SF 155 prohibits Iowa employers and employment agencies from asking about an applicant's criminal record before making a conditional job offer. Exceptions apply for positions requiring specific bonds (e.g., due to state/federal law), home-based care roles, or personal services within a residence. The bill creates a task force to study criminal history employment practices and imposes penalties: a written warning for first violations, followed by fines for repeated breaches. It directly affects businesses hiring in Iowa and aims to reduce barriers for job seekers with criminal records.
SJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove a disqualification that previously barred people convicted of "infamous crimes" from voting or holding elected office in Iowa. The amendment replaces a existing provision with language stating that only individuals "adjudged mentally incompetent to vote" would be disqualified from voting. If adopted, this change would directly affect Iowans currently barred from voting or running for office due to certain felony convictions. The bill is currently in committee review and requires further legislative approval before potential voter ratification.
This bill increases hourly payment rates for court-appointed attorneys representing people who cannot afford legal help (indigent defendants) in Iowa. Starting July 1, 2025, attorneys will earn $126 per hour for class "A" felony cases (up from $86), $121 per hour for class "B" felonies (up from $81), and $116 per hour for all other cases (up from $76). The change directly affects public defenders and appointed lawyers handling these cases. The legislation aims to adjust compensation without altering the legal process or eligibility for indigent defense.
HF 324 requires Iowa law enforcement officers to conduct a threat evaluation for individuals identified as the primary physical aggressor in domestic abuse incidents *when no arrest is made*. This evaluation uses a department-adopted checklist considering factors like prior abuse convictions, violations of protective orders, felony convictions, and weapon possession. If two or more checklist factors apply, officers must provide the aggressor with resources like counseling, job programs, and housing assistance information. The bill also mandates that officers provide victims with materials about financial aid, mental health services, and legal support. These changes aim to address domestic abuse risks and provide support services without advocating for specific outcomes.
HF 356 establishes new requirements for handling sexual abuse evidence collection kits in Iowa. It requires healthcare providers to notify law enforcement within 24 hours of collecting evidence during a forensic medical examination and to use standardized kits. Law enforcement must pick up kits within 3 days, store them for 50 years (or until 50 years after a minor victim turns 18), and send them to a lab within 7 days. The lab must analyze evidence within 30 days to create DNA profiles for state and national databases, and allows victims to request anonymous kits that are only analyzed after filing a police report and giving consent.
HF 403 allows courts in Iowa to permit certain witnesses, including minors under 18 and victims or witnesses with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities, to testify via two-way closed-circuit video equipment instead of in the physical courtroom. This protects them from trauma caused by facing the defendant directly, which could impair their ability to communicate. The court must specifically find such measures are necessary and limit the room with the witness to the judge, attorneys, necessary technicians, and individuals supporting the witness’s well-being. The minor must also be informed the defendant will view their testimony via video but will not be physically present.
This bill proposes amending Iowa's constitution to eliminate involuntary servitude as a legal punishment for crime. It replaces the current constitutional language by stating there shall be "no slavery, nor involuntary servitude" and allows courts or probation agencies to order community service or other alternatives to incarceration as part of sentencing. The change directly affects individuals convicted of crimes in Iowa, shifting sentencing options away from forced labor. If approved by voters, this constitutional amendment would take effect after the required election process.
HF 476 creates a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help school districts cover the costs of hiring or keeping one school resource officer (SRO) at each high school. The program, funded starting July 2025, provides grants from the state general fund to offset SRO expenses without replacing existing local or state funding for similar purposes. It establishes a dedicated fund that rolls over annually, ensuring continuous support for approved applications submitted by school districts. The state board of education will set eligibility rules and approve applications, but the bill itself focuses solely on creating this funding mechanism.
SF 340 requires courts to inform defendants violating no-contact orders (for domestic abuse, stalking, or similar offenses) that they may face electronic monitoring. It mandates that defendants wear tracking devices monitored within 1,000 feet of a protected party's home or workplace ("protective zone"), with real-time alerts sent to both the protected party and law enforcement if the defendant enters the zone. Defendants must pay all costs for the monitoring system as court fees. The bill applies to individuals violating orders issued under Iowa law, ensuring continuous monitoring for repeat violations while defining specific geographic protections.
This bill requires Iowa's Department of Corrections to provide mental health support for state corrections officers. It mandates hiring mental health liaisons for each correctional facility (or covering multiple facilities), implementing an annual 5-10 question mental health screening survey to identify severe conditions like schizophrenia or depression, and establishing outreach teams to refer officers needing care to local providers. The bill also requires the department to provide one annual, confidential, employer-funded counseling session per officer and appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 to cover liaison salaries, screening technology, and outreach team costs. These changes aim to improve officer mental health, reduce turnover, and support workplace well-being.
