Nicole Lewis, the Division President of Sentry Management St. Charles, serves as the Treasurer of the Heartland Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Legislative Action Committee. As part of her role, she analyzed and summarized the key points around Heartland CAI, its LAC, and the HB 2062 Chicken Bill for CAI Heartland’s quarterly chapter magazine. Below is her analysis:

On August 26, 2024, CAI’s Heartland Chapter and the CAI Missouri LAC filed a lawsuit challenging HB 2062, a new bill banning community associations from restricting owners from building chicken coops or raising up to six chickens on lots two-tenths of an acre or larger. Throughout 2024, the Missouri LAC organized grassroots advocacy and lobbying to oppose the bill, but it was ultimately signed by Governor Mike Parson in July and took effect on August 28, 2024.

The “chicken provision” had been introduced as a standalone bill in both 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. With the support of lobbyists, Steven R. Carroll & Associates, the LAC successfully prevented these bills from advancing. However, at the end of the 2024 session, the General Assembly passed HB 2062—an omnibus bill primarily concerning eviction moratoriums. During the final days of the session, eight last-minute amendments were added, some of which contained language borrowed from previous chicken bill proposals.

In Four Seasons Lakesites Property Owners Association v. State of Missouri, CAI and the Missouri LAC argued that adding the chicken provision infringed on community association rights and violated Article III of the Missouri Constitution, which states, “no bill shall contain more than one subject.” CAI claimed HB 2062 originally focused on political subdivisions and eviction issues, and that adding the chicken provision was an unconstitutional amendment.

In October 2025, Missouri Circuit Court Judge Stumpe ruled that HB 2062 violated Article III of the Missouri Constitution and the Contracts Clause of both the Missouri and Federal Constitutions, invalidating the law in its entirety. The State is expected to appeal, and CAI will continue to keep its members informed as developments unfold.

The lawsuit cost was $50,000, a negotiated flat fee for legal services secured via our lobbyist’s connections. Without it, costs could have exceeded $80,000. Funding was provided by grassroots member fundraising and a $10,000 grant from CAI National, which recognized the issue’s national importance in state legislation.

These efforts underscore the crucial role of member engagement and advocacy funding. Donations helped make the lawsuit possible and supported the ongoing work of our lobbyist, who plays a critical role in preventing harmful legislation. The Missouri LAC maintains a lobbyist contract of $31,500, with potential increases if additional work is needed in June.

As new legislative challenges arise each session, continued member support ensures we can respond quickly, protect community association rights, and maintain a strong presence at the Capitol. Every contribution—large or small—helps us advocate effectively for Missouri homeowners and community associations.