| The First Session of the 81st General Assembly convened on
Monday, January 10, 2005. This legislative session will be historic
with an evenly divided Senate (25 Republicans and 25 Democrats)
and a narrow Republican majority in the House (51 Republicans
and 49 Democrats). The Iowa Association of REALTORS® legislative
committee met during the IAR Winter Meetings in December and
discussed legislative priorities for 2005. The following is a
brief summary of some of the issues the IAR will be working on
this session:
Property tax reform – The IAR is actively involved
in legislative discussions concerning property tax reform.
The IAR will work to ensure that any changes in the current
system will define what services property taxes should pay
for and will not increase the property tax burden on any
class of real property.
Minimum broker service requirements – This legislation
will specify certain services brokers must provide to their
clients. The IAR is supportive of this legislation, and a
draft of the language is as follows:
"All Brokerage Agreements shall specify that a broker
shall, at the minimum, do the following:
- Accept delivery of and
present to the client offers and counteroffers to buy,
sell, rent, lease, or exchange
the
client’s property or the property the client
seeks to purchase or lease.
- Assist the client in developing,
communicating, negotiating, and presenting offers,
counteroffers until a rent,
lease, exchange, offer to buy/sell, or purchase agreement
is signed
and all contingencies are satisfied or waived and the
transaction is completed.
- Answer the client’s questions
relating to the brokerage agreements, listing agreements,
offers,
counteroffers,
notices,
and contingencies.
- Brokers shall be able to provide
prospective Buyers access to listed properties."
Background checks for new licensees – This legislation
will require new real estate licensees to obtain a background
check and fingerprinting when applying for a real estate
license. The IAR supports this legislation.
Real Estate Commission expansion – The IAR supports
legislation that will expand the number of Real Estate Commissioners
from five to seven members. Currently, the Commission has
three licensees and two public members, the proposed legislation
will increase the number by adding a Broker and an additional
salesperson.
Septic system inspections – The IAR is monitoring
legislation that will require septic system inspections at
the time of sale.
Meth lab reduction and remediation – The IAR will
monitor legislation that deals with meth lab reduction and
remediation for meth lab properties.
Non-resident landowner hunting licenses – The IAR
is supportive of legislation that will grant hunting licenses
to non-resident property owners.
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