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Bill > HF689
IA HF689
IA HF689A bill for an act relating to landlords and tenants, including the source of income tenants use for rent payments.
summary
Introduced
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
In Committee
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to landlords and tenants and the source of income that a tenant may use to pay rent. The bill defines “source of income” to include benefits or subsidy programs including housing assistance, housing choice vouchers, public assistance, veterans’ benefits, social security, supplemental security income or other retirement programs, and other programs administered by any federal, state, local, or nonprofit entity. “Source of income” does not, however, include income that a prospective tenant cannot demonstrate is derived from sources and activities permitted by law and is provided on an ongoing basis, or housing assistance that is not approved by the appropriate agency within 30 days after the landlord provides all information required as a condition of the agency’s approval, including evidence that all repairs required before occupancy have been completed. The bill provides that under both Code chapters 562A (residential landlord and tenant law) and 562B (manufactured home community or mobile home park landlord and tenant law), a landlord cannot discriminate, make a distinction, or otherwise restrict the source of income that a tenant uses to pay rent for a dwelling unit or mobile home space. The bill strikes current prohibitions against municipal ordinances that prohibit property owners from refusing to rent dwelling units to persons because of the prospective tenant’s use of a federal housing choice voucher.
AI Summary
This bill addresses housing discrimination based on a tenant's source of income by establishing protections for tenants in both residential rental properties and mobile home spaces. The bill defines "source of income" broadly to include various types of benefits and assistance programs such as housing choice vouchers, public assistance, veterans' benefits, social security, supplemental security income, and other federal, state, local, or nonprofit program benefits. Landlords are prohibited from discriminating against tenants by denying tenancy, making unfair distinctions in rental terms, misrepresenting unit availability, or attempting to discourage renting based on a tenant's source of income. The legislation specifically prevents landlords from excluding rent vouchers or subsidies when calculating income requirements and bars them from publishing advertisements that suggest preferences or limitations based on income sources. Importantly, the bill removes previous legal provisions that allowed municipalities to prohibit renting to persons using federal housing choice vouchers, thereby creating a statewide standard that protects tenants from income-based discrimination. The bill applies to both traditional residential rental properties (under Chapter 562A) and mobile home spaces (under Chapter 562B), ensuring comprehensive protection for tenants across different housing contexts.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, referred to State Government. H.J. 480. (on 02/28/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF689 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF689.html |
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