Bill > SB100

This bill establishes the Kansas Fair Chance Housing and Homelessness Reduction Act, which aims to limit how landlords and consumer reporting agencies can use past evictions and rental arrears when evaluating housing applications. The legislation prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including eviction or rental arrears information in a consumer report that is more than three years old and requires these agencies to contact consumers and provide them an opportunity to explain any adverse residential history before including it in a report. Landlords are prohibited from considering eviction or rental arrears information older than three years when making rental decisions, and they must provide consumers with any consumer reports or residential history documents used in their decision-making process. If a landlord declines a rental application or takes adverse action based on such information, they must share the specific documentation that led to their decision. Violations of these provisions are considered deceptive practices under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, which means offenders can be subject to enforcement actions and potential penalties. The bill defines key terms like "consumer," "dwelling unit," and "rental arrears" to provide clarity and ensure comprehensive application of the law's provisions, with the ultimate goal of reducing barriers to housing for individuals with past financial or tenancy challenges.