Panel advances bill limiting local restrictions on landlords' tenant screening choices
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Summary
HB 2504 would bar cities and counties from restricting landlords' discretion not to rent based on factors including receipt of housing assistance, eviction or criminal history; committee passed the bill amid split commentary that highlighted housing‑access concerns and property‑owner discretion.
The House Committee on Federal and State Affairs voted to advance HB 2504, which would prevent cities and counties from imposing rules that restrict a landlord's discretion not to rent residential or commercial property based on criteria including receipt of housing assistance, eviction records or criminal history. The measure would still permit cities and counties to prohibit discrimination on the basis of receipt of veterans benefits.
Kyle summarized the bill for members. Representative Meyer opposed the bill, calling it "a really bad bill" and saying Kansas should be working to make housing more accessible, citing testimony from domestic violence survivors and others who have faced difficulties finding rentals. Representative Howell supported the measure, arguing that mandates on business would impose undue burdens on landlords and that a uniform statewide framework is preferable to local mandates.
Representative Poskin warned that evictions can remain on records for decades and expressed concern the bill could harm people whose names carry others' eviction records. The committee debated how this bill interacts with other pending rental‑housing legislation.
After discussion, the committee voted to pass HB 2504 favorably for passage by voice vote. Representative McDonald had his vote recorded as 'no.' The committee did not provide a complete roll‑call tally in the transcript provided.
The bill will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.
