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Which requirement does your route remove?
Current 2026 Chapter 551A distinguishes definition/exclusions in section 551A.1 from the franchise disclosure exemption in 551A.4. The registered-mark/net-worth exclusion in 551A.1(2)(b)(3) is a different route.
The franchise route exempts section 551A.3 subject to providing the specified document at the earlier first personal meeting or fourteen days before the stated commitment/payment event. Moving signature later does not remove an earlier meeting trigger.
Section 551A.7 separately requires consent-to-service filing before contract or sale—a method for receiving legal papers, not commercial consent by the buyer. Relief only from .3 does not itself remove .7. Federal Franchise Rule analysis remains independent.
Agreement date selects the relationship inquiry
Do not apply older Chapter 523H by default; it expressly limits agreements entered on or after July 1, 2000. Section 537A.10 addresses defined Iowa-operated franchises from that date, subject to location/premises or principal-office conditions and sector exclusions.
It contains transfer, encroachment, termination and other protections. This page identifies the applicable inquiry, not every substantive test for those actions.
Do not apply the 2027 change early
The official 2026 amendment table records SF 2497 sections 29 and 32’s signed change to section 537A.10(7)(c)(2), effective January 1, 2027. It was a future change at the recorded November 12, 2026 source review; signing did not make that wording the then-current rule.
Scope
- No universal Iowa exemption or complete section 537A.10 relationship test is established. Actual location, sector and future-effective-date conditions remain material.
Next step
Name the exact exclusion or exemption and the duty it affects before arranging the first meeting or contract; check agreement-date scope for later operator changes.
Sources & review notes
Iowa General Assembly
Passage, dates and research notes
primary · Row for 537A.10(7)(c)(2), SF 2497 sections 29, 32
2026 Code - 537A.10 (7)(c)(2)
Official provisional table records Signed 2026-06-02 and future 2027-01-01 effective date for the identified amendment. It is flagged for review rather than silently applied to November 2026 guidance.
Iowa General Assembly
Passage, dates and research notes
primary · 551A.1–.4, .6–.7 and .9
The seller shall file the irrevocable consent prior to executing a business opportunity contract
Read distinct exclusions, franchise disclosure exemption conditions, service-of-process filing and broad definitions. Do not confuse historical 523B registration references with current 551A.
Iowa General Assembly
Passage, dates and research notes
primary · Subsections 1–4, 6–8 and 12
this section applies to a new or existing franchise that is operated in this state
Current 2026 text read. Definitions, exclusions, location and agreement-date conditions matter. Future 2027 amendment is tracked separately.
Iowa General Assembly
Passage, dates and research notes
primary · 523H.2A
this chapter does not apply to a franchise agreement which is entered into on or after July 1, 2000.
Used to identify temporal limitation. New-agreement analysis uses 537A.10, not unqualified 523H summary.
Detailed rule records (3)
2026 Chapter 551A includes independent definitions/exclusions. Its franchise route in 551A.4 exempts section 551A.3 subject to timely specified disclosure at the earlier first personal meeting or 14 daysbefore commitment/payment. Section 551A.7 separately requires a consent to service before contract/sale; an exemption only from 551A.3 does not itself remove that filing.
2026 Iowa Code Chapter 551A: Business Opportunity Promotions2026 section 537A.10 covers defined Iowa-operated franchises with agreements entered into on/after July 1, 2000, with stated exclusions and location conditions. It contains transfer, encroachment, termination and other protections. Chapter 523H has an express limitation for agreements entered on/afterthat date.
2026 Iowa Code 537A.10: Franchise agreements 2026 Iowa Code Chapter 523H: applicability limitationThe official 2026 amendment table records a signed amendment to 537A.10(7)(c)(2), SF 2497 sections 29 and 32, effective January 1, 2027. Flag the dependent termination guide and template for review; do not treat the future provision as already effective on November 12, 2026.
Iowa 2026 Code and Acts Sections AmendedKeep this reading in your learning library.
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