This bill allocates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support economic development agencies, including the Economic Development Authority, Iowa Finance Authority, Department of Workforce Development, and State Board of Regents. The legislation sets specific goals for these agencies to expand the state economy, increase wealth, and boost population by prioritizing business recruitment, expansion, and entrepreneurial support. It also establishes financial restrictions requiring businesses receiving state assistance to hire only individuals legally authorized to work in the United States and prohibits funding for geothermal snow-melting projects. Additionally, the bill provides separate appropriations for the World Food Prize, a tourism office, and the Iowa Arts Council, while requiring annual performance reports for the tourism office.
SF 2378 removes a requirement that allowed property owners to block zoning changes by submitting written protests. Specifically, it repeals a provision (Code 414.5) that let owners with 20% of affected property area or 20% of property within 200 feet file protests to stop zoning district changes unless approved by a 3/4 city council vote. The bill directly affects property owners who previously could use this written protest process to challenge zoning amendments. It eliminates the need for cities to seek 3/4 council approval when such protests are filed, streamlining the approval process for zoning changes. The change applies to all zoning district modifications, not just specific uses like shooting ranges.
This bill requires Iowa counties and cities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or secondary home, on the same lot as a single-family residence in areas where single-family homes are permitted. It sets clear size limits: ADUs cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main home’s size (excluding unfinished basements), and defines "size" to exclude garages and decks. The bill also restricts local governments from banning ADUs solely due to historic preservation rules - ADUs in historic districts can only be limited if a commission documents they clash with the area’s historical character. This directly affects homeowners in single-family zones seeking to build or rent out secondary living spaces.
This bill amends Iowa's definition of "public improvement" to exclude two specific types of projects from standard public construction bidding requirements. It removes city utility equipment for electric generating projects (under Chapter 388) and the furnishing/installation of manufactured homes (including foundation work, anchoring, and utility connections) from the bidding rules. This means these projects will no longer be subject to the usual public bidding process, directly affecting city utilities and manufactured home providers. The change applies to relevant sections of Iowa law governing construction contracts and reporting.
SF 2438 amends Iowa utility laws to require city utilities to automatically notify landlords when a tenant is 60 days delinquent on payments (removing the prior requirement for landlords to request this notice), and to provide at least 10 days' notice before disconnecting service. It expands acceptable methods for landlords to provide written notice that a property is rental housing (including online, email, or fax), exempting the property from liens for unpaid tenant-paid utility bills like water, sewage, or solid waste. Utilities may now require deposits up to 90 days for water/sewage services or 60 days for gas/electric, with deposits refunded when tenants move out. The bill directly affects landlords, tenants, and city utilities in Iowa.
This bill (SF 2442) limits county zoning boards' authority over residential construction in unincorporated areas. It prohibits counties from restricting the building or development of residential properties - defined as single-family homes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings (up to 12 units per building) - except for regulations necessary to protect life or property safety. Counties may no longer impose rules on residential construction for non-safety reasons, such as limiting building density or lot coverage. The law directly affects homeowners, developers, and county zoning boards in rural and unincorporated regions of Iowa. It updates existing zoning authority to prioritize construction access while maintaining safety-based regulations.
HF 876 requires sellers to disclose whether a property has lead service lines (pipes carrying water) as part of standard real estate disclosure forms. This directly affects home buyers and sellers in Minnesota during property transactions. The bill adds specific language to existing disclosure documents to ensure buyers are informed about potential lead pipe risks before purchasing. It became law after passing unanimously in both chambers and receiving the Governor's signature on June 6, 2025.
HF 1037 modifies economic development and urban renewal provisions to encourage housing development, affecting municipalities and housing developers. The bill expands the definition of "economic development" to include the provision of workforce housing and requires public bodies to consider workforce housing development policies. For housing projects in certain urban renewal areas, it caps the required amount of low and moderate-income housing at 20% of the original project cost. Additionally, the bill extends the period for collecting tax increment financing revenue for these specific projects to 20 fiscal years.
This bill mandates that counties and cities in Iowa must allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on lots with single-family residences. It directly affects property owners by standardizing and simplifying the process of building ADUs, and local governments by limiting their regulatory authority. The legislation sets statewide parameters, such as allowing ADUs up to 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main house, whichever is larger. It prohibits local ordinances from imposing overly restrictive rules on aspects like design, parking, owner-occupancy, or separate utility connections. Furthermore, it requires local governments to approve compliant ADU permits without discretionary review, following the same timeline as single-family home permits.
