House File 2401 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY GRASSLEY, KAUFMANN, TYMESON, and MERTZ Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act establishing a property owner defense fund and including 2 effective date and applicability date provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 6248HT 82 5 sc/rj/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 6B.62 PROPERTY OWNER DEFENSE 1 2 FUND == COST REIMBURSEMENTS. 1 3 1. A property owner defense fund is created under the 1 4 control of the treasurer of state. Reasonable attorney fees 1 5 and reasonable costs, including expert witness fees and fees 1 6 relating to appraisal of property, incurred under section 1 7 6A.24 or chapter 6B by a property owner whose property is the 1 8 subject of a condemnation action shall be paid from moneys 1 9 appropriated by the general assembly to the office of 1 10 treasurer of state for deposit in the property owner defense 1 11 fund. 1 12 2. Upon final disposition of a condemnation action, a 1 13 property owner may apply for reimbursement of costs incurred 1 14 pursuant to subsection 1. 1 15 3. The office of treasurer of state shall adopt rules in 1 16 accordance with chapter 17A to administer this section. 1 17 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICABILITY. This Act, 1 18 being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon 1 19 enactment and applies to condemnation proceedings pending or 1 20 commenced on or after that date. 1 21 EXPLANATION 1 22 This bill creates a property owner defense fund under the 1 23 control of the treasurer of state. Moneys appropriated to the 1 24 fund by the general assembly are required to be used to pay 1 25 the costs incurred by a property owner whose property is the 1 26 subject of a condemnation action. The bill provides that a 1 27 property owner may apply for reimbursement from the fund after 1 28 final disposition of a condemnation action. 1 29 The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to 1 30 condemnation proceedings pending or commenced on or after that 1 31 date. 1 32 LSB 6248HT 82 1 33 sc/rj/8