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Committee amends, advances bill allowing municipal inspections of subsidized rental properties when occupant won’t consent
Summary
The Senate committee added language requiring an administrative warrant and voted to advance House Bill 2099, which would permit municipal inspections of private residential rental properties that receive government rental subsidies under certain conditions and sunsets in 2030.
The Senate Committee on Local Government on an unspecified date amended and advanced House Bill 2,099, which would allow cities or counties to conduct inspections of private residential rental properties that receive governmental rental subsidies when an occupant does not consent.
The bill, as explained to the committee by a staff member, is intended to “provide for residential inspections under certain circumstances where an occupant may not consent,” and includes a sunset date of July 1, 2030. The staff member said the measure would cover inspections where tenants decline access for reasons including fear of future consequences.
Whitney Damron of the City of Topeka told the committee the insertion of a missing word from House amendments is necessary for the bill to read correctly. “Depends on what the probable cause would be. So that is what would go to the administrative, process of this is what the complaint is. This is what we're looking for,” Damron said, adding the inspections would “primarily” target property common areas rather than individual units.
Committee members moved a conceptual amendment to add the word “warrant” to the phrase “administrative search” to clarify the standard for entry. Senator Patey moved to add the word “warrant” on line 33, Senator Clifford seconded the procedural action on the amendment, and the committee adopted the change by voice vote.
After the amendment was adopted, Senator Bowser moved that the committee recommend House Bill 2,099 as amended favorably out of committee. The motion passed by voice vote.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The chair and committee members discussed who might carry the bill in later stages; Senator Clifford volunteered to carry the measure.
The transcript indicates the committee discussion and votes occurred during the bill’s agenda item; no additional information about implementation details, enforcement procedures, or subsequent legislative steps was specified in the record.
