The 2020 Capitol Conference was a successful week of advocacy, meetings, networking, work groups, and fun! We had a record number of attendees, with around 250 Iowa Realtors speaking with legislators to protect private property rights. Our Legislative Luncheon featured Iowa's Lieutenant Governor, Adam Gregg. Dave Price, award-winning author and political analyst, was our featured speaker. He spoke to everyone about the political climate, the Iowa Caucuses, his coverage of candidates, and more.
After we visited the Capitol to speak to many of our legislators, we enjoyed an evening reception at Curate. Over 40 legislators joined us at the reception to network and discuss concerns from their district.
Talking Points
Seller's Disclosure and Trusts
The Iowa Association of REALTORS supports legislation that clarifies when a seller’s disclosure is needed when dealing with properties that are held in a trust or through power of attorney. Current Iowa law exempts some properties from the seller’s disclosure form, and this makes sense when the owner is deceased, unable, or has not lived in the property for several years. However, the current code also allows for uncertainty when an owner still lives in the property, but sells the property through a trust or power of attorney. The legislation will clarify that a person who has owned the property, lived in the property, or who otherwise has knowledge about its important characteristics that resulted from these relationships to the property are required to fill out a seller's disclosure form in those situations. The language would clarify that simply putting the property into a trust or appointing a power of attorney will not itself exempt these persons from making seller disclosures.
Check out IAR's Legal Breakdown video that discusses this topic in more detail.
Association Health Plans
The Iowa Association of REALTORS and National Association of REALTORS are working to ensure self-employed real estate professionals have access to better, more affordable health insurance through Association Health Plans. There are still hurdles to overcome at the Federal and State level, but we are committed to educating our elected officials on the need for additional health insurance options for our members. All Iowans should have the opportunity to start up a small business and be self-employed and have affordable health insurance. Independent contractors have to factor in the skyrocketing cost of individual health insurance costs, and the IAR is working to ensure these costs are not a deterring factor for someone who wants to pursue a career in real estate. The IAR will continue to work on solutions to affordable health insurance for our members.
Business Meetings Recap
IAR Committees and work groups met on Thursday and part of Friday to discuss upcoming projects and initiatives for 2020.
A special thanks to all that contributed to the REALTOR Foundation of Iowa's Taco Bar Fundraising Luncheon.
The RPAC Reception celebrated our record year for RPAC and the new inductees into IAR's RPAC Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Brennan Buckley, Travis Bushaw, Jeff Dill, Lance Hanson, Megan Mitchum, Carey Jensen, Shaner Magalhães, Jill Monnahan, Jen Stanbrough, and Dennis Stolk.
Several motions passed to streamline our committee structure and modernize our governance process to improve strategic decisions.
A summary of the motions passed at the Board of Directors
- An Education Committee will be created to help IAR continue to be a leader in real estate education.
- A Second Vice President Position will be added to the Leadership Team and the Treasurer position will be a non-voting member of the Leadership Team.
- The creation of a Finance Committee, chaired by the Treasurer, to review the overall budget and make recommendations to the Leadership Team and the Board of Directors. the committee will oversee and review all of IAR's investments.
- A Credentials Committee will be formed to review all applications for IAR Leadership.
- A Visionary Team will be created to brainstorm ideas and proactively evaluate the association in this ever-changing real estate industry.
- Motion to create a REALTOR Party Committee to oversee RPAC Fundraising, Housing Opportunity topics, and other NAR programs and grants.
- A REALTOR Party Trustees Committee will be created to oversee RPAC funds disbursements.
- A Forms Committee will be established to create, maintain and review all of the real estate forms offered by IAR as a member service.
- IAR will host an annual Leadership Institute to help our local leadership better prepare for their roles and to foster statewide collaboration.
- The Legislative Committee will be revised to include at least one member from every board and the current IAR Leadership Team and Regional Vice Presidents.
- IAR will offer Statewide Professional Standards beginning in July. A full proposal to the local boards/associations will be offered if they wish to use IAR to oversee their local Professional Standards program.
- IAR added $70,000 to the budget to continue to offer the Statewide Advertising Match Program.
Click here to view the final motions from the Board of Directors Meeting on February 14.
IAR is looking for volunteers to help serve on these new committees. Click here to get involved.
The RPAC Kickoff Reception that was held Thursday evening included a cork pull and helped raise over 1,700 for RPAC.
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