SF 252 (LSB 1714SV (1) 89)

SENATE FILE 252

BY  COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1079)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the authority of counties and cities to regulate rental housing, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 331.304, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  13.  A county shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits an owner, lessor, sublessor, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent out a dwelling unit from refusing to lease or rent out the dwelling unit to a person because of the person’s use of a federal housing choice voucher issued by the United States department of housing and urban development. Such an ordinance or regulation adopted prior to the effective date of this Act is void and unenforceable on and after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this subsection, “dwelling unit” means the same as defined in section 562A.6.
    Sec. 2.  Section 364.3, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  13.  A city shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits an owner, lessor, sublessor, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent out a dwelling unit from refusing to lease or rent out the dwelling unit to a person because of the person’s use of a federal housing choice voucher issued by the United States department of housing and urban development. Such an ordinance or regulation adopted prior to the effective date of this Act is void and unenforceable on and after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this subsection, “dwelling unit” means the same as defined in section 562A.6.
    Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the authority of counties and cities to regulate rental housing. The bill prohibits a county or city from adopting or enforcing an ordinance or regulation that prohibits a person who has the right to lease, sublease, or rent out a dwelling unit from refusing to lease or rent out the dwelling unit to a person because of the person’s use of a federal housing choice voucher issued by the United States department of housing and urban development. Such an ordinance or regulation adopted prior to the effective date of the bill is void and unenforceable on and after the effective date of the bill. For purposes of the bill, “dwelling unit” means a structure or the part of a structure that is used as a home, residence, or sleeping place.