Attorney General Brenna Bird announced on Mar. 10 a legal victory in her lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Administration, blocking a federal mandate that she said would have significantly increased home prices for Iowa families.
The case is important because it concerns the affordability of new homes in Iowa and the impact of federal regulations on local housing markets. According to Bird, the overturned rule would have imposed strict building requirements, adding an estimated $31,853 to the cost of each new home and making homeownership unattainable for many Iowans.
Bird said newly built homes already exceed energy efficiency standards compared to older houses. She argued that the proposed mandate would have made affordable housing less accessible without providing meaningful environmental benefits. “We are grateful for the court’s ruling so more Iowa families can achieve the dream of owning their own home,” said Attorney General Bird. “The unconstitutional radical green agenda of the Biden-Harris Administration would have kept that dream out of reach for many.”
The lawsuit was led by Utah and Texas and joined by Iowa along with Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and the National Association of Home Builders.
Observers say this decision could influence future debates over federal regulations affecting housing costs and energy standards across multiple states.
