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§ 17. Property rights of citizens and aliens. No distinction shall ever be made between citizens of the state of Kansas and the citizens of other states and territories of the United States in reference to the purchase, enjoyment or descent of property. The rights of aliens in reference to the purchase, enjoyment or descent of property may be regulated by law.

History: Adopted by convention, July 29, 1859; ratified by electors, October 4, 1859; L. 1861, p. 49; L. 1887, p. 340; November 6, 1888.

Law Review and Bar Journal References:

"Alien Ownership of Kansas Farmland: Can It Be Prohibited?" David A. Williams, 20 W.L.J. 514, 517 (1981).

CASE ANNOTATIONS

1. Attachment against nonresidents without undertaking does not violate this section. Head v. Daniels, 38 Kan. 1, 2, 10, 15 P. 911.

2. Husband conveying lands when wife nonresident; wife retains no interest. Buffington v. Grosvenor, 46 Kan. 730, 732, 733, 27 P. 137.

3. Attachment against nonresident executor on obligation of nonresident not violative. Manley v. Mayer, 68 Kan. 377, 380, 75 P. 550.

4. Common-law right of non-citizens abrogated by original section 17. Madden v. The State, 68 Kan. 658, 660, 75 P. 1023.

5. Under original section, statute descents and distributions applied to non-citizens. Sparks v. Bodensick, 72 Kan. 5, 82 P. 463.

6. Section authorizes Legislature to regulate, not to prohibit, non-citizens inheriting. The State v. Ellis, 72 Kan. 285, 290, 291, 83 P. 1045.

7. Legislature can now regulate right of non-citizens holding real estate. Cramer v. McCann, 83 Kan. 719, 723, 112 P. 832.

8. Amendment of this section without statute reinstated the common-law rule. Johnson v. Olson, 92 Kan. 819, 821, 142 P. 256.

9. Rights of non-citizen dependents of worker under workmen's compensation act considrerd. Vietti v. Fuel Co., 109 Kan. 179.

10. In absence of treaty non-citizen can neither take land by descent nor transmit it to another. Botello v. Tharp, 121 Kan. 229, 246 P. 521.

11. Limiting right of inheritance to law of state of adoption does not offend section. Riemann v. Riemann, 123 Kan. 718, 256 P. 1004. Reversed: Riemann v. Riemann, 124 Kan. 539, 262 P. 16.

12. Amendment as to non-citizens reinstated common-law rule. Fergus v. Tomlinson, 126 Kan. 427, 268 P. 849.

13. Act (K.S.A. 22-1201 through 22-1206, now repealed) not violative of this section. Hauser v. Estate of Doyle, 143 Kan. 719, 723, 56 P.2d 1217.

14. Statute avoiding unrecorded instruments conveying mineral rights (K.S.A. 79-420) held valid. Hushaw v. Kansas Farmers' Union Royalty Co., 149 Kan. 64, 66, 68, 74, 86 P.2d 559.

15. Bank bylaw restricting transfer of bank stock held invalid. Wentworth v. Russell State Bank, 167 Kan. 246, 250, 256, 205 P.2d 972.

16. Mentioned in defining term "eligible for citizenship" used in K.S.A. 59-511. Hughes v. Kerfoot, 175 Kan. 181, 183, 263 P.2d 226.

17. "New Goods Public Auction Law" unreasonable, arbitrary, discriminatory, prohibitory and unconstitutional. Gilbert v. Mathews, 186 Kan. 672, 677, 686, 352 P.2d 58.

18. K.S.A. 21-2611 held constitutional; Legislature has power to define what constitutes crime. State v. Bolin, 200 Kan. 369, 370, 436 P.2d 978.

19. Ordinance regulating ownership of pit bull dogs within city does not violate due process or equal protection rights. Hearn v. City of Overland Park, 244 Kan. 638, 772 P.2d 758 (1989).

20. Section does not create property rights but prevents discrimination against non-citizens under preexisting state law. Brooks v. Sauceda, 85 F. Supp. 2d 1115, 1129 (2000).