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HF 876

A bill for an act providing for the disclosure of lead service lines in real estate disclosures and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Requires disclosure of lead service line presence in Iowa real estate disclosures, enabling buyers to know if a property's service line is lead; effective Jan 1, 2026.

Signed by Governor.
#disclosure #lead #realproperty
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Bill Summary · HF 876

Summary — HF 876 (Signed, 2025)

Title: An act providing for the disclosure of lead service lines in real estate disclosures; includes effective date provisions.
Status: Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds (June 6, 2025). Effective date: January 1, 2026.

Purpose

HF 876 adds lead service line information to the required written disclosure that sellers (or other persons transferring real property) must provide to prospective buyers. The intent is to increase buyer awareness of whether a property's water service line is made of lead (or effectively functions as lead) prior to transfer.

Key provisions

  • Amends Iowa Code section 558A.1 by adding definitions:
    • “Lead service line”: a service line made of lead. A galvanized service line is considered a lead service line if it ever was, or is currently, downstream of any lead service line or a service line of unknown material. “Downstream” is defined as the section of service line between a lead service line and the water meter.
    • “Service line”: the pipe connecting the water main to interior plumbing; explicitly includes the pipe from the water main to the water meter and excludes interior plumbing.
  • Amends Iowa Code section 558A.4(1)(a) to require that the standard real estate disclosure statement include the presence of lead service lines, as provided in rules adopted by the Iowa Real Estate Commission under section 543B.9.
  • Grants the Real Estate Commission rulemaking authority to specify how lead service line presence is disclosed. The Commission’s rules may continue to require other customary disclosures (zoning, plumbing/heating/electrical condition, pests).
  • Effective date: January 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Sellers and other transferors of real property in Iowa (required to complete disclosure statements).
  • Prospective buyers and transferees (will receive lead service line information).
  • Real estate licensees and brokerages (must follow new disclosure requirements and any Commission rules).
  • Iowa Real Estate Commission (tasked with adopting rules to implement the disclosure).
  • Utilities and municipalities indirectly (information sources or verification may be needed, especially for service line material history).

Important notes / limits

  • The law requires disclosure of lead service line presence; it does not mandate testing, replacement, remediation, or who pays for replacement.
  • A galvanized pipe is treated as lead in specified circumstances (downstream of lead or unknown material), which can broaden disclosure obligations.
  • Implementation details (form language, verification procedures, liability standards) depend on forthcoming rules from the Real Estate Commission.

Legislative action highlights

  • Introduced: March 7, 2025. Amendment H‑1086 adopted. Passed House (94–0) and Senate (44–0). Signed by Governor June 6, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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