House passes bill to require radon mitigation pathways in new homes

House File 2297 passed the Iowa House on March 12 with broad support. The bill creates a pathway to mitigate radon in new single- and two-family home construction, encourages scanning and testing, and ties mitigation measures to broader rural health programs and grants intended to help more than 500 homes per year through grants and test-kit distribution.

Representative Wapolow (S23) and supporters cited the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for radon and referenced public-health data estimating radon-related deaths in the state. Supporters said integrating mitigation at the time of construction is far less costly than retrofitting a home. The floor exchange referenced input from home builders and health experts and framed the bill as a bipartisan, preventative public-health step.

The bill passed on final reading and will be sent to the Senate. Sponsors said implementation could tie to rural health and grant programs already in development.