A bill for an act relating to real estate transfer tax, including declarations of value.(See HF 2188.)

House Study Bill 569 (HSB569) is a legislative proposal in Iowa that aims to modify the requirements for submitting declarations of value when recording real estate transfers. Specifically, the bill seeks to exempt certain types of property transfers from the obligation to file these declarations. The exemptions include: (1) transfers resulting from corporate or limited liability company mergers, consolidations, or reorganizations; (2) deeds between family-owned corporations, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, or limited liability companies and their stakeholders, provided the transfers are for no actual consideration other than shares or debt securities; and (3) deeds distributing trust assets to beneficiaries without consideration. The bill was introduced on January 15, 2026, and was later renumbered as House File 2188 (HF2188) on January 28, 2026.

Supporters of HSB569 argue that the bill simplifies the real estate transfer process by reducing administrative burdens associated with filing declarations of value for specific types of transactions. They contend that these exemptions will streamline operations for businesses and trusts, facilitating smoother property transfers without compromising transparency or tax obligations.

Critics of HSB569 express concerns that exempting certain transactions from the declaration of value requirement could reduce transparency in real estate transfers. They worry that this lack of disclosure might make it more challenging to assess property values accurately and could potentially lead to undervaluation or misreporting, affecting tax assessments and public records.