All Roll Calls
Yes: 143 • No: 0
IowaSF 46091st General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
A bill for an act relating to home inspections, including persons authorized to perform home inspections and requirements for independent home inspection reports, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly SSB 1144.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
Signed by Governor
commerce
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Clearer home reports and free seller copies
Beginning July 1, 2025, written independent reports must describe the inspection's scope, observed major defects, and recommended further review and repairs. They must clearly flag defects that pose an unreasonable risk to people on the property. Reports must explain that inspections assess conditions only on the inspection date, exclude hidden defects, and provide no warranty or guarantee. They must also say inspections are not appraisals and recommend consulting a licensed professional about structural concerns. Inspectors cannot share reports without client consent unless another law requires disclosure; sellers can request free copies from clients. Report-content violations are simple misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500.
Homeowners gain protection from inspector conflicts
Beginning July 1, 2025, inspectors, their employers, and people controlling or financially interested in those employers face conflict-of-interest rules. They cannot perform or offer extra-fee repairs on structures covered by their inspection reports within the previous 12 months. Exceptions cover radon treatment, wood-destroying insect treatment, and repairs under home-warranty claims. Owners who pay for prohibited repairs are entitled to full refunds, and any remaining payment obligations are void. A financial interest in the property transfer, including commissions, requires written disclosure and the buyer's signed acknowledgment before inspection. The law also bars referral commissions, fees, or kickbacks involving sellers or real estate licensees. Inspection engagements or fees cannot depend on report findings or the sale closing; these practices are enforceable under Iowa's consumer-fraud law.
Insurance and contract protections for inspection clients
Beginning July 1, 2025, inspectors must carry errors-and-omissions and general-liability insurance. Required coverage is at least $100,000 per occurrence and $500,000 total, with deductibles no higher than $2,500. Coverage must continue for at least one year after the latest report; reports delivered before July 1, 2025, are exempt. Contracts may define inspection services and exclusions but cannot waive or change the law's requirements. They also cannot limit liability for gross negligence or willful misconduct. Missing required insurance or falsely claiming qualifying credentials is a simple misdemeanor initially and a serious misdemeanor for later offenses.
Qualified inspectors and stronger buyer protections
Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa limits who can issue independent home inspection reports. Authorized providers include qualifying home inspectors, home-inspection licensees or registrants in good standing elsewhere, and Iowa-licensed architects or professional engineers. Home inspectors must belong to a qualifying national association or work under a member who accepts responsibility for the report. The nonprofit association must operate in more than 10 states and require over 100 inspections, a validated exam, and continuing education. Inspectors must use reasonable care and follow the association's practice standards and ethics code. Buyers can rely in good faith on written claims of these qualifications without investigating them independently.
Homebuyers get sourced but limited repair estimates
Beginning July 1, 2025, inspectors cannot give oral or written repair-cost estimates outside an independent inspection report. Estimates in those reports must name their source and give a cost range, not a single price. The report must also advise considering an estimate from a contractor who performs that type of repair. Buyers get more context for estimates but lose access to informal estimates from inspectors.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/8/2025
Passed House
Yes: 96 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/26/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 47 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Fiscal note.
6/6/2025legislatureExplanation of vote.
4/24/2025HouseSigned by Governor.
4/18/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
4/17/2025SenateMessage from House.
4/8/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/8/2025HousePassed House, yeas 96, nays 0.
4/8/2025HousePlaced on calendar.
4/2/2025HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 19. Nays, 0. Excused, 3.
4/2/2025HouseCommittee report, recommending passage.
4/2/2025HouseSubcommittee recommends passage.
4/1/2025legislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 8:00AM RM 19.
3/27/2025legislatureSubcommittee: Lawler, Blom and Wilson.
3/27/2025HouseRead first time, referred to Commerce.
3/26/2025HouseMessage from Senate.
3/26/2025HouseImmediate message.
3/26/2025SenatePassed Senate, yeas 47, nays 0.
3/26/2025SenateAmendment S-3023 adopted.
3/26/2025SenateAmendment S-3023 filed.
3/17/2025SenateFiscal note.
3/12/2025legislatureCommittee report, approving bill.
2/27/2025SenateIntroduced, placed on calendar.
2/27/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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