Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — The governor’s bill to help Iowans rebuild after natural disasters has cleared four different committees in the Iowa House and Senate.
Last year’s massive tornadoes and flooding damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes, and the governor’s plan would pull 13.6 million dollars from the state’s Economic Emergency Fund for housing assistance. Senator David Rowley, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says the bill also would streamline and speed up disaster assistance distribution.
The package is getting bipartisan support. Senator William Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, thanked the governor and her staff for their work on the legislation.
After complaints about how insurance claims were being handled, the bill calls for state licensing of so-called “umpires” called in to mediate disputes between adjusters who represent property owners and insurance company adjusters. The bill would create a state revolving loan fund to help finance flood control and other projects designed to reduce damage from future natural disasters. There’s also two million dollars in the bill to help Iowa cities hit by tornadoes or floods in 2024 demolish buildings that cannot be repaired.
