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Bill

HB 2634

Requiring landlords to comply with a default maintenance code if the rental property is in a city or county that has not adopted a maintenance code.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robyn Essex and 3 co-sponsors

Kansas bill establishes a statewide default maintenance code for rental properties in jurisdictions lacking local standards, ensuring minimum housing condition requirements.

Committee of the Whole - Passed over and retain a place on the calendar
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Bill Summary · HB 2634

Legislative bill overview

HB 2634 establishes a default maintenance code that automatically applies to rental properties in Kansas cities or counties that have not adopted their own local maintenance standards. This ensures that landlords in jurisdictions without existing codes must still meet baseline property maintenance requirements, creating a statewide minimum standard for rental housing conditions.

Why is this important

Rental properties without any maintenance code oversight can deteriorate, creating health and safety risks for tenants while potentially destabilizing neighborhoods. This bill addresses a regulatory gap by preventing jurisdictions from having zero maintenance standards, though it also shifts enforcement responsibility and may impact property management costs in smaller communities that currently lack code infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

  • Local control vs. state mandates: Cities and counties that prefer minimal regulation or have resource constraints may object to state-imposed requirements overriding local governance decisions
  • Implementation costs: Jurisdictions without existing code infrastructure would need to develop enforcement mechanisms, hire inspectors, and establish compliance procedures, creating unfunded administrative burdens
  • Definition disputes: The specific requirements of the "default maintenance code" aren't detailed in the bill summary; debate will likely focus on whether standards are reasonable, outdated, or too stringent for rural areas with different housing conditions

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

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