House File 361 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY FORD Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act prohibiting a landlord under Iowa's residential landlord= 2 tenant law from retaliating against a tenant for summoning or 3 receiving police or emergency assistance in response to a 4 family violence or domestic abuse situation. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 2506HH 81 7 rh/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 562A.36, subsection 1, Code 2005, is 1 2 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 1 3 NEW PARAGRAPH. d. The tenant has summoned or received 1 4 police or emergency assistance in response to a family 1 5 violence or domestic abuse situation. 1 6 Sec. 2. Section 562B.32, subsection 1, Code 2005, is 1 7 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 1 8 NEW PARAGRAPH. cc. The tenant has summoned or received 1 9 police or emergency assistance in response to a family 1 10 violence or domestic abuse situation. 1 11 EXPLANATION 1 12 This bill relates to residential landlord=tenant law, by 1 13 making certain changes related to family violence and domestic 1 14 abuse. 1 15 The bill provides that a landlord under Code chapter 562A 1 16 (uniform residential landlord=tenant law) or Code chapter 562B 1 17 (mobile home parks residential landlord=tenant law) may not 1 18 retaliate against a tenant by increasing rent, decreasing 1 19 services, or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for 1 20 possession after the tenant has summoned or received police or 1 21 emergency assistance in response to a family violence or 1 22 domestic abuse situation. If a landlord acts in violation of 1 23 this bill, a tenant's remedies may include the recovery of 1 24 actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and possession of 1 25 the dwelling under Code chapter 562A or 562B. 1 26 LSB 2506HH 81 1 27 rh:nh/sh/8