Building Coalitions for State Legislative Reforms

State laws play a critical role in local governments’ ability to address vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties. Outdated delinquent property tax enforcement systems and limited code enforcement authority can hamper local governments’ ability to hold owners accountable or get problem property in the hands of more responsible owners. Changing these laws can be challenging and often requires statewide bipartisan collaboration.

In Missouri, a coalition of advocates recently overcame these challenges and won important state-level reforms. The reforms give counties the option of using a court-supervised property tax foreclosure process, designed to better protect homeowners and more quickly address problem properties. It also allows most Missouri municipalities and St. Louis County to create land banks. Key coalition members will discuss how they developed and secured these significant reforms.

Join this webinar to:

• Learn about advocacy and legislative strategies to support state-level reforms that enable communities to better address VAD properties
• Hear about how advocates built a statewide, bipartisan coalition to support legislative change in Missouri
• Understand how Missouri’s reforms will help local governments better address problem properties

Speakers:

• Rachel Waterman – Attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
• Charlie Hinderliter – Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, St. Louis REALTORS
• Kevin Windham – former Representative, Missouri House of Representatives
• Sara Toering – Senior Fellow, Center for Community Progress