LEXINGTON, Ky. — Governor Andy Beshear signed legislation into law Monday establishing a residential safe room rebate program and fund aimed at protecting Kentuckians from severe weather, according to the Governor's Office.

Senate Bill 11 will provide homeowners with a rebate of 50 percent of the costs incurred to construct or install a safe room in their primary residence, not to exceed $5,000, once the program begins in January 2027. The program will be administered by Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM).

Beshear emphasized the need for the program by noting that Kentucky has faced 15 federally declared weather disasters in just six years. "This legislation will help Kentuckians build more safe spaces for shelter during severe weather, creating safer homes and protecting more lives," he said.

KYEM has managed FEMA-funded community safe room projects over the last 15 years, constructing 97 safe rooms in 32 counties with a $46.7 million combined value that can protect more than 44,000 Kentuckians. For those projects, FEMA provided $35 million, the state provided $5.6 million, and applicants contributed $6 million.

While Beshear supported the bill, he urged legislators to designate funding for implementation, as KYEM does not currently have funds available from its own budget or from FEMA. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support in the General Assembly, with the Senate approving it 33-3 and the House voting 84-8 in favor.

The new program comes as Kentucky residents increasingly seek protection during severe weather events. Safe rooms typically cost around $10,000 to build, and under the rebate program, homeowners would be eligible to recover half that cost, capped at $5,000.