The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa repeals property owner protest rights for zoning changes
Last action · June 2, 2026: Signed by Governor . S.J. 1031 .Sponsor: Dawn Driscoll
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What This Bill Does
Senate File 2091 eliminates the ability of property owners to file a written protest against proposed changes, which previously required a three-fourths favorable vote by the city council to pass if enough signatures were gathered.
Property owners lose a procedural tool that previously forced higher voting thresholds for city councils when enough nearby landowners objected to a zoning change.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Property owners
Property owners lose the legal right to submit formal written protests that mandate a supermajority council vote for zoning changes.
City councils
City councils no longer need a three-fourths majority vote to pass zoning changes that previously attracted qualifying property owner protests.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can property owners still protest a zoning change?
Does the bill change city council voting requirements for contested zoning changes?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
38 actions- Jun 2, 2026SenateEnrolledSigned by Governor . S.J. 1031 .
- May 11, 2026SenateReported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 1028 .
- Apr 29, 2026HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 1035 .
- Apr 29, 2026SenateImmediate message. S.J. 916 .
- Apr 29, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 34, nays 12. S.J. 913 .
- Apr 29, 2026SenateFloorSenate concurred with S-5176 . S.J. 913 .
Show 32 earlier actions
- Apr 9, 2026HouseMessage from House, with amendment S-5176 . S.J. 763 .
- Apr 9, 2026HouseWithdrawn. H.J. 870 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseWithdrawn. H.J. 863 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseSF 2378 substituted. H.J. 844 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorAmendment H-8295 adopted. H.J. 844 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseImmediate message. H.J. 863 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 75, nays 18. H.J. 844 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorAmendment H-8296 adopted. H.J. 844 .
- Apr 8, 2026HouseSubstituted for HF 2636 . H.J. 844 .
- Apr 6, 2026HouseAmendment H-8295 filed. H.J. 821 .
- Apr 6, 2026HouseAmendment H-8296 filed. H.J. 821 .
- Mar 19, 2026HousePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 691 .
- Mar 19, 2026HousePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 691 .
- Mar 2, 2026HouseIntroducedRead first time, passed on file. H.J. 483 .
- Mar 2, 2026HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 464 .
- Mar 2, 2026SenateImmediate message. S.J. 435 .
- Mar 2, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 35, nays 9. S.J. 434 .
- Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 350 .
- Feb 19, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2636 .
- Feb 18, 2026SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 320 .
- Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 313 .
- Feb 18, 2026SenateCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2378 . S.J. 320 .
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 19. Nays, 1. Excused, 1. H.J. 336 .
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 336 .
- Feb 16, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 12, 2026SenateSubcommittee Meeting: 02/16/2026 2:30PM Senate Lounge.
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSubcommittee: Driscoll, Bousselot, and Quirmbach. S.J. 199 .
- Jan 22, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Local Government. S.J. 129 .
- Jan 21, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Jan 21, 2026HouseSubcommittee Meeting: 01/21/2026 7:30AM House Lounge 2.
- Jan 15, 2026HouseSubcommittee: Lawler, Wengryn and Zabner. H.J. 117 .
- Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Local Government. H.J. 79 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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