Why Advocacy Matters for Real Estate Investors
Most real estate investors don’t think about city hall or the state capitol until they’re blindsided by a tax change, a rule shift, or a major issue moving quickly with little warning.
By then, decisions are often already in motion. Language is drafted, positions are forming, and the people shaping policy may not be hearing from the local investors who will feel the impact most.
That’s why advocacy matters.
Not because investors are political—but because real estate is local, and the rules that shape your business are written at the local and state level long before they ever show up in a deal.
Why Silence Works Against Investors
Most housing policies aren’t aimed at responsible investors. They’re usually reactions to headlines or the actions of a small group. Without input from experienced investors, legislation is created that misses how housing actually works, raises costs, and forces some investors out of business.
Silence doesn’t protect you. . . It allows someone else to define the narrative.
So take time to introduce yourself to your elected officials, not when there’s a problem, but when nothing is urgent. That way you can use small touchpoints to build trust – which matters when issues move fast.
Strong investor communities don’t just react. They stay connected—before they have to.
Staying informed and engaged at a basic level helps ensure that when decisions are made about housing, responsible investors aren’t an afterthought.
On the following pages, we’ll outline (with the help of ChatGPT) what’s happening right now and where member awareness and support make a difference.
Look up Individual Bills
What’s Happening in Kansas
Below is a summary from Chat GPT – please verify individual bills at the links above or with your own online research.
Kansas Legislative Summary Impact on Real Estate Investors & Landlords
Kansas Legislative Summary Impact on Real Estate Investors & Landlords
Kansas has more direct landlord regulation bills than Missouri this session.
Evictions, screening & tenant leverage
- KSHB2357 – Seals & expunges eviction records + mandates mediation
- KSHB2691 / KSSB443 – Requires “cause” for eviction
- KSSB100 – Limits use of prior evictions & rental arrears in screening
- KSSB466 – Restricts use of old eviction records
- KSHB2454 / KSSB485 – Requires landlords to count certain income sources
These bills weaken screening, delay removals, and increase non-payment risk.
Fees, deposits & lease enforcement
- KSHB2666 / KSSB369 / KSSB388 – Caps or restricts late fees
- KSSB482 – Forces return of deposits and prepaid rent if property is condemned
- KSHB2665 / KSSB370 – Allows tenants to terminate leases due to landlord noncompliance
Reduces enforcement tools and increases exposure to tenant-triggered exits.
Right of first refusal
- KSHB2667 / KSSB371 – Requires landlords to offer tenants first right to purchase before selling
Direct interference with exit strategies and transaction timelines.
Rent Control by Another Name
Kansas is avoiding the word “rent control” but hitting the same levers.
- Mandatory acceptance of partial payments
- Limits on late fees
- Mandatory mediation
- Eviction delays + record sealing
Net Effect
Cash flow unpredictability and slower enforcement — especially on lower-end units.
Rental Inspections & Interior Access
- KSHB2099 – Allows inspections for subsidized rentals
- KSHB2690 / KSSB416 / KSSB444 – Allows interior inspections without tenant consent under warrants or “probable cause”
- KSHB2634 – Default maintenance code imposed where none exists
Increased compliance costs, forced access, and expanded enforcement authority.
Source of Income & Voucher Mandates
🟢 Pro-landlord counterbills
- KSHB2504
- KSSB391
(Read our Article in Support MAREI.org/Advocacy)
These prohibit cities/counties from forcing landlords to accept vouchers (Section 8–style mandates).
🔴 Tenant-side mandates
- KSSB485 – Requires landlords to count additional income sources
Short-Term Rentals & Hospitality
- KSHB2481 – Expands tax treatment of short-term rentals
- Hotel / lodging tax classification changes
- STRs increasingly treated as hotels for tax purposes.
Construction, Permits & Development
🟢 Positive for builders & rehabbers
- KSHB2088 – Permit deadlines (already enacted)
- KSSB418 – By-right housing development (streamlined approvals)
Squatters & Property Protection (POSITIVE)
- KSHB2378 – Removal of Squatters Act
Clear, faster removal process — but includes penalties for misuse.
Missouri Legislative Summary Impact on Real Estate Investors & Landlords
Landlord–Tenant Law (HIGH IMPACT / HIGH RISK)
These are the bills that directly change how you operate rentals.
🔴 Rent control & fee limits
- MOHB2996 – Limits residential rent increases at lease renewal
- MOHB2856 – Caps rental application fees
Direct revenue control + reduced screening tools.
🔴 Expanded tenant protections
- MOHB1954 – Penalties if landlord fails to remedy health/safety conditions
- MOHB2917 – Senior Tenant Bill of Rights
- MOHB3016 – Broad landlord-tenant law changes (details TBD)
- MOHB3047 – Prohibits eviction of veterans except for illegal conduct
Raises liability exposure and narrows eviction authority.
🔴 Mandatory actions placed on landlords
- MOHB2090 – Requires reporting rent payments to credit bureaus if you own 15+ units
- MOHB2853 – Requires landlords (and realtors) to provide voter registration packets
Adds compliance burden unrelated to housing operations.
Ownership Restrictions
These target who is allowed to own property.
🔴 Institutional & entity ownership bans
- MOHB3167 – Prohibits institutional investors from purchasing covered residential property
- MOHB3191 – Bars institutional investors from acquiring SFRs
- MOSB920 – Limits business entities to owning no more than 50 properties
- MOSB1100 – Prohibits certain corporations from owning residential real estate
Sweeping definitions could unintentionally hit:
- LLC landlords
- Syndications
- Family portfolios
- Private equity-adjacent structures
This is one of the most dangerous categories for investors.
Short-Term Rentals
🟢 HB 1768 and SB 1066 stop cities and counties from:
- Reclassifying residential property as commercial
- Solely because the property is used as a short-term rental (STR) (See MAREI.org/Blog)
🔴Then on the Other Side
- MOHB2060 – Reclassifies STRs for property tax purposes
- MOHB1867 / 2410 / 2595 / 1551 – Expands transient guest taxes
- MOSB1365 – Requires human trafficking training/reporting for STR operators
Deal Structuring
🟢Wholesaler regulation
- MOHB2517 / MOSB973 – Mandatory wholesaler disclosures (See MAREI.org/Blog)
🔴Contract for Deed
- MOSB1594 – Establishes the Contract for Deed Act
🔴Quitclaim & loan rules
- MOHB2235 – Loans involving quitclaim deeds
Insurance & Utilities
- MOHB2250 – Insurance coverage for siding damage
- MOHB2105 – Allows landlords to bill tenants for water/sewer
- Multiple sewer lien & notice bills
Most of this review is from a very high level, find all these bills and dig deeper at MAREI.org/Advocacy
Adovocacy
Please dig in and review these bills - they could change how hosing providers offer homes forever.
