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Bill

SB 415

Making certain violations of the residential landlord and tenant act subject to the remedies and enforcement provisions of the Kansas consumer protection act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Shane

SB 415 subjects residential landlord-tenant act violations to Kansas Consumer Protection Act remedies, expanding tenant enforcement options and potential liability for property owners.

Died in House Committee
#consumerprotection #realestate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 415

Legislative bill overview

SB 415 would expand the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) to cover violations of the residential landlord-tenant laws, allowing tenants to pursue consumer protection remedies against landlords for non-compliance. Currently, landlord-tenant disputes are handled through separate civil procedures; this bill would merge certain violations into the consumer protection framework, giving tenants access to KCPA enforcement tools including attorney's fees and potential civil penalties.

Why is this important

This change could significantly strengthen tenant protections by providing access to more powerful legal remedies and lowering barriers to enforcement. Tenants would potentially recover attorney's fees and statutory damages without proving actual monetary loss, making it more economically viable to pursue claims against landlords. Conversely, this represents a substantial shift in how landlord-tenant relationships are regulated and could increase litigation costs for rental property owners.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope definition: The bill's language "certain violations" is undefined—unclear which specific landlord-tenant act breaches qualify, creating uncertainty for both landlords and tenants about what conduct triggers KCPA remedies
  • Business impact on housing supply: Landlords may face significantly higher liability exposure, potentially discouraging rental property investment or leading to higher rents to offset increased legal/compliance costs
  • Litigation increase: Expanding remedies typically increases lawsuits; courts and KCPA enforcement agencies may face resource constraints handling landlord-tenant cases alongside consumer fraud claims

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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