(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds is approving additional Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program funding. Lawmakers introduced the bill to help the state prepare for natural disasters after an unprecedented series of severe storms last spring. Nearly 12 million dollars of additional funding will go toward property cleanup, housing recovery, and disaster preparedness. The law also adds provisions, including adjusting insurance regulations to protect customers and modifying emergency funds transfer rules for faster state response.
Gov. Reynolds’ disaster relief bill provides the following assistance to Iowans rebuilding from the 2024 disasters, as well as creates essential tools to build resilience from future natural disasters:
- Adds $11.6 million to fully fund the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program launched last July in response to the storms of 2024
- Extends tax exclusion to disaster assistance for housing developers who received awards under the State Disaster New Housing Grant Program
- Adjusts insurance regulations to better protect consumers and homeowners from unfair practices
- Modifies emergency funds transfer authority in times of disaster to ensure the state government’s flexible response to disasters
- Adds $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund to help with demolition costs for disaster-damaged buildings
- Sets up the new Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund to build resiliency from future disasters
