTENDED OR BAD PUN INTENDED?

>> THAT IS THE THING IT IS A FINE LINE.

WE HAVE TO RESPECT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RESPECT THE CHARM AND THE INDIVIDUALITY OF THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

BUT AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTIES AND THE LEAGUE OF CITIES TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORTH LEGISLATION THAT IS NOT GOING TO IMPEDE IN ANYWAY THE CHARACTER AND THE CHARM OF THESE SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS.

BUT I DID WANT TO SPEAK QUICKLY WE TALKED ABOUT NIMBYISM.

AND IT'S NEGATIVE CONNOTATION BUT SOMETIME IT IS GETS A BAD RAP BECAUSE A ROT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT.

THAT THEIR CONCERN IS THAT BUILDING THIS HUGE DEVELOPMENT BEFORE YOU HAVE THE ROADS TO GO OUT TO THEM OR THE WATER UTILITIES AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE JUST AS WELL AS JUST A STANDARD OF LIVING ISSUE.

WE REALLY HAVE TO BE MINDFUL AS MUCH AS WE NEED HOUSING, WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL AND UNDERSTAND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS VITALLY IMPORTANT AND NEEDS TO OFTEN COME FIRST AND THAT IS WHY SOMETIMES THE URBAN INFILL IS SO IMPORTANT, RENOVATING, REVITALIZING OUR CITIES, INSTEAD OF ALTERNATIVELY JUST HAVING THE URBAN SPRAWL WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

>> Renee: WENDY, THERE ARE INNOVATIVE THAT IS HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY, I THINK ABOUT OWENSBORO, WARREN COUNTY, HENDERSON, NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS DOING THINGS TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING THAT COULD BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S EXCITING TO SEE LOCAL COMMUNITIES I FEEL LIKE THIS SAANICH USE WHERE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND REGIONS HAVE A KEY ROLE THE STATE HAS A ROLE AND AGENCIES LIKE KHC OR THE BANKERS AND THE REALTORS HAVE A KEY ROLE TO PLAY.

WE ARE SEEING LOCAL COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES STEP UP TO BRING MORE HOUSING TO MARKET.

I WILL USE THE TRANS PARK IN BOWLING GREEN IN WARREN COUNTY.

THEIR CHAMBER OVERSEES THEIR TRANS PARK A BIG INDUSTRIAL PARK.

THEY ADDED LAND TO IT.

AND SOME OF THAT LAND THEY DID NOT NEED FOR COMMERCIAL EXPANSION AND THEY RECOGNIZE A BIG NEED FOR MORE HOUSING.

LIKE 144 ACRES.

AND THEY HAVE ENGAGED A MASTER DEVELOPER I THINK IT WILL BE 1300 HOUSING UNITS AND A RANGE OF TIGHT TOWNHOMES, SOME DUPLEX HOMES AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES A MIX OF DENSITIES AND MIX OF INCOMES AND THAT IS A LOT OF HOUSING FOR WARREN COUNTY.

THEY NEED IT.

AND THAT THE IS A GREAT GIANT ADDITION IT WILL BE A NEW COMMUNITY WITH PATHS AND PARKS.

AND I THINK THEY AIM TO HAVE MIXED-USE AS WELL.

THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CITY AND COUNTY COMING TOGETHER.

>> Renee: AND WARREN COUNTY THEY ARE BENEFITING FROM THE NATIONAL AREA THIS IS MY STOMPING AREA GROUND PUSHING SOUTH, NORTH WHEREVER IT CAN AND PEOPLE ARE WIG TO COMMUTE IN TO NASHVILLE AND LIVE IN BOWLING GREEN.

A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA?

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME, IS SO BLUEGRASS REALTORS A FEW MONTHS AGO HAD AN ECONOMIC SIMULATION WE SAT THROUGH SITE SELECTION YOU KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION WAS?

WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IS THE HOUSING WHERE ARE THE SCHOOLS?

IT'S SUCH A HUGE PART IN THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF HOW THE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

AND TO YOUR POINT, I MEAN IT IS INCREDIBLE THE GROWTH.

THEY ARE $2,000 HIGHER ON THE AVERAGE HOME SALES PRICE THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

WE'VE GOT TO WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL OF BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP OF MAKING SURE THAT WE DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO YOUR POINT AS WELL ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S CRITICAL.

>> Renee: AS WE PREPARE FOR A 60-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I SAY THAT NOT WITH SIGH BUT A SMILE ON MY FACE YOU CAN INTERPRET WHICH ONE IS REAL, I WILL COME TO YOU REP WITTEN FIRST, ABOUT AND YOU'VE MENTIONED SOME OF YOUR BILLS YOU HOPE TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, HB160, WHAT ELSE SHOULD LAWMAKERS REALLY GIVE STOCK TO THIS TIME AROUND AS YOU LOOK AT CRAFTING THE BUDGET AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE IMPRESSED UPON YOU TO CONSIDER?

>> YOU MEAN AS FAR AS HOUSING.

>> Renee: YES, MA'AM.

YES.

>> THERE ARE A LOT -- I WILL PUT TOGETHER A SMALLER LOT BILL I THINK THE YIGBY BILL IS GREAT AND THE RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND I'M NOT SURE WHO WILL BE CHAMPIONING THAT.

THAT IS A GREAT SUCCESS STORY THAT INDIANA HAS PROVEN FOR US.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING.

AS WE'VE ALL AGREED THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IS UNIQUE TO KENTUCKY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS IT AND FIX IT.

AND WE'RE USING THINGS THAT ARE WORKING IN OTHER STATES.

ESPECIALLY STATES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO KENTUCKY AND SURROUNDING KENTUCKY AND THAT RIFF, IDEA, IS ONE THAT I THINK IS WONDERFUL.

>> Renee: RIFF IDEA.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE WATKINS IS THAT YOURS?

>> IT CAN BE.

I WILL -- >> Renee: THIS MIGHT BE A TIME TO GET YOUR NAME ON IT?

>> IF ANY OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE WOULDS LIKE HELP PASSING LEGISLATION THAT WILL GIVE KENTUCKY FAMILIES A LEG UP, I KNOW DEMOCRATS WHO MAY GET ONBOARD WITH THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY I WANT TO SEE US DO THINGS AROUND ENERGY BURDEN.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND PEOPLE NEEDING HOUSING.

BUT THE COST OF ENERGY AND UTILITIES AND SUCH IN THE HOUSING IS SOMETHING INTERESTING.

THERE HAVE BEEN FEDERAL CHANGES ON THINGS LIKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND CREDITS WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT IN KENTUCKY AND MAKING SURE IT'S NOT BUILDING MORE HOUSING FOR THE SAKE OF BUILDING MORE HOUSING BUT IT'S THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSING WE WANT OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE AND THEN LASTLY IF I COULD SAY GOING INTO THE SESSION IS THIS ISN'T A PARTISAN ISSUE IT IS A BIPARTISAN IT IS NOT RED OR BLUE IT'S ABOUT YOU.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US THAT HAVE THAT HONOR OF BEING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET TO THE TABLE AND WORK WITH OUR INDUSTRIES AND WORK WITH OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO REALLY DO GOOD FOR KENTUCKY.

I HAVE A SNEAKY SUSPICION THAT THE END OF THIS SESSION I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, I WOULD HOPE TO LOOK BACK ON THIS FIVE OR 10 YEARS AND SAY THIS IS ONE HECK OF A HOUSING YEAR.

>> Renee: AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD BE CALLED NOT RED OR BLUE BUT ABOUT YOU.

AN ACT RELATING TO YOU.

>> FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS.

>> Renee: MS. BUSH WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED ONE THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT WE DO HAVE A TOOL IN KENTUCKY CALLED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

AND IT WAS CREATED IN EARLY 90s INITIALLY FUNDED BY PROCEEDS FROM THE GOVERNOR [INAUDIBLE] WHEN THAT WAS A THING.

AND IN 2007 THE LEGISLATURE CREATED A PERMANENT DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR IT.

IT'S $6 PER TRANSACTION WHENEVER YOU CLOSE ON YOUR HOUSE.

KEEP IN MIND CLOSING COSTS WHILE THEY ARE RISING, THEY ARE RISING LIKE IN THE BETWEEN 10 AND 15,000.

THIS IS A MODEST FEE.

AND IT GENERATES RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY GENERATING ABOUT $3 TO $4 MILLION ANNUALLY BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT INVENTORY AND THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AND IT'S PURCHASING POWER HAS DECLINED AS WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE THINK COULD BE MODERNIZED WITHOUT HAVING A HUGE IMPACT TO INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS TRYING TO BUY A HOME.

BUT IF WE WERE ABLE TO MODERNIZE AND INDEX THIS FEE IT COULD GROW AND HELP SERVE FAMILIES AFFORD MAKING $50,000 A YEAR.

>> Renee: MODERNIZE MEANING INCREASE?

>> YES.

>> Renee: BY HOW MUCH?

>> RIGHT NOW IF IT'S $6 WE ARE PROPOSE TO GO WOULD GO BETWEEN 30 AND 33 DOLLARS TO CATCH UP FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS THAT IT'S REMAINED $6.

>> Renee: DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT.

>> .

>> I DO.

KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION ADMINISTERS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND WE USE THAT TO HELP HOME BUILDING FOR LOW INCOME HOME BUYERS, A LOT OF HABITATS USE OUR DOLLARS AND WE USE IT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AND TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE HOUSE AND HAVE SOME UNITS TARGETED TO LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THE DOLLARS OFFSET THE REPRESENTATIVES.

AND IT'S BEEN A $6 FEE SINCE 1992.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

>> Renee: ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR THE 2026 SESSION?

>> I LOVE THE RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND THAT IS MIRRORED AFTER INDIANA'S PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT WILL BE GREAT AND I LIKE THE IDEA THAT SENATOR WITTEN REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN TALKED ABOUT HAVING BUCKETS OF LEGISLATION AROUND ZONING, AROUND FUNDING AND I THINK AROUND REGULATIONS.

BECAUSE THIS IS MULTIFACETED.

AND WHILE WE LOST OUR HOUSING CAPACITY PRETTY QUICKLY AFTER THE 08 RECESSION IT'S GOING TO TAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT AT LOCAL, STATE, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LEVELS TO BUILD IT BACK UP.

AND BUILD NEW WAYS LIKE MANUFACTURED, MODULAR, THREE D PRINCIPLING AND WE HAVE TO HAVE MANY APPROACHING.

>> Renee: WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE 3-D PRINTING IDEA.

YOU WANT TO SHED LIGHT ON THAT?

>> I WANT TO TALK MORE ON THE REGULATORY SIDE.

OUR BUILDERS ARE CHALLENGED WITH THE RESIDENTIAL AND ENERGY BUILDING CODES.

SOME OF THOSE CODES ARE REALLY STRINGENT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE STRINGENT AND IT IS A LOT OF UP FRONT COSTS THAT SOMETIMES LITTLE RETURN.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT UPDATING THE CURRENT ENERGY CODE AND IT COULD INCREASE THE COST OF A HOME BETWEEN 9 AND 12,000 DOLLARS.

FOR EVERY $1,000 INCREASE TO A NEW HOME IT PRICES 2,000 KENTUCKIANS OUT OF A HOME.

SO WE JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER LIKE WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT, WORK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WITH THE REGULATORS AND JUST REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT IS BEST SO THAT WEAN I EO ERYE'OMNT LOINFOAR T WKI ON BILLS THIS YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING I LOVE TO SEE THE BIPARTISAN EFFORTS EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: TIM THE LAST WORD FOR THE EVENING?

>> I DON'T WANT TO REITERATE BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THE SUCCESS OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THE PROJECT HERE IN LEXINGTON LED BY CENTRAL BANK AND STOCKYARDS TRADITIONAL BANK THE HOME BUILDERS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT AND THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX THAT ARE GOING TO REVITALIZE HOUSING WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH AND GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING A HOME AND ADDRESSING THE NEED.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN ANY FINAL WORD OR THOUGHTS FROM YOU?

IT WILL BE A BUSY SESSION WE HOPE TO SEE SOME OF THIS COME TO FRUITION AND YOU ARE MEETING TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY SEPTEMBER 22.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SPOILER ALERT ABOUT THE AGENDA?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE GUESTS IS THE GROUP FROM INDIANA THAT IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.

SO YES, THEY WILL BE ON THERE AND THERE WILL BE A FEW OTHERS IT WILL BE A JAM-PACKED MEETING.

I BELIEVE I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVE BRATCHER HE IS THE ONE WHO IS HAS A BILL THAT WANTS TO CHANGE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

SO EITHER THIS MONTH OR NEXT MONTH WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM HIM ABOUT THAT BILL TO RAISE -- -YEAR-OLD THE NUMBER THAT -- I DON'T RECALL THE NUMBER HE WAS RECOMMENDING BUT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT BILL.

>> Renee: A LOT TO FOLLOW.

YOU CAN FOLLOW IT ON KET WE WILL BE CARRYING THAT TASK FORCE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 22 ON-LINE OR ON DEMAND AT KET.ORG.

NEXT MONDAY WE WILL LOOK AT STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS JOIN US FOR THAT DISCUSSION AT 8 EASTERN 7 CENTRAL NEXT MONDAY AND "KENTUCKY EDITION" EACH WEEKNIGHT AT 6:30 5:30 CENTRAL TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS YOUR STATE.

AND BILL BRYANT AND A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS WILL BE HERE TO DISCUSS THE NEWS ON FRIDAY ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

I'M RENEE SHAW AND UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.

SO LONG.