Criminal Justice

signed · Iowa · House Mar 28, 2025

HF 298: A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state.

HF 298 allows youth involved in juvenile court cases (delinquency petitions) to be placed in supervised apartment living arrangements under a consent decree, rather than traditional facilities. The bill specifies when the state must cover the cost of these placements for eligible youth. It directly affects minors in the juvenile justice system and their legal representatives by creating a new placement option with clear state funding requirements. The law establishes that state payment applies when the placement is part of a court-approved consent decree. This changes how juvenile justice cases handle housing for youth awaiting court decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides community-based juvenile justice alternative with state funding, reducing institutional placements and aligning with reform goals of rehabilitation over confinement.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 946: A bill for an act relating to the enforcement of immigration laws, and providing penalties.

HF 946 establishes a process for addressing law enforcement officers, including elected sheriffs, who knowingly and intentionally fail to comply with state immigration enforcement laws. Under this bill, such officers can be investigated by the Attorney General. If a complaint is found valid and the officer continues to refuse compliance, their case may be referred to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council. The Council could then receive a recommendation to revoke the officer's certification.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates accountability for law enforcement officers failing to comply with immigration laws, enhancing police accountability within criminal justice law enforcement.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates compliance with state immigration enforcement, imposing penalties for non-compliance, increasing state-level enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 945: A bill for an act providing for a hearing to determine immunity from criminal or civil liability following a use of reasonable force in defense of one’s self, others, or property.

House File 945 establishes a new process for individuals to claim immunity from criminal or civil liability if they use reasonable force to defend themselves, others, or their property. In criminal cases, a defendant can file a pretrial motion for immunity, leading to a hearing where the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the immunity claim is not valid. If the state fails to overcome the immunity claim, the criminal case is dismissed; otherwise, it proceeds to trial. The bill also allows this immunity to be used as an affirmative defense in civil lawsuits.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendant rights in self-defense claims by requiring state to prove immunity invalid, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice.85% confidence

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 1001: A bill for an act creating a rural attorney recruitment assistance program, and making appropriations.

HF 1001 creates a rural attorney recruitment assistance program to help eligible rural counties and municipalities attract and retain legal professionals. The College Student Aid Commission will administer the program, assessing counties and municipalities with populations under 26,000 and located more than 20 miles from a larger city. Participating attorneys agree to practice law full-time in these areas for five years, serve as contract public defenders, and participate in volunteer legal projects. In return, they receive annual incentive payments over five years, with the local government covering 35% and the state covering the remaining 65%. The program is initially limited to assisting up to five attorneys.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates rural attorney program requiring public defender service, enhancing access to legal representation in underserved criminal justice areas.95% confidence

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died · Iowa · House May 14, 2025

HF 908: A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including screening children, civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution, and making appropriations.

HF 908 aims to combat human trafficking by implementing new screening procedures for children and extending civil statutes of limitations for victims. The bill mandates the use of standardized tools to screen children involved in court complaints or child abuse allegations for commercial sexual exploitation and substance use. It also extends the time frame for survivors of child sexual abuse or human trafficking to file civil actions to five years after reaching adulthood. Additionally, the legislation establishes an annual stakeholder meeting to develop further legislative proposals, prevents the prosecution of minors involved in prostitution, and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to plan for increased restoration facilities for juvenile victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends civil statute of limitations for trafficking victims and mandates child screening, enhancing victim protections and legal recourse in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

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passed · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SF 634: A bill for an act relating to registration fees for persons on the sex offender registry.

SF 634 increases the annual registration fee for sex offenders in Iowa from $25 to $50. This fee must be paid to the sheriff in the offender's county of principal residence, beginning with their first required in-person appearance after July 1, 2009. If an offender cannot pay upfront, sheriffs may allow installment payments or waive the fee. The collected fees are specifically designated to cover costs related to sex offender registration under the law. The bill directly affects individuals required to register as sex offenders in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases fees specifically to fund sex offender registration costs, directly supporting operational funding of the registry system within criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 1011: A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including the establishment of human trafficking prosecution units and the remittance of wire transmission fees to the office to combat human trafficking.

Bill HF 1011 establishes two human trafficking prosecution units within the Department of Justice, one for the eastern and one for the western half of the state. These multidisciplinary teams will identify, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking cases while providing care and support for victims. To fund these initiatives, the bill introduces a new fee on wire transmissions, collected from customers by money transfer services. This fee, $5 for transfers up to $500 and an additional 2% on amounts over $500, will be remitted to the Office to Combat Human Trafficking, and customers can claim an individual income tax credit for the fees paid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new wire transmission fee ($5 base + 2%) to fund human trafficking prosecution units, directly using taxation to support government program spending.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes dedicated human trafficking prosecution units and funds victim support, strengthening criminal justice response to trafficking cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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signed · Iowa · House May 19, 2026

HF 1036: A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including screening children, civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution, and including effective date provisions.

HF 1036 aims to combat human trafficking by implementing several measures, primarily affecting child victims and those involved in the justice and social services systems. It mandates standardized screening for commercial sexual exploitation for children in certain court and child abuse cases and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to plan for increased restoration facilities for juvenile victims. The bill also extends the civil statute of limitations for actions related to child sexual abuse or human trafficking to five years after reaching majority or discovery. Additionally, it prevents the prosecution of minors under 18 who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation, instead referring them to protective services, and establishes an annual stakeholder meeting to develop legislative proposals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates child trafficking victim screening, extends civil statutes of limitations for victims, and funds restoration facilities, advancing victim protections within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 27, 2025

SF 648: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch including judicial officer salaries and interpreter or translator fees, and including effective date provisions.

SF 648 allocates state funds to cover judicial officer salaries and interpreter/translator fees within the court system. It directly affects court employees, judges, and individuals requiring language assistance during legal proceedings. The bill provides the necessary budgetary resources to pay these staff members and cover translation costs, ensuring courts can operate effectively. It includes specific timing details for when the funding becomes effective. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and it became law after the Governor signed it on June 11, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds judicial branch operations (courts, salaries, interpreters), ensuring effective criminal justice system functioning per subject list and summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5354XD: Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Persons (5354XD) - Public Defender, State

This Iowa bill (5354XD) changes court procedures for appointing lawyers to indigent defendants in criminal cases. It requires courts to appoint noncontract attorneys when no contract attorney is available, changing current law from a permissive "may" to a mandatory "shall." The key provision mandates that court orders include a specific finding of unavailability of contract attorneys. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment and directly affects indigent defendants who rely on court-appointed counsel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates court appointment of counsel for indigent defendants when contract attorneys unavailable, strengthening defendant rights and access to legal representation in criminal cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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