Missouri REALTORS®,
Legislation barring local governments from imposing certain restrictions on landlords passed the House by a 103-33 vote after first-round perfection last week. House Bill 2385, sponsored by Rep. Ben Keathley (R-Chesterfield), is strongly backed by Missouri REALTORS®. Our chief lobbyist Sam Licklider was among more than 40 witnesses testifying in support of the measure in committee.
Under HB2385, local governments could not require landlords to accept federal vouchers for housing, commonly known as “Section 8.” Local governments also could not bar landlords from declining to rent to a prospective tenant based upon common safeguards such as eviction histories, property damage histories, criminal records, and credit checks. This issue has been particularly highlighted recently in Kansas City, where Mayor Quinton Lucas has pressed for broader use of federal housing vouchers by property owners who do not currently choose to accept them.
“I can’t think of a quicker way to drive new housing developers out of our state and out of our communities than telling them we’re gonna make it even harder for them to collect rent. We’re going to make it so they can’t mitigate risk at all,” Rep. Keathley said during floor debate before the House sent HB2385 to the Senate.
There is good news from the Missouri Senate, which gave final passage last Thursday to Senate Bill 895 to prohibit moratoriums on evictions. See the version approved and sent to the House here. SB895, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Trent, mandates that no county, municipality or other political subdivision shall impose or enforce an eviction moratorium unless it is specifically authorized by law. Similar legislation has advanced in the House.
March Dates of Interest
Lawmakers are to begin their annual Spring Break this Thursday, March 14, returning to work on Monday, March 25. Filing for the August 6 primary elections closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26.
REALTOR® Days
On Tuesday, March 12, members of the Central Missouri Board of REALTORS® will be visiting lawmakers for weekly REALTOR® Days. On Wednesday, March 13, members of Southeast Missouri REALTORS® and the Bootheel Regional Board of REALTORS® will also be in Jefferson City for rounds at the Capitol. Thank you for your involvement in these important personal contacts with your lawmakers!
For questions, contact Erin Hervey, Vice President of Government Affairs and Local Board Relations, at erin@morealtor.com.