Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2709

Introduced
2/4/26  

Caption

Requiring examination and licensure of home inspectors in the same manner as general contractors and providing that home inspectors obtain liability insurance coverage as required for general contractors.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2709 will have significant implications for state laws regarding professional licensure and consumer protection. By mandating licensure and insurance for home inspectors, the bill would bring a level of professionalism and security that consumers may expect in other fields. This could lead to a restructuring of how home inspectors operate, including possible training and certification processes, potentially raising the bar for those entering the profession.

Summary

House Bill 2709 focuses on the examination and licensure of home inspectors in a manner similar to that of general contractors, thereby imposing an additional regulatory framework on an industry that has previously been less regulated. This bill mandates that home inspectors be required to obtain liability insurance coverage, enhancing protections for consumers who rely on these professionals for evaluations of residential properties. The intent behind this legislation is to improve the quality of home inspections and ensure accountability among those in the profession, similar to what is required of general contractors.

Contention

The bill has generated discussions around the balance between regulation and the freedom for individuals to operate without excessive state interference. Proponents argue that such regulations are necessary for safeguarding consumer interests and enhancing the integrity of the home inspection process. In contrast, critics may voice concerns about increasing costs for inspection services that could be passed to home buyers, and whether this additional layer of regulation is truly necessary given existing market practices.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

KS HR6002

Providing for assignment of seats in the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

Similar Bills

NJ S4060

Provides for satisfaction of licensure requirements for certain elevator inspectors through certification as qualified elevator inspector.

NJ A4848

Provides for satisfaction of licensure requirements for certain elevator inspectors through certification as qualified elevator inspector.

PA SB907

Amending the act of February 19, 1980 (P.L.15, No.9), entitled "An act establishing the State Real Estate Commission and providing for the licensing of real estate brokers and salesmen," in definitions, further providing for definitions and for State Real Estate Commission; in application of the act and penalties, further providing for unlawful to conduct business without license or registration certificate, for civil suits, for criminal penalties and for civil penalty; in powers and duties of the State Real Estate Commission - general, further providing for duty to issue licenses and registration certificates and for approval of schools, providing for continuing education for licensed home inspectors and further providing for administration and enforcement; in qualifications and applications for licenses and registration certificates, further providing for reputation and inactive licensee and revoked license and providing for home inspector license and home inspector-in-training registration; in duties of licensees, further providing for reciprocal licenses and for broker price opinion; making a repeal; and making an editorial change.

AR SB445

To Amend The Law Concerning The Licensure Of Electrical Inspectors.

GA SB458

"Home Inspector Licensing Act of Georgia"; enact

GA HB1305

Home Inspector Licensing Act of Georgia; enact

NH HB1469

(New Title) relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

WV HB2174

Relating to the licensure of birthing centers