AN ACT relating to evictions during extreme weather conditions.
Summary
SB62 would require Kentucky courts to delay the execution of a warrant of restitution in a residential eviction case during defined “extreme weather conditions.” Those conditions include days when the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning or Extreme Heat Warning for the county where the court sits, as well as periods when a natural disaster has led to a state of emergency declaration under Kentucky law. The stay would apply day to day while the weather emergency continues.
Once the extreme weather conditions end, the bill requires the eviction process to be given priority and completed within three days. The measure amends KRS 383.245, which governs warrants of restitution after a forcible entry or detainer finding, to make that process subject to the new weather-related stay. In practical terms, the bill creates a temporary pause on residential lockouts during dangerous weather, while also ensuring the underlying eviction is promptly resumed afterward.
Impact
The bill would add a new weather-based limitation to Kentucky’s eviction enforcement procedures by creating a stay on the execution of residential warrants of restitution during extreme cold, extreme heat, or declared natural-disaster emergencies. It would directly affect district courts, sheriffs or constables carrying out eviction orders, landlords seeking possession, and tenants facing removal, while leaving the underlying judgment intact. The bill amends KRS 383.245 and creates a new section within the forcible entry and detainer statutes in KRS 383.200 to 383.285.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available legislative history, the measure appears to be framed as a tenant-protection and public-safety bill, with no recorded committee debate or votes showing opposition or support. The overall tone of the proposal is protective and procedural, aiming to prevent evictions from being carried out in dangerous weather or emergency conditions. Because there are no transcripts or vote records provided, there is no documented split in sentiment from the available materials.
Contention
The main policy tension is between protecting tenants from being displaced during hazardous weather and preserving landlords’ ability to promptly enforce valid eviction judgments. Supporters would likely emphasize health and safety, especially for vulnerable residents during extreme heat, extreme cold, or disasters. Potential critics could argue that the bill delays property recovery and may create short, weather-dependent uncertainty for landlords and enforcement officers, though the bill limits the delay and requires completion within three days after conditions end.