Committee Minutes — SB415
Wed, Feb 11, 2026

Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on SB415.

Natalie Scott, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions  (Attachment 15)

Doug Shane, Senator, 37th District, Kansas, provided testimony in support of the bill.  He stated that several residents of Aspen Place Apartments, who experienced condemnation of the apartment complex, had to relocate within 48 hours.  The negligent landlord got off relatively scot-free.  This bill will would narrowly apply the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) to these situations. (Attachment 16)

Matthew Keenan, Executive Director, Kansas Legal Services, provided testimony in support of the bill.  He stated this bill would clarify that the KCPA does apply if a landlord violates Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRLTA) and causes or allows a rental unit to become uninhabitable. (Attachment 17)

Megan Foreman, Housing Coordinator,Johnson County Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development, provided testimony in support of the bill.  She stated this bill is a measured response to extremely negligent property owners.  The threat of financial penalties should change the business calculation corporate property owners make, and spur reinvestment into local properties.  (Attachment 18)

Christina Ashie Guidry, Director of Policy and Planning, United Community Services, provided testimony in support of the bill.  She stated at the bill's core, if you take someone's money, you deliver what you promised.  She said our rental market has changed.  More homes are  now owned by large corporate investors, which are more likely to defer maintenance than local 'mom and pop' landlords.   (Attachment 19)

Dustin Hare, Economic Security Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children, provided testimony in support of the bill.  He stated this bill will give Kansas renters an important tool to help them stay in their homes, in their schools, and in their neighborhoods where they can thrive as part of a community (Attachment 20)

Michelle Ewert, Director, Washburn Law Clinic, testified in strong support for SB415.  She said this bill would help protect tenants in dangerous situations by allowing additional enforcement options.(Attachment 21)

Sam Ellison-Natale, Executive Director, Holistic Defenders, provided testimony in support of this bill.  He said Kansans deserve access to justice, and with this bill, the already existing market of private attorneys can fill that need, improving the condition of housing for everyone who rents.(Attachment 22)

Christie McMurphy, Executive Director, Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition, provided testimony in support of the bill.  She stated this bill does not create new requirements for landlords.  It simply ensures that existing laws have real consequences.   (Attachment 23)

Brandi Galbeath, Community Housing Coordinator, City of Emporia, provided testimony in support of the bill.  She stated this bill addresses an enforcement gap by explicitly applying the KCPA to egregious landlord conduct that renders a dwelling substandard or uninhabitable.  (Attachment 24)

Kristen Hattesohl, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of the bill.  She stated she was forced to relocate after her apartment complex was condemned. She stated she met all of her obligations under the lease agreement and paid rent as required.  (Attachment 25)

Proponents, written only testimony was submitted by the following:

  • Kayla Knier, Director of Regional Coordination, Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition (Attachment 26)

  • Katie Killen, Habitat for Humanity of Kansas Advocacy co-chair (Attachment 27)

  • Carrie Higgins, Director of Housing Services Division, City of Topeka (Attachment 28)

  • Matthew Bingesser, Administrative Counsel, Office of the Attorney General (Attachment 29)

  • Talita Leikam, Private Citizen (Attachment 30)

  • Corey Thurman, Private Citizen - (Attachment 31)

Ed Jaskinia, President, The Associated Landlords of Kansas, provided testimony in opposition to the bill.  He stated a better, more productive way to address the concerns would be to have an interim committee meeting to study all proposals during a summer session, to avoid unintended consequences.  (Attachment 32)

Martha Smith, Kansas Manufactured Housing Association, spoke in opposition of the bill.  She asks the committee to consider directing an interim study to examine these issues in a coordinated way. (Attachment 33)

Conferees stood for questions and discussion.

Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on SB415

The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 a.m.