Latest news with #SenateFile619
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill to help 2024 flood, tornado victims
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — More help is coming to Iowans who were affected by multiple natural disasters last year. Governor Kim Reynolds' office announced that she signed Senate File 619 into law on Tuesday, April 22. The bill provides millions of dollars in disaster relief and assistance for Iowans who were impacted by flooding, tornadoes, and other severe weather events in the spring and summer of 2024. Sioux City awarded $25k to help create Homeless Court Program 'The tenacity of Iowans has been tested over the past year,' Reynolds said in a statement in part.. 'Our state faced devastating natural disasters in the spring of 2024—strong tornadoes and widespread flooding affected tens of thousands of Iowa families… Today, I sign this legislation to streamline our disaster assistance process and make it easier for Iowans to get the help they need as soon as possible.' According to the governor's office, the bill: Adds $11.6 million in funding to the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program Extends tax exclusion for the State Disaster New Housing Grant Program Adjusts insurance regulations to protect people against unfair practices Modifies emergency funds transfer authority in times of disaster Adds $2 million in funding to the Nuisance Property & Abandoned Building Remediation Loan Program Creates new Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund to help with future disasters Three presidential disaster declarations were issued in a span of just a few months. The first was in response to severe storms and tornadoes in April 2024; the second was for severe storms in May 2024; and the final was for severe weather in many Iowa counties in June and July 2024, including June's historic flooding in northwest Iowa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs natural disaster assistance bill into law
Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke about the state's flood emergency response and recovery efforts during a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston June 23, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 619 into law Tuesday, the bill providing funds for the state's recovery efforts for 2024 floods and tornadoes as well as making changes to Iowa's response system for future disasters. The bill provides $13.6 million from the Iowa Economic Emergency Fund retroactively for fiscal year 2025 for response efforts to severe flooding and tornadoes. Reynolds said in a statement the bill will help Iowans and communities recovering from the major disasters in the past year that impacted more than 5,000 homes across the state. 'The tenacity of Iowans has been tested over the past year,' Reynolds said in a statement. 'Our state faced devastating natural disasters in the spring of 2024—strong tornadoes and widespread flooding affected tens of thousands of Iowa families. To put it in perspective, our state was granted three Presidential disaster declarations in just two months. During this time of recovery, our relief programs have proven vital for Iowa families and communities to regain their footing and restart their lives.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation, introduced by the governor, was highlighted as one of her top priorities for the 2025 legislative session during her Condition of the State address in January. A majority of funding from the bill, $11.6 million, goes to the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program launched by the state in July. The other $2 million goes to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund, which helps tear down buildings that damaged beyond repair by natural disasters. The law also will extend tax exclusions for developers building new housing in areas impacted by recent natural disasters. The measure includes other components that Reynolds and lawmakers have said will help Iowa better respond to future natural disasters, including allowing the Iowa Department of Management to access 10% of the state's Economic Emergency Fund each fiscal year for disaster recovery efforts when the governor issues a disaster proclamation. The legislation also establishes the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing program, a new loan program through the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Finance Authority, to provide funding for 'ongoing risk mitigation' projects that can help Iowa communities reduce damage in future severe weather events. There was some pushback in subcommittee meetings on a component of the bill requiring appraisers, independent adjusters and umpires to be licensed to assess property damages. Advocates representing parties involved in the industry said most states do not have licensure in this field and could lead to fewer independent adjusters and umpires — the professionals who serve as a neutral party assessing damages and property value during insurance claim processes — practicing in Iowa. The measure was not changed by lawmakers. The law is effective immediately. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor's disaster aid bill would provide nearly $16M for building rehab, razing
Gov. Kim Reynolds and members of her cabinet oversaw parts of northwest Iowa impacted by flooding in a helicopter tour June 21, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Kim Reynolds' office) Gov. Kim Reynolds' bill making changes to Iowa's disaster relief assistance programs is on its way to the Iowa Senate floor after approval Thursday by the chamber's Ways and Means Committee. Senate File 619 has already received approval from the Senate Local Government and Appropriations committees. The bill follows up on some of the measures put in place for disaster recovery by Reynolds following the 2024 floods and tornadoes that impacted more than 5,000 homes across the state. The measure includes an appropriation of $13.6 million from the Iowa Economic Emergency Fund retroactively for fiscal year 2025 with the majority of funding going toward home rehabilitation programs and $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund, used to tear down buildings that cannot be repaired. This funding was discussed with lawmakers during the summer of 2024 as Reynolds rolled out the state's disaster response and recovery plans. The bill's appropriation for housing rehabilitation will go toward to the State Disaster Recovery New Housing Grant and Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance programs, launched in July. The governor's bill also includes a proposal to extend tax exclusions for developers who build new housing in disaster-impacted areas. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The measure also establishes new programs and funds that the governor said will help the state more quickly respond to natural disasters in the future. It would establish a new loan program, the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing program, led by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Finance Authority, with funding available to eligible entities for 'ongoing risk mitigation' projects to better prepare Iowa communities for future severe weather. Molly Severn, legislative liaison for the governor's office, said the measure will help 'make it easier for Iowans to get the help they need as soon as possible' during natural disasters. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and some advocates have expressed support for the bill's steps to streamline the disaster assistance process and provide funding in previous meetings. However, there was some pushback at the Senate subcommittee meeting Thursday from lobbyists with insurance organizations and public insurance adjusters on one portion of the bill — a requirement for appraisers, independent adjusters and umpires to be licensed to assess property damages. During the process of receiving insurance coverage following a natural disaster, multiple assessments are made. A public insurance adjuster, representing the policy holder, and a private insurance adjuster representing the insurance company, typically both review a damaged property's value and assessing the claim made. Umpires are the neutral party in this process, meant to serve as an unbiased source while assessing damages and value. But Reynolds said licensure and regulations were needed to 'better protect consumers and homeowners from unfair practices' during the process. Dennis Tibben with the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters said most other states regulate umpires and independent adjusters through contracts instead of through the licensing processes set up in the bill. 'If enacted, Iowa would have the most restrictive, expansive licensure type in the nation,' Tibben said. 'And we expect that that will have a chilling effect on the number of individuals who are independent, who will serve as the arbitrators when a public insurance adjuster, who serves as an advocate on behalf of the insured individual, and their insurance company can't come to an initial resolution on the insurance plan.' Tibben said this provision could lead to fewer umpires and independent adjusters practicing in Iowa, which could leave Iowans with longer wait times for their insurance claims to be processed. Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said in the subcommittee meeting he wanted to learn more about the impacts of licensure on insurance costs and processing people's claims after disasters, but he supported the bill moving forward as he said it made improvements to Iowa's disaster relief and recovery programs. He also supported the bill later Thursday as it was unanimously approved by the Ways and Means committee, praising the governor and her staff for their work on the bill. 'It's my understanding that this isn't something that just was thrown together,' Dotzler said. 'It's been worked on for considerable amount of time, and really is a proactive approach that would help people in real time.' Sen. David Rowley, R-Spirit Lake, said the bill will improve Iowa's disaster response efforts. 'All of us have been affected by floods, tornadoes, derechos, all of these disasters — hail storms, anything that comes through — it creates a disastrous effect on these communities,' Rowley said. 'We need to address it. We need to be faster than we have been in the past. This allows those dollars to flow forward.' The bill is now available for debate in the full Iowa Senate, and its companion, House File 982, is available for consideration in the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
