Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Rep. Daniel Gosa (D), Rep. Craig P. Johnson (R), Rep. David Sieck (R), Rep. Brent Siegrist (R), Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R), Rep. Devon Wood (R), Rep. David E. Young (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 6, 2026
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to real property owners’ rights against unauthorized occupants and modifies the definition of trespass. The bill allows a real property owner to submit to law enforcement a complaint to remove unauthorized persons occupying the owner’s real property if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the requesting person is the real property owner or the property owner’s authorized agent, (2) the person entering, remaining upon, or occupying the real property is not authorized to be there, (3) the unauthorized person has been notified that they are not permitted to be on the real property, (4) the unauthorized person is not a current or former tenant, (5) the unauthorized person is not an immediate family member of the owner, and (6) there is no pending litigation relating to the real property between the property owner and the unauthorized person.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that law enforcement, upon receipt of the complaint, shall conduct an investigation. If the investigation indicates sufficient grounds that the above conditions are met, the law enforcement agency shall direct the unauthorized occupant to immediately vacate, provide a written notice to immediately vacate, and put the owner in possession of the real property. The bill allows a law enforcement agency to collect an hourly fee for services provided, which shall be assessed against the unauthorized occupant. The bill provides that if a real property owner knowingly submits a false complaint, the real property owner shall indemnify the law enforcement agency for any damages awarded against the agency for any good faith conduct that was based on the complaint. The bill provides for criminal penalties for an unauthorized person occupying real property who, after receiving a notice to vacate the property, fails to do so. If the unauthorized person intentionally damages the property causing damages less than $1,000, the person 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. If the unauthorized person intentionally damages the property causing damages more than $1,000, the person commits a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§648.24
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
1 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →
Similar bills
- HF 981 Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and…91st General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 2629Nearly identical
- HF 322 Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and…91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passageNearly 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.