Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB144

Introduced
2/3/25  

Caption

Invalidating restrictive covenants that limit or prohibit the installation of solar panels and allowing the adoption of reasonable rules by homeowners associations concerning solar panels.

Impact

The passage of SB 144 will have significant implications for state laws related to property rights and renewable energy. It will override current restrictive covenants that could hinder homeowners' rights to utilize solar energy solutions on their properties. Following the enactment, homeowners associations will still retain the ability to implement reasonable rules regarding solar panel installations, but these rules cannot outright prohibit rooftop installations. This balance seeks to provide a flexible solution that allows for solar energy adoption while considering community guidelines.

Summary

Senate Bill 144, introduced by Senator Holscher, addresses the issue of restrictive covenants that limit or prohibit the installation of solar panels on residential rooftops. The bill declares that any provision in these covenants will be deemed void and unenforceable as of July 1, 2025. This legislative move aims to promote the adoption of renewable energy by simplifying homeowners' abilities to install solar panels, aligning with broader efforts to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in residential areas. By removing these barriers, the bill is expected to encourage the use of clean energy sources among homeowners.

Contention

While the bill appears to champion environmental sustainability, it may face opposition from homeowners associations or property owners who feel that such decisions should be governed by local regulations and community standards rather than state mandates. Some critics might argue that the imposition of this state-level prohibition against restrictive covenants undermines the autonomy of homeowners associations to regulate property aesthetics and rules in their communities. This tension between promoting renewable energy use and maintaining local control over community standards could lead to debates as the bill moves through the legislative process.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

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 SB6

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

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS HB2002

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

KS SB8

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

KS SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.