Missouri House passes measures on mortgage modifications, land transfers, survey fees and wholesaler disclosures

The Missouri House on April 28 cleared a package of companion Senate bills on the informal calendar, approving consumer protections for mortgage modifications, state land‑transfer authority, a modest recording‑fee increase to fund the land survey program and a measure addressing wholesaler disclosures and land‑bank authority.

Bill outcomes at a glance - Senate substitute for SB 834 (Mortgage modification and sale‑leaseback protections): Passed final passage, 139–1. Sponsor described two main components: the Missouri Mortgage Modification Act (clarifying lien priority after a good‑faith loan modification) and the Missouri Residential Sale‑Leaseback Protection Act (consumer disclosures to reduce predatory sale‑leaseback schemes).

- House committee substitute for SB 937 (Land transfers): Adopted as amended and passed third reading, roll tally 137 yeas, 2 nays, 1 present. The bill authorizes the governor to sell, lease or otherwise arrange transactions for 17 specified state parcels; a floor amendment removed several tracks in Cole County for clarification.

- Senate bill 938 (Land survey program funding): Passed final passage, 121 yeas, 21 nays, 2 present. The bill raises a recording fee from $4 to $6, allocating $1 to the Land Survey Program and $0.25 to county recorder of deeds offices; sponsors said the program’s allocation had not changed since 1969 and needs modest additional revenue for equipment and continuity.

- Senate substitute for SB 973 (Wholesaler disclosures and land banks): Adopted and passed third reading, 110 yeas, 36 nays. The bill includes wholesaler‑disclosure provisions to ensure sellers receive required notices and added land‑bank language while stripping a prior proposed right‑of‑first‑refusal requirement for school districts.

Support and floor remarks The sponsor of SB 834 told the chamber the mortgage‑modification language removes uncertainty that can delay relief for homeowners by clarifying that certain common, good‑faith loan modifications do not affect lien priority. "Without certainty, these lenders may be less willing to modify their loan," the sponsor said.

Supporters of SB 938 — including members who identified as land surveyors — said the $2 increase in the recording fee is the first change since 1969 and will keep the Land Survey Program operating. One member described the program as "invaluable" and said the small increase would prevent future requests for general revenue support.

Votes and next steps All four measures passed the House on April 28 and will move through the standard enrollment/transmittal process to the Senate (if required by companion status) or to the governor according to legislative rules.

Limitations Floor remarks noted that some bills included technical amendments and that the record does not specify detailed fiscal appropriation language beyond fee‑allocation statements and references to prior fiscal notes.