Capitol Letters: Governor’s Disaster Relief Bill

State Rep. Megan Jones

Last week we passed the Governor's Disaster Relief bill, SF 619 / HF 1012, the bill had a few changes from my update last week. Those changes include:

• Adds a limiting provision to the Disaster Recovery New Housing Program available only for applications submitted between August 20, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

• Amends Section 44 to allow the public adjuster to obtain a limited power of attorney for the sole purpose of depositing claim payments in the insured’s name into a fiduciary trust.

• Strikes from Section 62 the prohibition that an appraiser cannot charge based dependently on the outcome of an itemized award and allows an appraiser to charge a fee or deposit to work on getting a settlement of itemized award.

• Adds to Division 7 that disaster response, disaster recovery activities, or disaster aid to citizens is limited to disaster aid provided by businesses engaged in disaster recovery, housing projects, disaster recovery housing assistance, or programs under the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The disbursement of money is contingent on a disaster proclamation, by the approval of the Governor and the executive council.

This bill will now head to the Governor's desk. It may take some time for that to happen. It is not just as simple as walking it downstairs. In my conversations with the Governor's office, she intends to sign it and sign it as soon as possible.

This is a big bill. It's been through three committees in the House, three in the Senate. Money, licensure, insurance — it had a lot of potential pitfalls. But we got there. We got there together.

Thank you to my colleagues, Governor Reynolds, and my constituents. We've worked hard, we made sure it was right, and made Iowa better for it.

Contact Jones by email: megan.jones@legis.iowa.gov.