SB 973: Creates and modifies provisions relating to real estate transactions

CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 973 - The act creates and modifies provisions relating to real estate transactions. REAL ESTATE TAXES (Section 140.010 and 141.230) Current law requires a parcel located in certain counties to have unpaid taxes for a period of at least two years prior to the county satisfying such delinquent taxes through judicial foreclosure rather than through sale at auction. This act repeals such two year requirement. (Section 140.010 and 141.230) The act makes technical changes to certain other provisions relating to real estate taxes. These provisions are identical to the provisions in SCS/SB 843 (2026), the perfected SS/SCS/SB 1001(2026) and the perfected HB 2898 (2026). LAND BANKS (Sections 140.981, 140.982, 140.987, 140.994, 141.984) The act provides that a land bank agency shall not own any interest in real estate located outside the municipality or county, instead of the city as currently provided, that established the land bank. (Section 140.981) Current law provides for the appointment of county land bank directors by various agencies. This act provides that the appointment of such directors shall be appointed by the county executive pursuant to the county charter. (Section 140.982) Current law requires a land bank agency to verify that a buyer is not the original owner or relative owner of the property. This act repeals such requirement. (Section 140.987) Currently, a land bank agency shall have power to receive funds from bonds issued by the county or municipality that created the land bank agency for any of its corporate purposes. The act repeals the term "corporate" from this provision. (Section 140.994) Current law allows a land bank agency to purchase a parcel of real property only for the purpose of adding to a parcel already owned by the land bank agency. This act repeals such provision. (Section 141.984) The act makes technical changes to certain other provisions relating to land banks. These provisions are identical to the provisions in SCS/SB 843 (2026), the perfected SS/SCS/SB 1001 (2026) and the perfected perfected HB 2898 (2026). LAND TAX COLLECTION (Sections 141.330, 141.535) Currently, the collector annually may appoint one delinquent land tax clerk in each office maintained by the collector in the county. The act repeals the term "annually" from this provision. (Section 141.330) Currently, the court shall stay the sale of any tax parcel to be sold under execution of a tax foreclosure judgment, provided that the party who brought the action has paid the principal amount of all land taxes due. The act repeals the term "land", relating to land taxes, and replaces it with "delinquent". (Section 141.535) The act makes technical changes to certain other provisions relating to land tax collection. These provisions are identical to the provisions in SCS/SB 843 (2026), the perfected SS/SCS/SB 1001 (2026) and the perfected perfected HB 2898 (2026). PUBLIC SEWER DISTRICTS (Section 249.255) The act makes technical changes to a provision relating to public sewer districts. (Section 249.255) This provision is identical to the provision in SCS/SB 843 (2026), the perfected HB 2898 (2026). DISCLOSURES BY REAL ESTATE WHOLESALERS (Section 407.3600) Under the act, not less than fourteen calendar days before entering into a contract that transfers an interest in residential real property, a wholesaler, as defined in the act, acting as a grantee or a wholesaler's representative, shall provide to the property owner a written disclosure. Requirements for the disclosure are described in the act. A wholesaler acting as a grantee shall not enter into a contract that transfers an interest in residential real property until both the wholesaler and the property owner sign and date the disclosure. If the wholesaler acting as the grantee fails to make the disclosure before entering into the contract that transfers interest in the property, the owner of the property may cancel the contract at any time before the close of the escrow without penalty and the escrow agent shall disburse any earnest money paid by the wholesaler to the owner within 30 days after the cancellation. Provisions of the act shall not be modified or waived by any agreement. Any portion of an agreement executed, modified, or extended after the effective date of the act that modifies or waives provisions of the act shall be null and void. Any violation of the act shall be considered an unlawful practice under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. A party that enters into an agreement without receiving the disclosure under the act may bring a private action against a wholesaler. The Attorney General shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of the act. For any violations, the Attorney General may commence a civil action. If the court finds that a violation occurred, the court may grant relief as described in the act. These provisions are identical to the provisions in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 1001 (2026). SALE LEASEBACKS (Section 442.920) This act creates the "Missouri Residential Sale Leaseback Protection Act", which regulates sale leasebacks. A sale leaseback is defined as a transaction or series of transactions in which a seller sells residential real estate that is or was the seller's residence to another party and, as a condition of the sale, or as part of the same or a related transaction, enters into a lease or rental agreement to remain in or re-occupy the property. In any sale leaseback transaction, a buyer is required to provide the seller with certain disclosures, described in detail in the act, alerting the seller of the nature of the transaction and advising them of certain actions they may wish to take. The disclosure must be provided to the seller not less than 14 calendar days prior to the execution of any sale leaseback agreement, and the disclosure shall be signed by both the seller and the buyer concurrently with the execution of the sale leaseback agreement. A copy of the signed disclosure shall be provided to the seller within 5 days of the execution of the sale leaseback agreement. There shall be no delivery, recording, or other transfer of title from seller to buyer until 30 days after the execution of any sale leaseback agreement. Any violation of this act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per violation. The Attorney General may bring an action to enforce the provisions of the act. Any seller harmed by a violation of the act may bring a civil action. Relief is described in the act. These provisions may not be waived or modified by agreement of any party. These provisions are identical to the provisions in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 1001 (2026) and similar to SB 1684 (2026). The act has a severability clause. JULIA SHEVELEVA