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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri HB 1796 reforms property rights, restricts green building mandates, and establishes fast-track squatters' removal
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Jim Murphy
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What This Bill Would Do
Representative Jim Murphy introduced House Bill 1796 to modify property rights provisions in Missouri, prohibiting s from mandating excessive green building standards, creating streamlined permit procedures for homeowners, restricting pre-sale home inspections, protecting solar and political sign rights in HOAs, and establishing a fast-track eviction process for s.
Property owners, builders, homeowners' associations, and municipal governments across Missouri face new legal limits on building codes, permit fees, and sign restrictions, while gaining expedited procedures to remove unauthorized occupants from residential properties.
- State legislatures frequently introduce omnibus property rights bills to preempt municipal building requirements and standardize regulations across local jurisdictions. context
- Squatter removal legislation has emerged as a legislative priority in multiple states to streamline court procedures for property owners dealing with unauthorized occupants. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Exempt homeowners
Resident, noncorporate owners of detached single-family residences are exempt from licensing requirements for permits, gain protections on permit renewals and inspection timelines, and face restrictions on property sales within one year.
Political subdivisions
Counties, municipalities, and fire protection districts are barred from enforcing green building codes exceeding 2009 standards, must provide free copies of referenced codes, and are subject to mandatory permit fee refunds for delayed inspections.
Homeowners' associations
HOAs are prohibited from banning political signs, sale signs, or rooftop solar panels, and must follow specific notice procedures before removing signs or assessing fines.
Property owners
Residential property owners gain access to expedited ex parte court procedures to remove unauthorized occupants and are protected from mandatory pre-sale home inspection requirements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my local government force me to build a home to high-performance energy efficiency standards exceeding the 2009 codes?
Do I need a license or professional registration as a homeowner to pull a building permit for DIY work on my own house?
Can a homeowners' association ban solar panels or political signs?
What happens if someone unlawfully occupies or squats in a residential property?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State Preemption of Local Building Standards
HB 1796 shifts authority away from local political subdivisions by capping building code requirements at 2009 international standards and banning local green building mandates.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy70Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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