Establishes limits on residential rent increases during lease renewal
Summary
HB 2996 creates the “Missouri Housing Predictability and Transparency Act” and adds a new section to Missouri’s landlord-tenant law governing residential lease renewals. Beginning with renewals issued on or after January 1, 2027, the bill would cap rent increases at the lesser of 10 percent or 7 percent plus the annual change in the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. It also requires landlords to give tenants at least 90 days’ written notice before a rent increase takes effect, including the current rent, proposed rent, percentage increase, and notice of the tenant’s right to request documentation supporting the calculation.
The bill includes several exemptions from the rent-increase cap. It would not apply to newly constructed residential units for the first 15 years after a certificate of occupancy, units newly created through substantial rehabilitation meeting a specified investment threshold, nonprofit housing providers receiving government subsidies where rent is set by federal or state programs, or tenants who are delinquent on rent at renewal. It also prohibits landlords from refusing to renew a lease, terminating a tenancy, or otherwise retaliating against a tenant for asserting rights under the new section.
Impact
HB 2996 would add a new tenant-protection framework to chapter 441, RSMo, by regulating how much landlords may raise rent at renewal and by imposing advance notice and disclosure requirements. It would create enforceable rights for tenants, authorize civil lawsuits for violations, allow recovery of actual damages and attorney’s fees, and impose a civil penalty of up to three times the unlawful portion of a rent increase for willful violations. The attorney general would also be empowered to enforce the law and seek civil penalties for pattern-or-practice violations. The Department of Economic Development would be authorized to adopt rules to administer the section.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a housing affordability and predictability proposal, with no recorded committee testimony or votes provided in the materials. The caption and structure suggest support for tenant stability and transparency in rent-setting, while the exemptions indicate an effort to limit the bill’s reach to certain housing types and circumstances. Because there is no transcript or vote history, the broader legislative sentiment cannot be measured directly from the record provided.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern the rent cap itself, the 90-day notice mandate, and the enforcement provisions that expose landlords to damages, attorney’s fees, and treble penalties. Landlords and housing providers may object that the bill restricts pricing flexibility, especially in response to inflation or market conditions, while tenant advocates would likely support the predictability and anti-retaliation protections. The exemptions for new construction, substantial rehabilitation, subsidized nonprofit housing, and delinquent tenants suggest the bill attempts to address concerns about discouraging development or interfering with existing program-based rent structures.