HB 2679 would establish a legal framework for the regulated sale and use of cannabis by adults 21 and older in Kansas. The bill creates licensing requirements for cannabis businesses (including growers, manufacturers, retailers, and testing facilities), mandates the clearing of past cannabis-related criminal records, and imposes an excise tax on cannabis sales. Revenue from this tax would fund child care, economic development, mental health services, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates through a new "cannabis business regulation fund." The law would replace existing cannabis laws and require businesses to follow specific safety, labeling, and operational standards.
HB 2678 would establish Kansas' first legal medical cannabis program, allowing licensed businesses to cultivate, process, and sell cannabis products for medical use to qualifying patients. It requires the state to expunge past cannabis-related criminal records and imposes an excise tax on sales, with funds directed to child care, economic development, mental health, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates. The bill creates new licensing systems for cultivators, processors, and dispensaries, while exempting medical cannabis use from certain drug possession laws. It directly affects patients with qualifying medical conditions, licensed cannabis businesses, and the state's criminal justice and social service funding mechanisms.
SB 466 prevents landlords and consumer reporting agencies from denying housing or taking negative actions against tenants based on eviction or rental arrears records older than three years. It requires consumer reporting agencies to allow tenants to explain any such records they hold. The bill also mandates that court records of eviction actions be sealed for certain periods. Violations by landlords or agencies would be considered unfair under Kansas consumer protection law.
HB 2667 requires landlords to give tenants the first opportunity to purchase their rental home before selling it to the public. Landlords must send tenants a written notice with key terms (like price and closing date) and give them 30 days to submit a purchase offer. If the tenant’s offer matches the notice, the landlord must accept it; otherwise, they can counter or choose between multiple offers. The law excludes sales to family members, foreclosures, properties with four or more units, and certain other transfers. It directly affects tenants in qualifying single-family rentals and their landlords.
HB 2621 would create a new property tax exemption in Kansas for real estate owned by nonprofit organizations that provide affordable housing. This exemption would be added to Kansas tax law (K.S.A. 79-201), specifically applying to properties used exclusively for housing meeting state affordability standards. It directly affects nonprofits developing or managing affordable housing projects by eliminating their property tax burden on qualifying properties. The bill amends existing tax exemption categories, which currently include religious buildings and schools, to include affordable housing nonprofits. This policy change would reduce operating costs for qualifying housing developments without altering current affordability definitions.
HB 2619 would create a sales tax exemption for manufactured homes, mobile homes, modular homes, and construction materials/services used by contractors to build or remodel affordable housing projects for qualifying nonprofit organizations. The bill amends Kansas' sales tax code to add this specific exemption, directly reducing costs for contractors working on affordable housing developments. This policy change applies when projects are sponsored by nonprofits meeting defined affordability criteria. The exemption covers both the homes themselves and related construction materials/services purchased by contractors.
HB 2739 prohibits requiring fire sprinkler systems in multi-family buildings with four or fewer attached living units statewide, including preventing local governments from enforcing such rules. It redefines "apartment buildings" in the fire code to exclude townhouses (which have fire-separated units and exterior access), clarifying that only larger properties with three or more units require sprinklers. Property owners may still voluntarily install sprinklers. The law takes effect upon publication in the statute book.
SB 418 creates a "by-right" housing development process in Kansas, automatically approving qualifying single-family homes, townhouses, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that meet existing zoning rules - requiring local governments to approve applications within 15 days unless denied. It allows third-party professionals (like licensed engineers) to review permits or inspect construction if local authorities delay, and mandates that all land within city limits be treated as single-family residential zoning. The bill excludes owner-initiated rezoning to single-family zones from protest petitions and aims to address housing shortages by reducing approval delays for standard developments. This directly affects developers, homeowners seeking to build, and local governments responsible for zoning and permitting.
SB 371 requires landlords in Kansas to offer tenants the right to purchase a rental property before listing it for sale to the public. It applies to residential properties (excluding buildings with four or more units) and mandates landlords to send tenants a written notice with key sale terms (like price and deadlines) at least 30 days before public listing. Tenants can submit a purchase offer within 30 days, and landlords must accept it if it matches the notice terms or provide a counteroffer within five days. If multiple tenants offer, landlords may choose the most favorable proposal. Violations are treated as consumer protection issues under Kansas law.
HB 2470 allows Kansas municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents to designate their entire city as a neighborhood revitalization area under the state's revitalization program. This change removes ambiguity in current law, enabling small towns to apply revitalization incentives - like tax credits or development assistance - to all properties within their borders. The bill directly affects small municipalities seeking to address neighborhood decline through comprehensive economic development. It amends the Kansas Neighborhood Revitalization Act to explicitly permit whole-municipality designations, streamlining the process for communities focused on improving public health, safety, and welfare through neighborhood renewal.
