Kansas lawmakers advance bills limiting local control over housing, landlords

TOPEKA — Both chambers acted Wednesday on legislation restricting local governments' ability to regulate landlords, with the House passing HB 2504 on an 84-40 vote and the Senate passing SB 391 on a 31-9 vote.

HB 2504 prohibits cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept tenants whose income includes housing assistance vouchers, and bars local mandates on consideration of credit reports, eviction history or criminal background. The bill does permit localities to prohibit discrimination based on veterans benefits. In the Senate, SB 391 similarly bars local ordinances requiring landlords to accept housing choice vouchers or other housing assistance. The Senate also passed SB 418, the "By-Right Housing Development Act," on a 35-5 vote, streamlining permit approval for qualifying housing developments and requiring all city land zoned for any residential use to be considered zoned for single-family residential.

Rep. Brooklynne Mosley, D-Topeka, voted against HB 2504, saying the Legislature has "done nothing to improve their lives" and is "stripping communities of local control." Rep. Abi Boatman, D-Lawrence, whose district she described as "inundated with short-term rentals amid an affordable housing crisis," opposed the companion short-term rental bill HB 2481, which passed 110-14. In the Senate, Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, opposed SB 391, calling it a direct attack on Lawrence's rental ordinance and an encroachment on constitutional home rule.