Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 89 prohibits local units of government from enacting or enforcing any rent control ordinance or resolution which would control the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.

This prohibition does not affect the ability of a local government to manage or control residential property in which it has a property interest. The term "local unit of government" is defined to mean county, municipality, or township.

Background

The bill was supported by a representative of the National Multi Housing Council; the Heartland Apartment Association; Nolan Real Estate Services, Inc.; the Peterson Companies; the Kansas Association of Realtors; and the Kansas Manufactured Housing Association.

Proponents said the bill would insure that the issue of rent control would be dealt with at the state level and would encourage the investment community to invest in rental housing. Thirty-four states have enacted rent control preemption laws.

The League of Kansas Municipalities opposed the bill as an unnecessary intrusion on local government's ability to meet the needs of their communities. No local governments have enacted rent control regulations to date.

The bill has no fiscal impact.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi