A House subcommittee passed House File 2068, a bill that would make it a crime to lie about an animal's status as a service, assistance, or support animal.
The bill also allows a landlord or owner of any residential housing to deny an accommodation for a service, assistance, or support animal if that animal may be dangerous to others or cause harm to the owner's property. The landlord could also require proof that the animal is vaccinated and its registrations are all up to date.
While this passed subcommittee, the House Judiciary Committee plans to change it to match a new Senate bill, Senate File 2093.
This bill is the same as the House bill, but also allows a landlord to ask for proof of a disability, require that the person's permission for a service animal be written by an Iowa-based health care provider within the last six months, and still allows refusal to accommodate if the landlord thinks it will be too expensive or too hard to make the accommodation.
The Senate subcommittee on SF 2093 will meet today - Monday, February 14 at 12:30 p.m. to discuss this bill.
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