Kansas House Bill HB2768

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/10/26
• Refer: 2/10/26

Caption

Providing that under rental agreements governed by the residential landlord tenant act, a landlord is required to accept multiple payment amounts as long as rent is paid on time and in full and to count certain income when considering a tenant or prospective tenant's qualifications for housing.

Summary

HB 2768 would amend Kansas’s residential landlord and tenant law to require landlords to accept rent paid in multiple installments, so long as the full rent is received on time. If a landlord refuses a compliant multi-payment tender, the tenant’s obligation for that payment amount is discharged, and the landlord may be liable for actual damages, punitive damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. The bill also states that these protections are supplemental to existing landlord-tenant remedies. The bill further requires landlords who use income screening for housing eligibility to consider all lawful sources of income. The definition of income is broad and includes wages, government or private assistance, grants or loans, veterans-related compensation, pensions, annuities, alimony, child support, and proceeds from the sale or pledge of property. The bill expressly excludes federal Section 8 housing assistance from the definition of income. If a landlord rejects an applicant for failing to consider all income as required, the landlord must repay double the applicant’s fees and costs. The bill would change the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act by adding new tenant protections and landlord obligations, with enforcement through private civil actions and fee-shifting. It would affect landlords, tenants, and prospective tenants, especially renters who receive nontraditional or public-benefit income and those who need to pay rent in installments rather than one lump sum. The act would take effect January 1, 2027. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill’s structure, the likely policy theme is expanding housing access and reducing barriers for renters with varied income sources or irregular cash flow. Potential contention would center on landlord concerns about administrative burden, payment processing, screening flexibility, and exposure to damages and attorney fees, versus tenant advocates’ interest in fairer access to housing and more flexible rent payment practices.

Impact

HB 2768 would amend and supplement the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act by creating new statutory duties for landlords regarding rent payment acceptance and income screening. It would require acceptance of multiple rent payments if the full amount is paid on time, mandate consideration of all lawful income sources in housing qualification decisions, exclude Section 8 assistance from the income definition, and create civil remedies including damages, attorney fees, and repayment of application fees and costs.

Sentiment

No committee discussion or vote history is available, so the record does not show formal legislative sentiment. The bill’s policy direction suggests a tenant-protective approach aimed at expanding housing access and preventing screening practices that exclude applicants with nontraditional income or limited ability to pay rent in a single payment. Any opposition would likely come from landlord interests concerned about operational burdens and liability exposure.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely to be between tenant advocates and landlord/property owner interests. Supporters would favor the bill’s anti-discrimination and access-to-housing goals, especially for applicants with public benefits, veterans’ compensation, child support, alimony, or other nontraditional income. Opponents may object to the requirement to accept multiple rent payments, the broad mandate to consider all income, the exclusion of Section 8 from the income definition, and the bill’s penalties, including actual and punitive damages, double fees, and attorney fees.