SCS/SB 388 - This act modifies provisions relating to deteriorated or abandoned property.
NUISANCE ACTIONS
This act authorizes St. Louis County and any municipality located within St. Louis County to enact ordinances to provide for the building official of the county to petition the circuit court for the appointment of a receiver to rehabilitate, demolish, or sell a nuisance building or structure. (Section 67.399)
This act also allows the owner of a property located within one thousand two hundred feet of an alleged nuisance property located in St. Louis County or any municipality located within St. Louis County to bring a nuisance action against the offending property owner for damages caused by the nuisance. The property owner or a neighborhood organization may bring injunctive action to abate a nuisance, as described in the act. The act specifies notice requirements for the actions, provides for the proceedings to be expedited, details a prima facie showing for injunctive relief and prohibits jury trials in the actions, provides for attorneys' fees and expenses, specifies that these provisions do not abrogate other legal rights or remedies or grant standing to challenge zoning laws, and provides for an affirmative defense that the property is in compliance with an order of certain government entities specified in the act. (Section 67.452)
Additionally, current law provides for procedures for bringing a nuisance action in the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City. This act applies such provisions to the cities of Springfield and St. Joseph. The act also provides that such actions for injunctive relief shall be heard by the court without a jury.
Current law also provides for an award of attorney fees and expenses for property owners who prevail in a nuisance action against the owner of commercial or industrial property. This act allows for such award regardless of the type of property owner an action is brought against. (Sections 82.1025 to 82.1031)
This act is identical to HB 739 (2025).
These provisions are identical to HB 1258 (2025).
LAND BANKS
This act repeals a provision that prohibits land bank agencies from purchasing certain properties unless they are adjacent to real property already owned by the land bank agency. (Section 140.984)
JOSH NORBERG