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Committee backs pilot to rebate residential safe rooms for rural Kentuckians
Summary
The Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee advanced SB 11, a pilot rebate program to subsidize residential safe rooms in rural areas; the bill creates a 50% rebate up to $5,000 for installations meeting FEMA and ICC standards and tasks the Division of Emergency Management with administration and a public registry.
Steve Meredith, senator from the 5th District, told the Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection that SB 11 would create a pilot rebate fund to expand access to residential safe rooms in rural Kentucky.
The bill would provide rebates covering 50% of construction and installation costs up to $5,000 for homeowners who build safe rooms that meet FEMA and International Code Council standards and agree to open them to neighbors during emergencies, Meredith said. He said safe rooms can be standalone structures or integrated into a home and that the program was developed with the Kentucky League of Cities and the Division of Emergency Management.
The bill sponsor said the idea grew from a Morgantown grant and an effort to address long travel distances to community shelters in sparsely populated areas. "We could actually, if you had $200,000, you could actually build 40 storm shelters," Meredith said, describing the program as a way to turn individual safe rooms into neighborhood resources.
Committee members asked about costs and building-code compliance. One member warned that meeting international building codes could push costs above the program’s cost estimate, saying, "once you start trying to do something that has to do with all these codes, I'm not sure you're going to be able to get these done for $10,000." Meredith responded that the bill sets the framework rather than an appropriation and that the state could pursue donations or seek FEMA flexibility in using funds historically provided for community shelters.
Under the bill, the Division of Emergency Management would create the application process, verify compliance, maintain a public list of available safe rooms, and prioritize applications based on available funding. Homeowners would be required to provide documentation showing installations meet FEMA standards and include location and permitting information. The bill also includes reporting requirements to promote transparency and accountability.
The committee recorded roll-call votes. The transcript records at least one recorded 'Nay' (Senator Boswell) and a majority of 'Aye' votes (Clemons, Higdon, Nunn, Reid, Richardson, Smith, Tichenor, and the chair), and the chair announced SB 11 "passes with favorable expression." The committee noted the presenter may be asked to present again in A&R or other committees as the bill moves forward.
SB 11 now advances from committee for further consideration.
