HBA of Iowa Legislative Report 2025

After nine working days past the per diem end, the legislative session wrapped up in the early morning hours on May 15. Generally, it was successful, and we accomplished some of our goals, but not much of it was smooth and easy. The pipeline bill HF639 finally made it to the Senate floor and it was a bloody battle. The division will have a significant long-term effect of future working relationships and political office positioning.

The budget compromise was taken care of with a 5.34% increase at $8.947 billion, however a group of senators worked together to force the pipeline bill before they would vote for the budget.

The property tax bill SF651 still needs work and didn’t make it out this session, but it will be the top priority for next year. Hopefully over the summer a plan comes together to bring relief to property owners. A few key items included:

Passed Bills

  • SF314: Real Estate Application Forms and Brokerage. Support. Passed House 84-0 on May 8.
  • SF383: Pharmacy Benefits Manager. Monitor. Passed the House 75-15 on May 12.
  • SF398: Closing Costs for a Debt Secured by an Interest in Land. Monitor. Signed by Governor May 6.
  • SF 460: An act relating to home inspections, including persons authorized to perform home inspections and requirements for independent home inspection reports, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable. Support. Signed by Governor April 18, 2025.
  • SF 574: A bill for an act relating to retention of fees for public improvement contracts. Monitor. Signed by Governor April 25, 2025.
  • SF592: Accessory Dwelling Units. Support. Passed Senate 49-0; Passed House 89-7; Signed by Governor May 1, 2025.
  • SF607: Unemployment Insurance. Support.Passed House 60-27 on May 14.
    From the Governor’s Office: “While we’ve cut both corporate and individual tax rates and removed more than 1,200 state regulations, our unemployment insurance tax has needlessly punished Iowa businesses. Our unemployment trust fund balance is at an all-time high of nearly $2 billion, while the duration of unemployment claims is at a record low of around nine weeks. We’re clearly overcollecting. Passing this bill means nearly $1 billion in savings over five years for Iowa businesses of all sizes. Thank you to our legislators and key stakeholders for their support to help attract new business to Iowa and place existing businesses on a level playing field with our neighboring states.”
  • SF603: Iowa Workforce Development. Support.Signed by Governor March 28.
  • HF 652: A bill for an act concerning county and city regulation of real property and the powers granted to a board of adjustment. Monitor. Signed by Governor April 25, 2025.
  • HF767: Private Sector Employee Drug Testing. Support.Passed Senate 31-14.
  • HF857: A bill for an act relating to solicitation by a financial institution using prescreened trigger lead information from a consumer report. Support. Signed by Governor April 18, 2025.
  • HF975: Iowa Finance Authority Tax Credits. Monitor. Passed Senate 45-5 on May 12.
  • HF1037 (formerly HF617): An Act modifying public improvements relating to housing. Monitor. Passed the House 90-0 on May 12. Passed Senate 45-0 on May 13.

Future Work on Bills that Didn’t Make it this Session

  • Priority. HSB328 SSB1227 (original versions HSB313, SSB1208): Property Taxes. Monitor.
  • SSB1042: Political subdivisions prohibition on hiring lobbyists. Monitor.
  • SSB1071: Levee or Drainage Included in Abstract of Title. Monitor.
  • SSB1117: Sewer Service Maximum Rate. Monitor.
  • SSB1168: Guaranteed Maximum Price Contracts. Monitor.
  • SSB1181: City and County Franchise Fees. Support with amendments.
  • SF43: Cities Requiring Radon Testing. DOA.
  • SF101: Minimum Wage Increase. DOA.
  • SF256 HSB253: Disputed Land Boundaries.Monitor.
  • SF310: Residential Fire Sprinklers. Support.
  • SF348: A bill for an act exempting certain structures from inclusion in property assessments. Monitor.
  • SF412 HF983 (Formerly SSB1047): Property Law. Relating to property law, including rent, rental agreements, notice requirements, and possession of property. Support. Passed Senate 34-16 on May 12.
  • SF425 HF876: (formerly HF442, SSB1063). Lead Service Line Disclosures. Monitor.
  • SF427 (Formerly SSB1134): Professional Land Surveyor requirements. Support. Passed House 94-0 on April 15.
  • SF489 (Formerly SSB1139): Urban Design Specifications. Support.
  • SF493: Political Subdivision Lobbyists. Monitor.
  • SF494 (formerly SF161): Residential Gardens. Monitor. Passed Senate on March 24.
  • SF498 (Formerly SSB1108): County and City Landscaping Regulations. Monitor.
  • SF576 (Formerly SSB1151): Bonds for Construction Workers. Monitor.
  • SF591 HF1012 (Formerly SSB1188): Housing Assistance. Monitor.
  • SF595 (Formerly SSB1114): Contractor Licensing and Permit Fee Limitations. Support. Passed Senate 49-0 March 25.
  • SF598 (Formerly SSB1180): Development Property. Monitor.
  • SF600: The bill prohibits counties, cities, and real estate improvement districts from charging for storm water drainage system services. Monitor.
  • SF655 (formerly HF1008 SF144 HF28 SF45): Land Redevelopment Trusts. We have worked hard on this for many years and it’s close, having passed the House 92-1 on April 17. Support.
  • SF657 HF1054 (formerly HSB305 SSB1205): Iowa Economic Development Authority tax credit overhaul bill. There is an increase in $8 million in funding for workforce housing. Support. Passed House 84-3.
  • HSB129: Workforce Housing Tax Incentives. Support.
  • HSB 141: Rental Agreement Termination for Victims. Monitor. Committee voted 21-0 on March 6.
  • HSB228: Property Tax Statements. Support.
  • HSB308: Low Income Home Energy Assistance. Monitor.
  • HF82: Radon Mitigation. Monitor.
  • HF85: An Act providing for a regulatory relief program. Monitor.
  • HF119: Career & Technical Secondary Authorizations. Monitor.
  • HF131 SF139: Redevelopment Tax Credit Program. Support.
  • HF148: Commercial Sod Containing Entwined Plastic Netting. Monitor.
  • HF151 SF435: Riparian Protection Measures Relating to Surface Water Quality. Monitor.
  • HF158: County and City Regulation of Rental Housing. DOA.
  • HF171 SF436: Housing Trust Fund. Support.
  • HF185: Project Labor Agreements. DOA.
  • HF211: Radon Mitigation Tax Credit. Monitor.
  • HF322: Removal of Unauthorized Persons and Trespass. Support.
  • HF377: Radon Testing in Rental Properties.Monitor.
  • HF404: Community Solar Energy. Monitor.
  • HF456 (formerly HF159): City Ordinances Regarding Vegetation Planted in Residential Areas. Monitor.
  • HF481: Rent Control. DOA.
  • HF564: Contracts for the Construction of Public Improvements. Monitor.
  • HF593: Groundwater Hazard Statement Requirements. Monitor.
  • HF700: Radon Testing in Rental Properties. Monitor.
  • HF713: Ownership of Property Beneficiaries. Monitor.
  • HF743: Regulation of Single-Family Property. DOA.
  • HF816 SF408: Transfer on Death Deeds. Monitor.
  • HF834 SF585: Governor’s Energy. Monitor.
  • HF849 SF35: Harassment and posting of personal information. Passed Senate 47-0. Support.
  • HF911: Insurance bill with Line-of-Sight on Page 11. Oppose, but line of sight language was pulled from bill.
  • HF973 (formerly HSB234): Property Law. Monitor.
  • HF1008 (Formerly HF28 SF45): Land Redevelopment Trusts. Support. Passed House 92-1 on April 17.
  • HF1027: Radon Mitigation. This passed the House 92-1 on April 23. Monitor.
  • HF1031 (formerly HF328): County land record information system. Monitor. Passed the House on April 22 79-13.

Last Minute Items of Interest

  • HF707: Free Radon Test Kits.

Jay Iverson is Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Iowa, which represents over 1,800 members in construction, land development, design, and remodeling who employ over 25,000 people in the State. Contact Jay at (515) 278-0255 or JayIverson@HBAIowa.org.