KansasProposal would count renter income and seal some eviction records
Kansas landlords would count many lawful income sources when checking renters, while covered eviction cases would be sealed at filing and could include mediation.
What it does
When landlords require income proof, they would have to count lawful income from sources such as work, benefits, gifts, or child support. Federal Section 8 assistance is excluded.
Courts would seal covered eviction files when a case begins. Whether a file later becomes public depends on the result, and some files may stay sealed for safety or privacy reasons.
In covered eviction cases, courts would order mediation unless they find it would not materially help. Defendants could appear by audio-video connection, and the case would be delayed during mediation.
A public eviction judgment would be erased after it is paid and two years pass. A later judgment can delay erasure, and an unpaid money judgment generally prevents it unless both sides agree.
Argument forRenters with lawful support, gifts, or other income could qualify when landlords require proof of income.
Argument againstLandlords and housing screeners might have less access to eviction records when deciding whether to rent to someone.
More detail
Landlords would have to count lawful income from many sources. This applies when a landlord requires a tenant or prospective tenant to show income to qualify for housing. Federal Section 8 housing assistance is excluded from the bill's definition of income. The rule would apply when a landlord requires income proof as a condition of qualifying for housing.
Courts would seal covered eviction case files when a petition is filed. This applies to eviction cases where the rental agreement is covered by Kansas's residential landlord-tenant law. A file generally stays sealed if there is no judgment, the case is dismissed, or the tenant wins. The court may unseal it if the tenant asks or both sides agree. A case with a judgment for the landlord is generally unsealed, unless both sides agree to keep it sealed or the court finds good cause or that justice favors keeping it sealed. Landlords and housing screeners could not collect or share information subject to automatic sealing. Sealing would begin when the eviction petition is filed.
Courts would order mediation in covered eviction cases and allow defendants to appear by audio-video connection. These rules apply to eviction cases where the rental agreement is covered by Kansas's residential landlord-tenant law. The court would not have to order mediation if it finds mediation would not materially help the parties. The court would have to continue the case while the parties are taking part in mediation. The court would have to continue the case while the parties are participating in mediation.
Some public eviction records would be automatically erased after a qualifying judgment is paid and two years have passed. This applies to public records of eviction judgments in cases covered by Kansas's residential landlord-tenant law. A later eviction judgment within the two-year period delays erasure until two years after the most recent judgment. An unpaid money judgment prevents erasure unless both sides agree. Public housing authorities may request three years of eviction judgment history for active applicants for federal housing assistance. The two-year period runs from the judgment date; a later eviction judgment moves the period to two years after the most recent judgment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 10Died in CommitteeDied
- Feb 5Referred to Senate Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 4IntroducedIntroduced
HousingConsumer Protection