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HF 249 Iowa House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to the recovery of benefits inappropriately obtained from the department of homeland security and emergency management.

This bill expands the state's ability to recover benefits inappropriately obtained from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), directly affecting individuals who receive aid from the department. It establishes that benefits acquired through false, misleading, or inaccurate information create a debt and a lien on a person's property, similar to existing provisions for other state agencies. The bill authorizes the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing to collect these delinquent HSEM debts. Furthermore, HSEM can refer suspected cases of fraud or misrepresentation to this department, and in substantiated cases, the state must pursue legal options, including wage garnishment or removal from other public assistance programs, to recover the funds.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 4 edits · May 19, 2025
MODERATE
This bill expands the state's ability to recover benefits inappropriately obtained from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) by applying existing lien and debt collection rules to HSEM, just as they already apply to the Department of Health and Human Services. It also establishes a new referral process for suspected fraud cases to the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing for review and enforcement.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from only applying to benefits inappropriately obtained from the Department of Health and Human Services to now also include benefits inappropriately obtained from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
SCOPE

Extended lien and debt collection provisions to include benefits inappropriately obtained from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, matching the rules that already apply to the Department of Health and Human Services.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new section requiring the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to refer suspected fraud cases to the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing for review and legal action.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that liens only attach to benefits obtained through false, misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information submitted by the recipient, not to errors made by the state departments.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for county recorders to maintain an index of liens for debts owed to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 9, 2025 · House Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

48–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 51
Apr 9, 2025
D Democratic16
15 Yea 1
93% Yea
R Republican35
33 Yea 2
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
8
Committee
6
May 19, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 47, nays 0.
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2025 11:15AM Room 217 Conference Room.
legislature
Mar 11, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2025 3:30PM Room 217 Conference Room.
legislature
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Westrich, Bisignano, and Campbell.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Government.
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 92, nays 0.
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.