House File 146 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 146 BY JONES A BILL FOR An Act relating to notice requirements for actions for forcible 1 entry and detainer. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2052YH (1) 87 jh/rj

H.F. 146 Section 1. Section 648.5, Code 2017, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 4A. The notice requirements of this section 3 shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the defendant appears 4 at the hearing. 5 EXPLANATION 6 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 7 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 8 This bill relates to notice requirements for actions for 9 forcible entry and detainer. 10 Under current law, in an action for forcible entry and 11 detainer, the plaintiff must serve the defendant with notice as 12 specified in Code section 648.5 and not less than three days 13 prior to the hearing. A default judgment cannot be entered 14 against the defendant if the original notice was not served in 15 accordance with the requirements of Code section 648.5. 16 The bill provides that if the defendant appears at the 17 hearing, the notice requirements shall be deemed to have been 18 satisfied. 19 -1- LSB 2052YH (1) 87 jh/rj 1/ 1