Showing 21–23 of 23
bills
All housing bills
HF 700 requires landlords in Iowa rental properties to address elevated radon levels detected by tenants. Tenants may test for radon or hire a certified professional; if results show 4 picocuries per liter or higher (the EPA action level), they must notify the landlord in writing. Landlords must then arrange a confirmatory test, and if radon remains at or above that level, install a certified radon mitigation system within 90 days, followed by retesting. If landlords fail to install mitigation or radon levels persist, tenants may terminate their lease with full rent and deposit refunds, no penalties, and written notice. This bill directly affects renters and landlords in Iowa housing by establishing clear radon testing, mitigation, and lease termination procedures.
SF 655 establishes a legal framework for Iowa municipalities to create "land redevelopment trusts" to address blighted, abandoned, or dilapidated properties. These trusts - formed by city ordinances, county resolutions, or multi-municipal agreements - will enable communities to rehabilitate properties that lower property values, increase public safety costs, and reduce tax revenue. Key provisions include defining "blighted" properties, requiring board governance with local officials, and allowing trusts to acquire property and manage redevelopment projects. The bill directly affects cities, counties, and townships seeking to revitalize neighborhoods and attract investment through this new tool, without altering property owner rights or imposing new taxes.
This bill, HSB 117, changes how court records are handled in residential eviction cases (forcible entry and detainer actions) in Iowa. It requires courts to seal (make private) records within three days if the tenant wins, the case is dismissed, the landlord fails to appear, or the court finds no real dispute between parties. For tenants found guilty of nonpayment, records can be sealed after seven years if they’ve paid all costs, had no recent evictions, and haven’t previously had records sealed. Once sealed, records are removed from public view but can be accessed by tenants for their own case, for scholarly purposes with redacted names, or through anonymized public reports about eviction trends.
