Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to accommodations in housing provided to persons with a disability-related need for assistance animals and service animals, and providing penalties
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 24, 2022
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 2, 2022
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 16, 2022
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to reasonable housing accommodations for persons with assistance animals or service animals. The bill replaces the term “landlord” with “housing provider” in Code chapter 216. The bill provides that a housing provider make accommodations in its rules, policies, practices, and services for a person with an assistance or service animal that needs reasonable accommodations to afford the person equal opportunity to use and enjoy the dwelling. Under current law, a housing provider is only required to waive lease restrictions and additional pet payments for a person with an assistance or service animal.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that a housing provider may deny an accommodation request when granting the request would impose undue financial and administrative burden on the housing provider, would fundamentally change the nature of the housing provider’s operations, the specific animal in question poses a threat to health or safety of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated or would cause substantial physical damage to the property, or an accommodation is not otherwise reasonable. The bill provides that a person who misrepresents an animal as an assistance or service animal or provides the housing provider with false information regarding a claimed assistance or service animal commits a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. The bill provides that a written finding that an assistance animal or service animal is a reasonable accommodation in housing from an approved licensee must include express confirmation that the licensee has met with the person within the past six months, the pair has a bona fide provider-patient relationship, the licensee has a physical Iowa location, and the licensee has not received compensation for making the finding. A housing provider may deny a request for a service animal or assistance animal accommodation for the type and number of animals requested by the person if the person failed to provide documentation or has a disability that is not readily apparent or known to the housing provider.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 2, 2022. Meeting: Monday, February 14 · 12:30 PM · Room 217 Conference Room.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
Can’t be estimated Compare with other bills
The fiscal impact of SF 2093 related to the creation of a simple misdemeanor cannot be estimated due to a lack of existing data. The estimated cost for one simple misdemeanor conviction ranges from $40 to $370. The estimated fine revenue from one simple misdemeanor conviction ranges from $105 to $855.
- Service and Assistance Animals in Residences · February 18, 2022
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
12 for · 3 against · 6 undecided · Who →
Similar bills
- HF 2486 Relating to accommodations in housing provided to persons with a disability-related need f…89th General Assembly · Approved by committeeNearly identical
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.