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HF 573 Iowa House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to filing applications and custody of the respondent in an involuntary commitment proceeding.

This bill modifies procedures for involuntary commitment due to substance use disorder or mental illness, affecting individuals subject to these proceedings, courts, and law enforcement. It allows applications for involuntary commitment to be filed in any district court, which must then transfer the case to the county where the person resides or is located. The bill expands the authority of peace officers to take individuals into custody in any county, following a court order, for placement in a facility for evaluation or treatment. Additionally, it requires facility medical officers to notify law enforcement if a person leaves court-ordered mental health treatment without authorization, and mandates law enforcement to return that person to the facility.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 6 edits · May 19, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Iowa's involuntary commitment laws to clarify court jurisdiction when applications are filed in the wrong county, streamline the process for clerks assisting applicants, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms for facilities that fail to report on patients' treatment progress or allow unauthorized departures. The changes ensure cases are handled in the correct county, improve administrative support for filing applications, and provide clearer authority for law enforcement to locate and return individuals who escape custody.
Scope change
The bill applies to both substance use disorder commitment proceedings under Chapter 125 and involuntary hospitalization proceedings under Chapter 229, maintaining the same scope but clarifying procedural requirements.
REQUIREMENT

Added jurisdiction transfer requirements to move cases to the correct county when applications are filed in a county where the respondent is not located or resides.

Clarified that clerks or their designees must assist applicants in completing verified applications.

ENFORCEMENT

Added explicit authority for peace officers to take respondents into custody in any county where they are found for placement at a facility.

Strengthened requirements for facilities to notify law enforcement when patients depart without authorization and clarified law enforcement's duty to return them.

TIMELINE

Maintained the 15-day reporting requirement for facilities to submit treatment recommendations to the court, with a 7-day extension option for good cause.

MODIFIED

Changed formatting from line-by-line legislative markup to standard numbered paragraph format for the final enrolled version.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2025 · House Mar 12, 2025

How they voted

44–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Apr 14, 2025
D Democratic16
14 Yea 2
87% Yea
R Republican33
30 Yea 3
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
6
Committee
3
May 19, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 45, nays 0.
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
upper
Mar 30, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 11:30AM Room 315.
legislature
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Taylor, Quirmbach, and Westrich.
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 96, nays 0.
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.