Criminal Justice

passed · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2026

HF 2629: A bill for an act relating to trespass, and providing penalties.

HF 2629 proposes a new criminal offense for "unlawful squatting" in Iowa, targeting individuals who enter and occupy someone else's property without legal permission. It defines unlawful squatting as entering and residing on a dwelling, commercial building, or vacant property without showing valid documents like a lease, deed, rental receipt, or owner authorization - unless the person is an immediate family member of the owner. Violations are classified as a serious misdemeanor (first offense), aggravated misdemeanor (second), or class D felony (third+), with fines and jail time increasing for repeat offenses. The bill also requires property owners (or their authorized representatives) to report squatting to police and allows victims to sue for damages, while exempting law enforcement acting in good faith. This is a proposed law introduced on February 19, 2026, not yet enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for squatting, increasing penalties for non-violent occupancy, aligning with oppose indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 826: A bill for an act relating to obscene materials involving minors, and providing penalties.

HF 826 creates new offenses related to "obscene material involving a minor." The bill defines this material as any visual depiction of a minor engaging in a prohibited sexual act that meets specific criteria for being obscene. It prohibits individuals from knowingly producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing with intent to distribute such material, or attempting these actions. Violations are an aggravated misdemeanor for a first offense and a class "D" felony for subsequent offenses, requiring sex offender registration. The bill exempts law enforcement, educational materials, and internet service providers.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses for obscene materials involving minors and increases penalties (aggravated misdemeanor to class D felony), aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 2718: A bill for an act relating to the seizure of firearms, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2718, the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act," prohibits Iowa state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" that orders the seizure of firearms from law-abiding citizens without a violent felony conviction. The bill defines "red flag law" as any federal or state law, order, or measure requiring firearm surrender except for those in custody after violent felony charges. It bans state entities from using federal funds to enforce such laws and imposes a $50,000 civil penalty per violation for agencies employing officers who knowingly enforce them. The act also allows affected individuals to sue for damages, injunctions, and attorney fees, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBans enforcement of red flag laws, restricting law enforcement's ability to seize firearms under such orders, opposing a common criminal justice reform measure.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 12, 2026

HF 2584: A bill for an act establishing drug-free homeless service zones, and providing penalties.

HF 2584 establishes "drug-free homeless service zones" around facilities that provide shelter or housing for homeless individuals and receive government funding. It prohibits selling, transferring, or possessing drugs within 300 feet of these facilities and requires operators to display bilingual signs identifying the zone. Violations carry increased prison sentences (up to one year longer), mandatory fines of at least $2,000, and disqualify operators from state homelessness grants for three years if they allow drug use on premises. The bill directly affects homeless service providers, individuals using these services, and law enforcement operating within designated zones.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases prison sentences and fines for drug offenses near homeless shelters, expanding criminalization without rehabilitation focus.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SF 462: A bill for an act relating to weapons, including mandatory minimum sentences relating to the control, possession, receipt, or transportation of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon, and the sharing of identifying information of persons prohibited from acquiring a pistol or revolver by court order, and providing penalties.

SF 462 strengthens firearm restrictions for convicted felons by mandating minimum prison sentences for possessing, receiving, or transporting firearms or offensive weapons. It directly affects individuals convicted of felonies who are prohibited from owning guns under state law. The bill requires courts to share identifying information about these prohibited individuals with law enforcement to prevent gun sales. Additionally, it establishes penalties for violations, focusing on reducing firearm access by high-risk individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates minimum sentences for felon firearm possession, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Iowa · House Jun 6, 2025

HF 879: A bill for an act relating to critical infrastructure sabotage, and making penalties applicable.

HF 879 strengthens penalties for intentionally damaging critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water systems, or transportation networks. It increases criminal penalties for sabotage acts that threaten public safety or disrupt essential services. The law directly affects individuals who commit such acts by imposing stricter fines and potential prison sentences. This bill, signed into law by the Governor on May 1, 2025, modifies existing statutes to apply enhanced penalties to these specific offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for infrastructure sabotage, aligning with oppose indicators of harsher sentencing.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill protects energy infrastructure (power grids) via enhanced sabotage penalties, directly supporting energy infrastructure security as per topic description.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly protects transportation networks from sabotage by increasing penalties, aligning with 'protect' indicator for support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 792: A bill for an act establishing a cause of action for murder in the first degree by causing the death of another by delivering, dispensing, or providing fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance, and making penalties applicable.

HF 792 establishes a new cause of action for first-degree murder related to fentanyl. The bill states that a person commits first-degree murder if they unlawfully deliver, dispense, or provide fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance that proximately causes another person's death through injection, inhalation, absorption, or ingestion. It clarifies that it is not a defense if the deceased person contributed to their own death by willingly taking the substance. This offense is classified as a Class "A" felony, punishable by life imprisonment without parole.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying fentanyl-related deaths as first-degree murder, increasing penalties without rehabilitation or reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 937: A bill for an act relating to certain administrative procedures involving law enforcement officers, including the revocation or suspension of law enforcement officer certification and communications in professional confidence, and including effective date provisions.

HF 937 modifies administrative procedures for law enforcement officers, primarily impacting their professional certification and confidentiality in peer support. The bill narrows the specific grounds for revoking or suspending an officer's certification, limiting it to instances where an officer was discharged for just cause or resigned during pending disciplinary action warranting discharge. It also applies standard rules of evidence to contested certification cases and ensures officers receive investigative reports. Additionally, the bill expands confidentiality protections for communications made by officers and certain civilian employees to peer support counselors during crisis interventions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeNarrows certification revocation grounds and requires standard evidence, weakening accountability oversight for law enforcement officers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 10, 2025

HF 572: A bill for an act establishing the criminal offense of the smuggling of persons, and providing penalties.

HF 572 establishes a new criminal offense for smuggling persons in Iowa, targeting individuals who knowingly transport people for payment while violating federal immigration laws. It specifically covers actions like using vehicles to evade officers, encouraging entry/remaining in the U.S. by hiding people, or guiding groups onto agricultural land without owner consent. Penalties range from a class C felony (standard) to class B or A felonies if aggravating factors apply, such as involving children, causing serious injury/death, or using firearms. A key exception allows close family members (within second degree of blood or marriage) to avoid prosecution for most offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense with enhanced penalties for immigration smuggling, expanding criminalization without reform elements.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill establishes criminal penalties for smuggling persons violating federal immigration laws, increasing state-level immigration enforcement against smuggling activities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Iowa · House Mar 28, 2025

HF 181: A bill for an act prohibiting open containers of beverages containing tetrahydrocannabinol in the passenger area of motor vehicles on highways, and making penalties applicable.

This bill expands Iowa's existing open container laws to include beverages containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), directly affecting drivers and passengers in motor vehicles on public roads. It prohibits the possession of an open or unsealed container of any beverage with THC in the vehicle's passenger area. This restriction applies regardless of whether the THC beverage is otherwise legal, though such containers may be transported in the trunk or behind the last upright seat if the vehicle lacks a trunk. Violations of this prohibition would be considered a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a scheduled fine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization of THC beverages in vehicles, increasing penalties and restricting lawful possession, which opposes criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill restricts transportation by prohibiting open THC containers in passenger areas of vehicles, limiting driver and passenger mobility options.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice