Housing (Landlords)

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 2504 prevents cities and counties in Kansas from banning landlords from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who receive housing assistance (like vouchers), consider credit or eviction history, or set security deposits. It allows landlords to use their own criteria for tenant screening and refuse to offer a right of first refusal. However, the bill explicitly permits cities or counties to still ban discrimination against tenants or applicants who receive veterans benefits. This directly affects landlords (by expanding their screening flexibility) and tenants using housing assistance or veterans benefits (by limiting local protections against certain landlord decisions).

HB 2187 requires government agencies and public utilities to make a good faith compensation offer to property owners at least 30 days before filing an eminent domain lawsuit. It prohibits using eminent domain for recreational trails or park facilities and deletes the legislature's power to condemn property for economic development. If the good faith offer exceeds an appraiser's award, the property owner can appeal to retain the higher amount, but the agency cannot appeal to reduce it. These changes aim to strengthen property owner protections by mandating upfront compensation and narrowing eminent domain use.

SB 262 requires Kansas government agencies and public utilities to make a good faith compensation offer to property owners at least 30 days before filing an eminent domain lawsuit, which cannot be reduced later. It prohibits using eminent domain for economic development projects or for recreational trails and park facilities, narrowing "public use" to only true public purposes. If the good faith offer exceeds the appraiser’s award, the property owner may appeal to receive the higher amount, but the agency cannot challenge this in court. These changes amend Kansas eminent domain law to strengthen property owner protections during condemnation proceedings.