HF 2188: Relating to real estate transfer tax, including declarations of value

What it does

This bill relates to real estate transfer tax, including declarations of value.2. When a deed, instrument, or writing conveys real property, a declaration of value must be submitted to the county recorder. Under current law, a declaration of value is not required for certain instruments that are not subject to a real estate transfer tax. The bill expands the categories of instruments exempt from the declaration of value requirement to include the following: (1) instruments of transfer made or delivered as a result of a corporate or limited liability company merger, consolidation, or reorganization; (2) deeds between a family corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company and its stockholders, partners, or members for the purpose of transferring real property in an incorporation or corporate dissolution or the organization or dissolution of a partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, when the deeds are given for no actual consideration other than shares or debt securities of the entity; and (3) deeds transferring distributions of trust assets to beneficiaries when conveyed without consideration.

House subcommittee · named February 5, 2026

• Rep. Steven C. Holt (R) · steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Bill Gustoff (R) · bill.gustoff@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) · beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 0 against

For: Department of Revenue; Iowa State Bar Association; VALOR Iowa

In plain words

1. January 15, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee · as HSB 569
2. January 15, 2026House subcommittee named: Gustoff, Watkins and Wichtendahl · as HSB 569
3. January 21, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 569
4. January 26, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 569
5. January 26, 2026Committee vote: 19–0 · as HSB 569
6. January 28, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Ways and Means committee
7. January 28, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2188 · as HSB 569
8. February 5, 2026House subcommittee named: Holt, Gustoff and Wessel-Kroeschell
9. March 3, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
10. March 25, 2026Approved by the House committee
11. March 25, 2026Committee vote: 22–0
12. March 30, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2749
13. April 9, 2026Withdrawn