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SF 595 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act related to the regulation of construction, including state building codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements.

SF 595 updates Iowa's construction regulations by requiring state building code proposals to include cost impact reports on housing affordability. It prevents counties and cities from imposing additional fees or licensing requirements on licensed contractors (like plumbers and HVAC specialists) for work within their licensed scope. The bill also limits local governments from enforcing stricter stormwater management rules at construction sites than those initially approved in subdivision plans. These changes directly affect contractors, local governments, and homeowners through potential impacts on construction costs and regulatory processes.
Issues: ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires cost impact reports on housing affordability and prevents local fees on contractors, reducing construction costs to support affordable housing development.90% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 10, 2025 Last action May 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprinted · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was reprinted from its original introduction to its final Senate version with several substantive changes. The main differences include renumbering of sections, removal of the explanatory text, and modifications to how stormwater management provisions apply to counties and cities. The bill continues to regulate construction codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on construction regulation, contractor licensing, and stormwater management, but the specific application of stormwater rules was modified to clarify how counties and cities can enforce stormwater management methods.
REQUIREMENT

Section 4 was renumbered and modified to change the reference from subsection 25, paragraph b to subsection 25, paragraph c, with the stormwater management provision moved to a new subparagraph (4)

Section 6 was renumbered and modified to change the reference from subsection 19, paragraph b to subsection 19, paragraph c, with the stormwater management provision moved to a new subparagraph (4)

DEFINITION

The definition of 'subcontractor' was changed from including persons with contracts directly with owner-builders to excluding those contracts

TECHNICAL

The explanatory text at the end of the bill was removed in the reprinted version, which is standard practice when a bill is reprinted after committee action

The bill header was updated to reflect it was passed by the Senate on March 25, 2025, and the page numbering and formatting were adjusted to match Senate file standards

Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

36–12
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 49
Mar 25, 2025
D Democratic16
3 Yea 12 Nay 1
75% Nay
R Republican33
33 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
7
Committee
7
Amendments
1
May 15, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Local Government.
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee vote: Yeas, 13. Nays, 7. Excused, 1.
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 31, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 7:45AM RM 102.
legislature
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee: Jones, Bloomingdale and Zabner.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 37, nays 12.
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Amendment S-3049 filed, adopted.
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.