SF 2353: Relating to residential tenant responsibility for utility charges, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions

What it does

This bill relates to the responsibility for payment of utility charges incurred by tenants of residential units and provides enforcement mechanisms and penalties. The bill prohibits a city or city utility from assessing, certifying, or collecting unpaid utility charges as a lien against real property when the utility service was provided to a tenant who, under a rental agreement, was responsible for payment of the utility charges under the bill. The bill provides that when a utility service account is established in the name of a tenant of a residential unit, or when a rental agreement assigns responsibility for utility payments to the tenant, the landlord is not liable for unpaid utility charges incurred by the tenant.

Senate subcommittee · named February 18, 2026

• Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Matt Blake (D) · matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) · mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 0 for, 1 against

Against: Des Moines Water Works

In plain words

1. February 17, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
2. February 18, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Schultz, Blake and Bousselot