A bill for an act relating to home inspections, including persons authorized to perform home inspections and requirements for independent home inspection reports, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.(See SF 460.)

Iowa Senate Study Bill 1144 (SSB1144) aimed to regulate home inspections by specifying who is authorized to perform them and setting standards for independent home inspection reports. The bill required that only licensed home inspectors, architects, or professional engineers could issue these reports. It also mandated that home inspectors adhere to national standards of practice and ethics. Additionally, the bill prohibited home inspectors from offering to perform repairs on properties they had inspected within the previous year, with exceptions for radon or wood-destroying insect remediation. Violations of these provisions were classified as unlawful practices under Iowa law. SSB1144 was later replaced by Senate File 460 (SF460), which was enacted into law on July 1, 2025.

Supporters of the bill argued that it would enhance the quality and reliability of home inspections in Iowa by ensuring that only qualified professionals conduct them. They believed that establishing clear standards and prohibiting conflicts of interest would protect consumers and promote transparency in real estate transactions.

Critics expressed concerns that the bill could limit the number of available home inspectors, potentially leading to increased costs and delays for homebuyers. Some also argued that the restrictions on home inspectors performing repairs could be overly stringent and might prevent homeowners from accessing timely and necessary services from trusted professionals.