HF 547: Relating to rental agreements and early termination rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes

What it does

This bill allows a victim of certain crimes to terminate a rental agreement early. The bill allows a tenant to terminate a rental agreement without penalty or liability if the tenant provides written notification to the landlord that a tenant or household member is a victim of an act of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, or other crime that poses a substantial threat of personal injury or death and is punishable as a felony or misdemeanor. The bill provides that the written notice provided to the landlord shall contain one of the following documents: a copy of a protective order, a copy of a written report by a peace officer stating that a tenant or household member is a victim of an act or crime, documentation from a qualified third party based on information received by a licensed health care services provider, licensed mental health care provider, or a victim counselor that a tenant or household member is seeking assistance for abuse or physical or mental injuries resulting from an act or crime, or any other form of documentation that reasonably certifies that the act or crime occurred.

Senate subcommittee · named March 22, 2023

• Sen. Scott Webster (R) · scott.webster@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Rocky De Witt (R)
• Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach (D) · herman.quirmbach@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 15 for, 1 against

For: AARP Iowa; American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Iowa ACEs 360; Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Iowa State Bar Association; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska; Older Iowans Legislature; One Iowa; One Iowa Action; and 3 more

Against: Iowa Manufactured Housing Association

In plain words

1. January 11, 2023Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee · as HSB 2
2. January 11, 2023House subcommittee named: Kaufmann, Stone and Wessel-Kroeschell · as HSB 2
3. January 17, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 2
4. February 28, 2023Approved by the House committee · as HSB 2
5. March 2, 2023Filed in the House
6. March 2, 2023Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 547 · as HSB 2
7. March 21, 2023Passed the House, 94–0
8. March 22, 2023Arrived in the Senate
9. March 22, 2023Senate subcommittee named: Webster, De Witt and Quirmbach