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Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 981Renumbered as HF 2629 · February 19, 2026

Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and providing penalties

Sponsored by Rep. David Sieck (R)

Topics:Courts & civil lawHousing & property

Same legislation: HF 2629

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Also covers HF 2629.

Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedMarch 31, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2026
  3. Done: House committeeFebruary 17, 2026
  4. Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202689–2
  5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Became HF 2629 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2629 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. Changed since by amendment H-8200; see Amendments. Full bill text

House subcommittee

Named February 4, 2026. On February 10, 2026 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

3 written public comments to its subcommittee: March 18, 2026 (1), February 10, 2026 (2) · on the Legislature’s site

Fiscal note

The fiscal impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per relevant offense. The estimated impact to the General Fund includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. The costs would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.

Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§648.24

Amends§716.7§716.8

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

6 for · 4 against · 7 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

91st General Assembly

HF 981RenumberedHF 2629Passed a chamberfrom HF 981

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.

Similar bills

  • HF 2317 Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and…
    91st General Assembly · In committee
    Nearly identical
  • HF 322 Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and…
    91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage
    Nearly 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.