Bills › 90th General Assembly

HF 18Died when the session ended · January 12, 2023

Requiring the inspection of a private well serving a building upon the transfer of ownership of the building

Proposed by the Isenhart, Charles, House · all agency proposals

Topics:Environment & natural resourcesPFAS & chemicals

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 12, 2023
  2. Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
  3. Next: House committee
  4. Next: Passes the House
  5. Next: Senate committee
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary When a building with a private well is sold, a certified inspector must check the water for certain chemicals and bacteria. Homeowners must provide these inspection results to the person buying the property. Local health boards can also require extra testing if they find specific risks in their area's groundwater.1

Read the official explanation

This bill requires an inspection of a private well that serves a building in which a person resides, congregates, or is employed upon the transfer of ownership of the building, as outlined by the bill. The inspection shall examine the level of nitrate, nitrite, arsenic, coliform bacteria, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. If the building is a home, the inspection shall also examine the level of lead and copper. The bill also authorizes a county board of health to require that an inspection in the county include an examination of the level of other contaminants based on local groundwater conditions upon the recommendation of the state hygienic laboratory, the Iowa geological survey, or the department of natural resources. Only a person certified by the department may conduct an inspection. The department shall consult with the state board of health to adopt rules establishing certification requirements and uniform statewide inspection criteria. The bill allows county personnel to become certified inspectors. The bill authorizes a county to set an inspection fee for inspections conducted by county personnel. the grants to counties water well program in order to alleviate administrative costs associated with private well inspection. A county that uses grant moneys for such purposes shall report inspection results to the state board of health. Following an inspection, the inspection form and any attachments shall be provided to the county board of health and the department. An inspection is valid for all transfers of ownership of a building within a 24-month period. If a groundwater hazard statement is required to accompany the submission of a declaration of value due to the existence of a well situated on a property to be transferred, the groundwater hazard statement shall state whether the well has been inspected pursuant to the bill if such an inspection is required. A report of the inspection results shall accompany the disclosure statement required to be provided by a potential transferor of real property. A person who fails to include a private well inspection report with the disclosure statement or provides inaccurate information in the report may be liable for actual damages suffered by the transferee.

Full bill text2

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§455B.172§558.69§558A.4

How the Code works3

Lobbying

3 for · 0 against · 5 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.

  • HF 397 Requiring the inspection of a private well serving a building upon the transfer of ownersh…
    89th General Assembly · In committee · similar
    Cleared committee
  • HF 2294 Requiring the inspection of a private well serving a building upon the transfer of ownersh…
    88th General Assembly · In committee · similar
    Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.