This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit how much the assessed value of residential real property and mobile homes can increase each year in Kansas. The amendment would cap annual increases for these property types at 1.5% of their value, starting from January 1, 2027. This change directly affects homeowners and mobile home owners by restricting how their property tax bases can grow over time. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and would be submitted to voters for approval before taking effect.
SB 391 prevents Kansas cities and counties from passing local laws that require landlords to accept tenants using housing vouchers or restrict landlords from considering a tenant's income source (like housing assistance). It specifically bans ordinances that force landlords to lease to voucher recipients, limit security deposits, or require automatic tenant rights. The bill ensures landlords can use standard screening criteria, including income source, when deciding tenants. This directly affects landlords, local governments, and tenants who rely on housing assistance programs.
HB 2739 prohibits requiring fire sprinkler systems in multi-family buildings with four or fewer attached living units statewide, including preventing local governments from enforcing such rules. It redefines "apartment buildings" in the fire code to exclude townhouses (which have fire-separated units and exterior access), clarifying that only larger properties with three or more units require sprinklers. Property owners may still voluntarily install sprinklers. The law takes effect upon publication in the statute book.
HB 2497 prohibits lenders from charging prepayment penalties on home loans used for personal, family, or household purposes after six months from the loan's start date. It directly affects homeowners who pay off or refinance their mortgages within the first six months of the loan term, preventing lenders from imposing fees for early repayment after that period. The bill amends Kansas law to allow lenders to still collect actual government filing fees and reasonable closing costs, but bans all other prepayment penalties beyond six months. This applies specifically to standard residential mortgages secured by real estate, excluding business or agricultural loans. The law takes effect upon publication in the Kansas statutes.
SB 418 creates a "by-right" housing development process in Kansas, automatically approving qualifying single-family homes, townhouses, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that meet existing zoning rules - requiring local governments to approve applications within 15 days unless denied. It allows third-party professionals (like licensed engineers) to review permits or inspect construction if local authorities delay, and mandates that all land within city limits be treated as single-family residential zoning. The bill excludes owner-initiated rezoning to single-family zones from protest petitions and aims to address housing shortages by reducing approval delays for standard developments. This directly affects developers, homeowners seeking to build, and local governments responsible for zoning and permitting.
HB 2099 allows cities and counties in Kansas to require periodic interior inspections of privately owned residential rental properties where the owner receives government rental subsidies, such as Section 8 vouchers. This directly affects landlords receiving these subsidies, who must now allow inspections for code compliance, and tenants, who must receive reasonable notice of inspection dates. The bill requires local governments to notify tenants before inspections and permits random inspections in response to code violation complaints. It repeals the existing prohibition on routine inspections for unsubsidized housing, creating a specific exception for subsidized properties.
HB 2357 automatically seals court records in eviction cases where the rental agreement is governed by Kansas' residential landlord and tenant law (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq.), restricting access to the tenant, involved parties, the court, and the clerk. The bill requires courts to offer mediation in such cases unless the court determines it would not help, and prohibits tenant screening agencies and landlords from collecting or sharing sealed eviction information. Sealed eviction judgments are automatically expunged (removed from public records) two years after the judgment is satisfied, unless a new judgment is entered within that period. This applies to all eviction cases under the residential landlord and tenant act, directly affecting tenants, landlords, and tenant screening entities.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Kansas that would limit how much property tax assessments can increase each year for most real estate and mobile homes. Under the new rules, the taxable value of these properties could rise by no more than 3% annually, unless the property is newly built, improved, sold, or reclassified. The amendment also allows the state legislature to create specific laws that freeze tax valuations for owner-occupied homes belonging to qualifying seniors. By embedding these limits in the state constitution, the change would establish a permanent cap on assessment growth rather than relying on temporary statutes.
