HF 297 Iowa House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to certain emergency services provided by a city.

This bill makes several changes related to emergency services provided by cities. It clarifies that cities can provide compensation, stipends, or benefits to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers even if they hold other city offices. The bill also allows a currently serving city council member to be appointed as a volunteer fire chief, provided they abstain from voting on their own appointment. Furthermore, it permits cities to establish dedicated funds or reserve accounts for acquiring and maintaining major equipment for police, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services. These funds will receive insurance settlements or other payments for damaged emergency equipment, with a provision for reimbursing the city's general fund if it covered initial repair or replacement costs.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Enrolled Enrolled with Governor's Action · 3 edits · May 19, 2025
MINOR
This bill updates Iowa law to clarify compensation rules for city emergency responders and allows city council members to serve as volunteer fire chiefs. It also establishes a new reserve fund for cities to manage costs related to damaged police, fire, and emergency medical equipment.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of who can receive compensation for emergency services and modifies the eligibility rules for city council members holding fire department leadership roles.
ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that city officers, volunteer firefighters, and emergency medical providers can receive lawful compensation, including nominal stipends and incentives, without violating conflict-of-interest rules.

Allowed city council members to hold the office of chief of a volunteer fire department or serve in other capacities during their term, provided they abstain from voting on their own appointment.

FISCAL

Created a new mechanism for cities to establish a reserve savings account to hold funds from insurance settlements or payments for damaged emergency equipment, rather than depositing all such funds into the general fund.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025 · House Mar 10, 2025

How they voted

470
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic16
16 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
0
May 19, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 48, nays 0.
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 88, nays 0.
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.