Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to recovery of costs for the demolition of abandoned buildings by cities
Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Rinker (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 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 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, 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 If a building is abandoned, has unpaid taxes, and has caused many nuisance problems, cities can tear it down to protect public health and safety. This law allows cities to collect the demolition costs from any person who owned the property at any time during the previous five years.1
Read the official explanation
Under current law, a building is considered abandoned if it is vacant, or is occupied only by trespassers, and is in violation of the housing code or building code of the city or county in which the property is located. Under current law, a city may require the abatement of a nuisance, public or private, in any reasonable manner. If the property owner does not perform an action required by the city within a reasonable time, the city may perform the action and assess the costs against the property for collection in the same manner as a property tax. 1; (3) the property taxes remain unpaid by the owner or lienholder for a minimum of one year from the date the property is considered abandoned; and (4) the property has been cited for causing a nuisance at least six separate times within the preceding six-month period. A city’s plan to demolish a building on abandoned property pursuant to the bill does not preclude a court from granting the city title to the property.
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
0 for · 0 against · 1 undecided · Who →