CALL TO ACTION AGAINST CHANGES TO MECHANIC'S LIEN LAW!
It is only the second week of the session and there is a study bill that needs our attention. Earlier this week I sent you a Legislative Bulletin. that gave you information about the Owner Builders Mechanics Lien Bill. It was introduced as a study bill in both the House and Senate.
THE ISSUE
Iowa Title Warantee (ITW) proposed changes to the Mechanic's Lien Law because a major builder declared bankruptcy, leaving several companies and homeowners in a situation of 'holding an empty bag.' ITW believes they solved the issue of homeowners being vulnerable to double jeopardy in paying subcontractors after the closing by creating an online central database for every residential project.
The general concept of having a central database of the subcontractors who are on a project could be a benefit to our industry IF the closers and bankers will look at it and contact the subcontractors to ensure that they have been paid. That is not what happened in Utah, where they passed similar legislation five years ago, because it was not written into the law.
There are other concerns with this bill that are outlined in the article below.
Bill Wimmer, our lobbyist, has forwarded us the names of the committee members reviewing these bills. Please call:
House subcommittee members to NOT SUPPORT HSB 559
To call them at the Capitol, dial (515)281-3221
Eric Palmer (D-Oskaloosa), eric.palmer@legis.state.ia.us
Nate Willems (D-Lisbon), nate.willems@legis.state.ia.us
Doug Struyk (R-Council Bluffs), doug.struyk@legis.state.ia.us
Senate subcommittee members to NOT SUPPORT SSB 3076
To call them at the Capitol, dial (515)281-3371
Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids), rob.hogg@legis.state.ia.us
Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames), quirmbach@legis.state.ia.us
Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), brad.zaun@legis.state.ia.us
Please email me if you call or email if you contact the Legislator. Tell me your response so we can track it.
(800)469-9078
Lobbyist Contact Information:
Wasker Dorr Wimmer & Marcouiller, P.C.
4201 Westown Parkway, Suite 250
West Des Moines, IA 50266-6720
TEL: 515-283-1801
FAX: 515-283-1802
Bill Wimmer Craig Schoenfeld
515-371-8920 (cell) 515-371-8921 (cell)
bwimmer@wdwm.net cschoenfeld@wdwm.net