A Court-Based Mediation Program Is Now the Law of the Land in Kansas. Advocates Say It Could Be a Model for the Rest of the Nation
In Kansas, a court-based eviction mediation program has quietly become one of the most effective homelessness prevention tools in the country, and now it’s going statewide. Since the Johnson County District Court’s Eviction Mediation Program launched, mediators have reached 1,049 agreements with landlords and tenants, 76% of which were successful. Signed by Governor Laura Kelly in April, the legislation took effect statewide on July 1, 2026, expanding the model across Kansas and introducing the state’s first meaningful tenant protections.
Mediation Program Successfully Reduces Evictions
This legislation was inspired by the success of Johnson County District Court’s Eviction Mediation Program, funded by the Johnson County Commission.
The significance of this program starts with requiring landlords and tenants in eviction court to meet with a neutral third-party mediator to reach an agreement, usually including repayment terms or move-out dates. As a result, no eviction judgment is filed, and tenants can avoid having an eviction on record. The process also connects tenants with the necessary resources to help them comply with the terms of the agreement.
Data shows that the program has been a remarkable success. Mediation allows tenants to learn more about the court system and have more power through the process, leading to better outcomes…