The Kansas Fair Chance Housing and Homelessness Reduction Act aims to enhance consumer protections in the housing market by regulating the use of consumer reports related to residential or tenant history. The bill defines key terms such as "adverse action," "consumer," and "landlord," and establishes that consumer reporting agencies must notify consumers of any adverse residential or tenant history before including it in a report. Additionally, landlords are prohibited from considering certain negative tenant histories, such as evictions or rental arrears that are over three years old, when making decisions about rental agreements. If a landlord takes adverse action against a tenant, they must provide the consumer with the relevant consumer report or tenant history that influenced their decision.

The bill also amends existing consumer protection laws to classify violations of these provisions as deceptive acts, subjecting landlords and consumer reporting agencies to enforcement under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This includes a requirement for landlords to provide consumers with an explanation of any adverse actions taken based on their tenant history. The act is designed to promote fair housing practices and reduce homelessness by ensuring that individuals are not unfairly penalized for past rental issues that are no longer relevant.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 50-626
As introduced: 50-626