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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 981: Relating to real property, including the removal of unauthorized persons and trespass, and providing penalties

Became HF 2629 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

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.

Sponsors

Rep. David Sieck (R)

Cost

See the 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…

House subcommittee · named February 4, 2026

  • Rep. Henry Stone (R) · henry.stone@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Rick L. Olson (D) · rick.olson@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R) · craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 6 for, 4 against

For: Eastlake Partnership; Greater Iowa Apartment Association; Iowa Association of Realtors; Landlords of Iowa; Pacific Legal Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: Iowa Association for Justice; Iowa Fraternal Order of Police; Iowa Peace Officers Association; Iowa Police Chief Association (FKA Iowa Police Executive Forum)

In plain words

  1. March 31, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee
  2. February 4, 2026House subcommittee named: Stone, Olson and Williams
  3. February 10, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
  4. February 17, 2026Approved by the House committee
  5. February 17, 2026Committee vote: 20–0
  6. February 19, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2629
  7. March 16, 2026Withdrawn

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HF981