IA
Iowa Senate Bill SF591

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF591

Introduced
3/10/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1188; See SF 619.)

Impact

The bill modifies existing laws regarding disaster recovery assistance by eliminating the requirement for homeowners and renters to register for the disaster case advocacy program to qualify for financial assistance. This change aims to streamline the application process for aid and expand accessibility for those in need after experiencing natural disasters. Additionally, new provisions concerning the treatment of financial assistance, including forgivable loans and grants, position these funds as exempt from state income tax, thus making the assistance more appealing and effective.

Summary

Senate File 591 establishes a new framework for disaster recovery housing assistance in the state of Iowa. This bill creates the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing Program, which will provide loans to eligible entities for projects addressing natural hazards. It delineates the roles of the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) in administering these programs. One significant change includes reducing the administrative cost cap to 5% for expenditures from the disaster recovery housing assistance fund, thereby incentivizing more direct assistance to individuals affected by disasters.

Contention

A notable point of contention in Senate File 591 is the issue of post-loss assignments of benefits. The bill places strict regulations on how homeowners can assign their insurance benefits to residential contractors. Critics argue that these provisions are too stringent and could lead to complications for homeowners trying to navigate repairs after a disaster. Supporters claim the regulations protect homeowners from predatory practices and ensure transparency in post-loss claim processes. This aspect of the bill highlights ongoing tensions between the need for homeowner protection and market flexibility for contractors.

Latest IA SF591 Activity

View All Events: IA 2025-2026 Regular Session SF591

Companion Bills

IA HSB246

Related A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 957, HF 982, HF 1012.)

IA SSB1188

Related A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 591, SF 619.)

IA HF957

Similar To A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 246; See HF 982, HF 1012.)

IA HF982

Similar To A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 957, HSB 246; See HF 1012.)

IA SF619

Similar To A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 591, SSB 1188.) Effective date: 04/22/2025, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: Conditional, 01/01/2024.

IA HF1012

Similar To A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 982, HF 957, HSB 246.)

Previously Filed As

IA SF2193

A bill for an act relating to disaster aid including the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program.(Formerly SSB 3061.)

IA SSB3061

A bill for an act relating to disaster aid including the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program.(See SF 2193.)

IA SF2410

A bill for an act relating to agriculture, by providing for the administration of programs and regulations, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SF 2209, SSB 3052.)

IA SF2294

A bill for an act relating to money transmission services, providing penalties, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 3110.)

IA HF2167

A bill for an act relating to disaster aid including the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program. (Formerly HSB 549.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA SF2209

A bill for an act relating to agriculture, by providing for the administration of programs and regulations, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 3052; See SF 2410.)

IA SF408

A bill for an act relating to the economic development authority, including certain tax credit programs, the Iowa wine, beer, and spirits promotion board, and the beer and liquor control fund, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1087; See SF 575.)

IA SF574

A bill for an act relating to programs administered by the economic development authority by establishing the economic growth attraction program, modifying the certified site and high-quality jobs programs, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1162.) Effective date: 05/10/2024.

IA HSB549

A bill for an act relating to disaster aid including the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program.(See HF 2167.)

IA SF572

A bill for an act relating to certain education programs and tax credits and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1208.)

Similar Bills

IA SF619

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 591, SSB 1188.) Effective date: 04/22/2025, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: Conditional, 01/01/2024.

IA HF957

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 246; See HF 982, HF 1012.)

IA HF982

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 957, HSB 246; See HF 1012.)

IA HF1012

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 982, HF 957, HSB 246.)

IA HSB246

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 957, HF 982, HF 1012.)

IA SSB1188

A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and providing penalties, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 591, SF 619.)

MS SB2248

Fresh Start Act; revise.

MS HB362

Fresh Start Act; revise certain provisions of.