This bill grants law enforcement officers the right to challenge a prosecutor's decision to place them on a Brady-Giglio list, which flags them as having credibility issues that could affect their ability to testify in court. It allows officers to petition a district court for a confidential review of the evidence used to make that decision, with the court empowered to remove the officer from the list if the challenge is successful. If an officer wins the legal challenge, the court must award them reasonable attorney fees and court costs, which are paid by the state or the local government responsible for the prosecutor. The law applies retroactively to all such placements made on or after July 1, 2021, ensuring past cases are also covered by these new protections.
This bill provides funding and sets operational rules for the Iowa Department of Justice, the Office of Consumer Advocate, and the Department of Corrections for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates specific amounts to support the Attorney General's office, victim assistance programs, legal aid for low-income individuals, cybersecurity improvements, and the operation of state correctional facilities. The legislation also mandates that the Department of Justice track and report non-state funding sources, such as reimbursements from other agencies, and authorizes the hiring of additional staff for victim services and human trafficking training.
HF 2769 allocates approximately $202.7 million from the state general fund to the Iowa judicial branch for the fiscal year 2026-2027, primarily to pay salaries for judges, court staff, and administrative personnel. The bill also provides specific funding for jury and witness fees, interpreter costs, and court-ordered services for juveniles, including a provision that prevents counties from being billed for these state-funded juvenile services. Additionally, it establishes a $500,000 reserve for a potential specialty business court and mandates that district court clerk offices remain open during regular hours in all 99 counties. To ensure accountability, the legislation requires the judicial branch to submit monthly financial reports and semiannual updates on collected fines and court costs to state agencies.
This bill prohibits any organization, government agency, or individual from hosting or promoting events designed to help people with outstanding arrest warrants resolve them without facing immediate arrest. Instead, the law requires that warrant resolution occur only through standard legal processes, such as surrendering to police, attending a scheduled court hearing, or filing a motion within an existing case. Violators face penalties including misdemeanor charges, civil fines up to $10,000, and the potential loss of public funding for counties involved in such activities. The legislation also allows private citizens to sue for damages if a warrant resolution clinic is held in their county and preempts any local laws that might permit these events.
This Iowa bill changes how money from the juvenile detention home fund is distributed to county and multicounty facilities. Under the new rules, every eligible detention home will first receive a guaranteed $150,000 allocation for that fiscal year. Any remaining funds in the fund will then be shared among the homes based on their proportion of the total costs incurred in the previous year. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for calculating these amounts and managing the distribution.
This bill changes Iowa's habitual offender sentencing rules. It defines a habitual offender as someone with three or more points from qualifying crimes within 20 years (1 point for serious felonies like aggravated assault or sex offenses, half-point for less severe crimes). If convicted as a habitual offender, individuals must serve at least 20 years before becoming eligible for parole, unless their current crime carries a higher minimum sentence. The law applies only to convictions occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
SF 2399 sets minimum pretrial bond amounts for specific felony charges in Iowa: $500,000 for Class A felonies and $25,000, $10,000, and $5,000 for Class B, C, and D forcible felonies, respectively. Courts must consider public safety risks when setting bond, and these amounts are presumed reasonable unless a judge provides written justification for a lower amount. The bond schedule must be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections to verify pretrial release evaluations before they are used by magistrates.
HF 2356 makes Iowa's temporary child welfare legal representation pilot program permanent as the "Project to Preserve Families" (PPF). It allows the state public defender to implement this program statewide (previously limited to 16 counties) for indigent families involved in child welfare cases. The program uses innovative legal approaches - such as team-based representation - to help keep families together, reduce trauma for children, and generate cost savings for communities. The public defender must coordinate with other agencies, study outcomes, and adopt rules to administer the PPF through 2025.
This bill establishes a grant program and trust fund to support sexual assault forensic examination centers in Iowa, primarily affecting nonprofit organizations and survivors of sexual violence. It requires the Attorney General to contract with eligible nonprofits that are independent of hospitals and focus on serving diverse populations, including rural residents and people with disabilities. The funded centers must provide medical forensic services, offer training to professionals and the public, and submit annual reports on their activities and service gaps. Additionally, the bill creates a dedicated trust fund to accept private contributions and state or federal money specifically for operating these centers.
HF 2515 modifies Iowa's sentencing rules for individuals convicted of violating Section 728.12, which prohibits sexual exploitation of minors. The bill specifically removes the option for deferred or suspended sentences in these cases, requiring offenders to serve actual prison time instead of having sentences postponed or reduced. This change directly affects anyone found guilty under Section 728.12, mandating immediate incarceration for this specific offense. The bill passed unanimously in the Iowa House on March 4, 2026, and now awaits action in the Senate.
