By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Monday (Dec. 1) is the first day lawmakers can file legislation for the next legislative session, which begins in January.
One such measure expected to be filed is designed to give mobile home park owners and their tenants greater rights and responsibilities.
Democratic State Senator Maida Coleman says the bill would protect renters from arbitrary evictions and protect owners' liability by outlining their tenants' specific responsibilities. Coleman says the law currently doesn't require a formal lease for mobile homes.
"In our legislation we will say a bona fide lease has to exist," she said. "There has to be something on paper that the tenant and the leasor can refer to and live by."
Coleman says the bill would bring mobile home regulations into conformity in a manner that resembles federal fair housing laws that apply to houses and apartments.
"We want the landlord to have leases that can be enforced," the St. Louis Democrat said. "We want the renters to have fair leases that they're not arbitrarily charged an outrageous amount of money for the next month's rent."
Another piece of legislation expected to be filed Monday is from Republican Senate President pro Tem Peter Kinder, who plans to sponsor an effort to change the name of Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield to Missouri State University.