This story by Clara Bates was originally published in Missouri Independent.
The local laws that prohibit landlords from discriminating against publicly aided tenants are unenforceable under the law signed Monday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.
The law aims to protect tenants from discrimination, aiming to ordinances passed in several Missouri cities, and to pay rent using sources of income, particularly federal housing choice vouchers known as the Section 8 voucher.
The bill was co-hosted by Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City, and Ben Keithley, a Chesterfield Republican. In the Senate, it was carried by Senator Nick Schrour, a rebellious Republican.
Kansas City passed a source of income discrimination ban last year, but most were suspended in court in February.
Columbia, St. Louis, Webster Groves and Clayton have similar protections in their books. The law makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate based solely on the facts of the renters’ legitimate income sources, including Section 8, Veterans’ Benefits and Social Security.
The law had the support of landlord groups, apartment associations, real estate agents associations and conservative think tank Showmay Institute. Advocates characterized local sources of income protection as an overreach to ownership rights.
Opponents said the bill would violate local controls and undermine the availability of affordable housing. The city of Kansas City is opposed along with Missouri’s Poverty Countermeasure Empower and Missouri Public Housing Association.
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