Legislative session continued this week, at what seems to be a snail’s pace to those of us on the outside looking in. The real action occurred behind closed doors with negotiations between leaders in the Senate and House. Only a little committee work was done in the Senate while leadership of both chambers try to find middle ground over the budget and key policy priorities. As leaders negotiate decisions over budget, mental health funding, and tax policy, among other issues, the rank and file legislators have mostly been at home in their districts. Legislators are expected to return to the Capitol next week to finalize the omnibus tax bills and other budget bills, with the goal of sine die – or adjournment – hopefully next week.
Additional details are below, along with other housing-related legislation the Iowa Housing Partnership continues to follow.
HF 893 (formerly HSB 278): Introduced as a compromise bill, this legislation have several divisions. The housing sections include:
The bill moved very quickly through the process last week and the House Appropriations committee will take up the bill in subcommittee and full committee on Monday, May 17. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF 619 (formerly SSB 1276: This is the Senate’s proposed compromise bill. The housing sections include:
The Senate subcommittee approved the bill on Monday and then immediately moved it through the Senate Ways and Means committee the next day. Having also been passed by the Senate Appropriations committee, it is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate chamber. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF 609: This legislation addresses several economic development pieces, including affordable housing. The housing division include increasing the workforce housing tax credit for to $40 million for one year, with an increase in the rural set-aside from $10 to $12 million dollars. It also extends the repeal date for the Revitalization Tax credit to June 30, 2031. It also strikes the $200k dwelling cost unit cap and replaces with IEDA rules authority. While it does not include language for the State Housing Trust Fund or disaster recover, the Senate addressed that in separate legislation. It is eligible for consideration by the Senate but with the introduction of the compromise bills in both chambers this week, it is expected that those bills will be the path for these initiatives. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF 612 (formerly SSB 1270): This pertains to the State Housing Trust Fund and increases the funding from the real estate transfer tax from $3 million to $5.5 million. With the introduction of the compromise bills in both chambers this week, it is expected that those bills will be the path for increased funding to the State Housing Trust Fund. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF 611 (formerly SSB 1272): This legislation creates a disaster recovery program fund and a granting mechanism for unobligated funds. With the introduction of the compromise bills in both chambers this week, it is expected that those bills will be the path for affordable housing programs this session. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
HSB 274: This legislation introduces several measures for affordable housing. It removes the $3 million State Housing Trust Fund cap. It also increases Workforce Housing Tax Credit program from $25 million to $50 million and increases the small city allocation from $10 million to $20 million. After 3 years, the bill repeals these increases (back to $25m and $10m). It also strikes the $200K dwelling cost unit cap and replaces with IEDA rules authority. With the introduction of the compromise bills, it is expected that those bills will be the vehicle for affordable housing programs. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF 295/ HF 582: This is Governor Reynolds’ Omnibus Housing bill with several divisions aimed at boosting affordable housing throughout Iowa. As overall budget negotiations continue, the bill is in the Senate Ways and Means committee for consideration. Similarly, a House Ways and Means subcommittee with Reps. Hite, Boden and Jacoby has been assigned. With the introduction of the compromise bills in both chambers this week, it is expected that those bills will be the vehicle for any affordable housing programs and the Governor’s bills, as introduced will not see additional movement.
Iowa Housing Partnership continues to work with housing advocates and stakeholders in targeted legislative districts across the state to encourage greater grass-roots contacts with key legislators. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF 252/ HF 720: This legislation prohibits cities and counties from passing ordinances that bar landlords from refusing to accept housing vouchers. Governor Reynolds signed the bill on Friday, April 30. For most Iowa cities, it goes into effect immediately and postpones enactment for towns with existing city ordinances on housing vouchers. Iowa Housing Partnership is AGAINST.
SF 373: Introduced by Senator Lofgren, this legislation establishes a homeownership development tax credits for charitable contributions to certain low-income housing developers in Iowa. The bill is in the Ways and Means committee for future consideration. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
HF 626: This legislation aims to provide property tax exemptions for properties located in areas previously ‘redlined’ and subjected to lending discrimination. The House passed the bill unanimously, 96-0. Being funnel proof, it is eligible for consideration by the full Senate Ways and Means committee. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
SF590: Senator Mark Lofgren’s legislation, formerly SF 100, provides for the creation of land banks. Senators Dawson, Jochum, and Roby Smith held a subcommittee on the bill and moved it forward for consideration by the full Ways and Means committee, where it was also approved. Iowa Housing Partnership SUPPORTS.
HF 833: This legislation (formerly HF 442) allows for the termination of a tenancy only for material violations of the lease, for legitimate business reasons and due to changes in use for the land for mobile and manufactured homes. The bill did not receive a floor vote in the House, however, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brian Lohse, has filed an amendment with similar protections onto another bill, SF 469, relating to mobile homes. SF 469 is currently on the unfinished business calendar and awaits potential consideration by the House Chamber. Client is unregistered/monitoring.We would like to thank Iowa Habitat for Humanity and the Landover Corporation for their renewal this past week!
Please:
This week, we want to introduce Maryann Dennis, the Iowa Housing Partnership’s Treasurer and a long-time friend of affordable housing in Iowa.
In February 2020, Maryann retired – after 27 years – as the Executive Director of The Housing Fellowship. As the Housing Fellowship’s first employee, Maryann facilitated its growth and reputation as one of the premier Community Housing Development Organizations in Iowa. She has extensive experience in working with low-income neighborhoods and families and the administration of federal and private funding sources. She oversaw all operations and affordable housing developments, in addition to The Housing Fellowship’s partnership agreements and contracts with public and private financing.
Through her leadership, The Housing Fellowship developed over 240 affordable rental and owner-occupied homes for low-income families. Maryann is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.
Maryann holds a master’s degree in Social Work Administration and Social Development from the University of Iowa. She has served as consultant on the first Housing First, Permanent Supportive Housing in Iowa. Maryann co-founded and served as ex-officio of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County and a member of Iowa City’s Invest Health team. Maryann’s leadership and service is deep, having also been appointed to the Iowa City Riverfront Crossings Inclusionary Housing Ad Hoc Committee, Johnson County Housing Task Force, the Equity Advisory Committee of the Iowa City Community School District, and the Board of Directors of United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties. She served the Vice-Chair of the Affordable Housing Coalition of Johnson County.
And finally, she is the recipient of the Kay Anderson Friend of Iowa Award from the Iowa Finance Authority.
I first met Maryann back in 2006, when I was talking with her about a possible renovation project. While the project started with 16 units, it quickly became 14 units after a strong windstorm took out a duplex. It was during this project that I quickly realized how passionate Maryann was about affordable housing. More importantly, her passion helped me realize a key point: How can we do better for non-profit housing providers in the state of Iowa?
Our non-profit housing providers often do the hard work that others do not want to do. They are often asked to be partners with for-profit developers. They are the ‘boots on the ground.’ Consistent among all is the passion our non-profit housing partners have. The Iowa Housing Partnership is very lucky to have strong non-profit partners as members of our board, and Maryann is no exception.
Again, we are asking for your help. Let’s put our creative efforts together, let’s push together toward our common goal, and that is creating the affordable housing network that we can. We look forward to collaborating with you over the upcoming months.
—Dan Garrett
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