The IAR worked with legislators to delay the implementation date of mandatory septic tank inspections at time of transfer until July 1, 2010. The mandatory inspection language passed the legislature during the 2008 legislative session and was to become effective July 1, 2009. The 2009 effective date was intended to give the Department of Natural Resources time to implement administrative rules and regulations to establish requirements for the inspections and septic systems. However, the DNR administrative rules did not get approved until February of 2009 and left little time for the private sector and counties to review the requirements of the newly adopted rules.

The IAR wanted the effective date delayed until July 1, 2010, to ensure that there would be enough inspectors throughout the State. The IAR was neutral on the legislation mandating time of transfer septic inspections when it passed in 2008.

The bill was amended significantly during the last few weeks of the legislative session, and included an exemption for real estate licensees. This was a significant victory for the REALTORS®.

Previously, this information could be obtained through the county by anyone seeking the information and created a liability issue for real estate licensees who handled the documents.

The legislation provides for an increase to the electronic transaction fee that County Recorder’s charge to maintain the county land record information system. The charge will be used for the cost of removing social security numbers from the public website and getting the system back online. The charge is currently $1 per document and the legislation would increase the fee to $3 per document from July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2011. The legislation was amended to remove the additional fee of $1 per document after July 1, 2011.

The IAR opposes any new construction impact fees or tax legislation.

The owner of a dwelling unit which is listed on the registry may have the unit removed from the registry upon providing proof of inspection by a certified lead inspector certifying that the dwelling unit has passed a lead hazard test.

The Legislature fully funded the Homestead Property Tax Credit instead of adopting the Governor’s recommendation.

The IAR opposed this legislation due to concerns as to how homeowner’s will be notified they must obtain flood insurance, the cost of the flood insurance to homeowner’s, and also on the availability and accuracy of the flood maps.

The REALTORS® support the Statewide Assessment Appeal Board and were a part of the coalition supporting the legislation that established the Board two years ago.

The legislation allowed for significant local tax increases and only 75% of the new fees and taxes would be designated for property tax reduction.

This bill failed to receive the legislature’s approval; however the franchise fee portion of the bill was added to the Standings bill in the last days of the session and was approved and signed by the Governor. This language will allow cities to impose a new local franchise fees.