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.

Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2709
By Representative Chauncey
2-4
AN ACT concerning home inspectors; requiring examination and licensure
of home inspectors in the same manner as general contractors;
providing that home inspectors obtain liability insurance coverage as
required for general contractors.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. As used in sections 1 through 4, and amendments thereto:
(a) (1) "Home inspection" means a noninvasive limited visual
examination of a residential dwelling of not more than four attached units,
or any portion thereof, designed to identify material defects at the time of
the inspection of three or more of the following readily accessible systems
and components:
(A) Heating systems;
(B) cooling systems;
(C) electrical systems;
(D) plumbing systems;
(E) structural components;
(F) foundations;
(G) roof coverings;
(H) exterior and interior components; and
(I) any other components and systems that are part of the residential
dwelling and included in the standards of practice followed by the home
inspector.
(2) "Home inspection" includes any consultation regarding the
property that is represented as a home inspection or described by any
similar term.
(3) "Home inspection" does not include:
(A) A compliance inspection for any code or governmental
regulation;
(B) an examination for the conditions and operation of kitchen-type
appliances, on-site water supplies or wells, private waste systems, the
determination of the presence of wood-destroying organisms or pests or
the presence of fungi, mold, bacteria, asbestos, lead-based paint, gases or
conditions of air quality; and
(C) an examination and evaluation of only two or fewer of the
components listed in paragraph (1).
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(b) "Home inspector" means an individual who performs a home
inspection as defined by subsection (a).
Sec. 2. (a) Every city and county that requires the licensure of general
contractors, building contractors and residential contractors practicing
within such city or county shall require the licensure of home inspectors
pursuant to the same requirements and standards pursuant to the provisions
of K.S.A. 12-1556 through 12-1558, and amendments thereto, applicable
to such general contractors, building contractors and residential
contractors. Such city or county shall conduct examinations pursuant to by
K.S.A. 12-1556, and amendments thereto, for the purpose of determining
the competency of applicants for such licensure as home inspectors but
shall not be allowed to ask further questions not designated on such
examination. The board of county commissioners of such county or the
governing body of such city shall adopt rules and regulations:
(1) Governing the conduct and grading of such examinations;
(2) prescribing a minimum score of 75% for passage of examinations;
and
(3) fixing a uniform fee to be charged to all applicants taking each
such examination.
(b) The certificate of competency received by any person who
successfully passes an examination pursuant to by subsection (a) shall be
valid proof of competency for licensure, without requiring additional
examination, in any county or city of the state that requires licensure of
home inspectors practicing within such county or city pursuant to the
provisions of subsection (a). The county or city shall issue the appropriate
license to any applicant who presents such a certificate of competency. The
county or city shall fix a uniform fee to be charged to all such applicants
for licensure.
(c) All licenses issued by a county or city upon the basis of successful
passage of an examination required by subsection (a) shall bear a
distinctive notation of such fact. All such licenses shall be valid in any
other county or city that requires examination and licensure of home
inspectors pursuant to subsection (a) for practice in such county or city.
(d) No person shall practice as a home inspector in any city or county
that requires licensure of home inspectors pursuant to subsection (a)
without such a valid license in good standing.
(e) No person who was registered and not subject to revocation of
such registration pursuant to the provisions of the Kansas home inspectors
professional competence and the financial responsibility act prior to the
expiration of such act shall be required to take an examination for
certification or licensure as a home inspector.
Sec. 3. Subject to the provisions of section 2, and amendments
thereto, any city or county may utilize examinations other than those
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HB 2709 3
designated by K.S.A. 12-1556, and amendments thereto, but limited only
for the examination of home inspectors for licensure to practice within the
jurisdiction of such city or county. Such examinations shall be the same in
form and manner as required by such city or county for the examination of
general contractors, building contractors and residential contractors for
such limited licensure.
Sec. 4. Every city or county that requires liability insurance coverage
for general contractors, building contractors and residential contractors
shall require the same liability insurance coverage for home inspectors.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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