Committee advances bill allowing local governments to certify and regulate sober living homes in a Hamilton County pilot; advocates warn of housing barriers

The State and Local Government Committee voted 15-7 to advance House Bill 783, as amended, to Finance, Ways and Means. The bill — prompted by incidents at a sober living residence near a school in Hamilton County — would allow local governments to require certification of sober living homes located near schools or daycares, permit local regulation of operations (health, safety and building codes) and allow localities to require residents be referred by a licensed health care provider or a court. The committee amendment limited the initial pilot to Hamilton County.

Sponsor Representative K. Martin described the bill’s origin as complaints from neighbors of a particular sober living residence: “House bill 7 83 as amended came to me from…