Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2026

HSB 631: A bill for an act relating to the collection and publication of judicial officer performance information.

This bill requires Iowa's state court administrator to annually collect and publish specific performance data for district court judges, including pretrial decisions (like bond-setting practices and release rates for violent vs. non-violent offenses), sentencing outcomes compared to recommendations, appellate reversals, and case processing efficiency. The data would be published on a public website with search tools by county or name, along with average district statistics and a space for judges to add brief personal statements (up to 500 words) explaining their judicial approach. It directly affects all district court judges, full-time associate juvenile judges, and full-time associate probate judges. The bill aims to increase transparency in judicial decision-making through standardized, publicly accessible reporting.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public publication of judicial performance data including pretrial decisions and sentencing outcomes, enhancing transparency and accountability in courts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice Tags Data Reporting

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2134: A bill for an act relating to rental agreements and early termination rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes.

This bill allows tenants who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, or certain other qualifying crimes to terminate rental agreements early without penalty. To do so, tenants must provide written notice to their landlord with specific documentation, such as a protective order, police report, or certified medical documentation from a healthcare provider. Landlords cannot charge fees, report negative credit information, or refuse to rent based on this termination right. Tenants remain responsible for rent through the termination date but are not liable for future rent if the unit is re-rented, and cannot be charged for forfeiting deposits.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects crime victims' housing rights by enabling early lease termination without penalty, advancing victim-centered criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects victims of crime from housing instability by allowing early lease termination without penalties, strengthening tenant rights per bill's explicit tenant protection language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2135: A bill for an act relating to limitations on discovery depositions involving minor victims.

HF 2135 limits court questioning (discovery depositions) of minor victims in criminal cases. It prohibits such questioning when the minor has already provided a recorded statement describing the alleged crime, obtained by a forensic interviewer at an accredited child advocacy or protection center following national protocols. The bill allows exceptions only if the court grants permission after a party demonstrates "exceptional circumstances." This directly affects minors who are victims in criminal cases and aims to reduce repeated trauma during legal proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects minor victims from re-traumatization by limiting redundant court questioning after forensic interviews, aligning with victim-centered criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SF 2079: A bill for an act relating to parole eligibility for a person under the age of twenty-one convicted of a class “A” felony and making penalties applicable.

This bill (SF 2079) increases the age limit for parole eligibility for young offenders convicted of class "A" felonies in Iowa. It raises the cutoff from 18 to 21 years old for two sentencing scenarios: first-degree murder (under §707.2) and all other class "A" felonies. Currently, individuals under 18 convicted of these crimes face life sentences with limited parole options; the bill extends these eligibility provisions to those under 21 at the time of the offense. The change modifies specific sections of Iowa’s sentencing code to adjust when these parole considerations apply.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends parole eligibility to under 21 for class A felonies, reducing life sentences for young offenders - aligns with criminal justice reform goals of rehabilitation over harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HSB 503: A bill for an act relating to adjudication of a child in need of assistance due to the need for treatment of a chemical dependency, mental health disorder, or behavioral disorder.

This bill (HSB 503) expands the criteria for declaring a child a "child in need of assistance" (CINA) when the child requires treatment for chemical dependency, mental health disorders, or behavioral disorders that compromise safety or cause aggressive behavior. It directly affects children needing such treatment and their parents, guardians, or custodians who are unwilling or unable to secure care, or whose prior efforts to obtain treatment have failed. The key change modifies court standards to explicitly include chemical dependency and behavioral disorders as grounds for CINA status, alongside existing mental health conditions. This aligns with current law but clarifies the scope of conditions requiring court intervention.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands CINA criteria for treatment instead of punitive measures, aligning with juvenile justice reform to reduce future system involvement through mental health/substance use intervention.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands court-mandated treatment access for mental health/substance use disorders, directly supporting healthcare access for vulnerable children.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SSB 3035: A bill for an act relating to controlled substances schedules and precursor substances reporting requirements, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

This bill adds specific synthetic opioids and related compounds to Iowa's most restrictive controlled substances schedule. It directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these substances, including new fentanyl variants like "Butonitazene" and "Flunitazene," as well as compounds like "Metodesnitazene" and "ethylphenidate." The law establishes penalties: violations can result in a Class B felony (25-year minimum prison term plus $5,000-$100,000 fine), Class C felony, or aggravated misdemeanor. The changes align Iowa's law with federal chemical designations under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds synthetic opioids to strictest drug schedule with 25-year minimums, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties - directly opposes reform by hardening sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SF 2115: A bill for an act relating to sexual exploitation of a minor and deferred and suspended sentences.

This bill (SF 2115) changes sentencing rules for certain sexual exploitation of minors cases in Iowa. It prohibits judges from granting deferred or suspended sentences to individuals convicted under Iowa Code section 728.12 when the victim was under 12 years old or prepubescent at the time of the offense. The key provision amends sentencing guidelines to automatically disqualify offenders in these specific cases from receiving lenient sentencing options. This directly affects convicted offenders of severe sexual exploitation crimes involving very young children, ensuring they face immediate sentencing consequences.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill eliminates deferred/suspended sentences for severe minor exploitation cases, increasing mandatory penalties and restricting judicial leniency in sentencing.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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introduced · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2026

HF 2201: A bill for an act relating to sexual misconduct with offenders and juveniles, and providing penalties.

HF 2201 amends Iowa law to upgrade penalties for sexual misconduct by certain staff members working with vulnerable individuals. It increases penalties from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class "D" felony for peace officers, correctional facility employees, juvenile facility staff, or county jail personnel who engage in sexual acts with inmates or juveniles under their care. The bill directly affects these specific professionals by making such misconduct a more serious felony charge, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. This change applies to individuals committed to state correctional facilities, juvenile placement facilities, or county jails.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpgrades penalties for staff sexual misconduct in correctional/juvenile facilities, enhancing accountability within the correctional system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5545XD: Crimes Against Judicial Officers and Professional Permits to Carry (5545XD) - Attorney General

This bill creates a professional permit to carry weapons for judicial officers, county attorneys, and certain legal professionals (like the attorney general and deputies), allowing them to carry concealed weapons in courtrooms and anywhere in the state while on duty. It also establishes two new criminal offenses: threatening a judicial officer or their immediate family (a class C felony) and maliciously sharing their personal information (a serious misdemeanor). The law defines "immediate family" broadly to include spouses, children, and adoptive relatives, and specifies that sharing addresses or phone numbers with harmful intent is prohibited. These provisions aim to enhance safety for individuals working in judicial roles by addressing threats and privacy violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates professional weapon permits for judicial officers and imposes felony penalties for threatening them, strengthening court safety and protecting personnel within the criminal justice system.90% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SF 2012: A bill for an act establishing the offense of assault by criminal groping, and providing penalties.

SF 2012 creates a new criminal offense called "assault by criminal groping" for intentional touching of specific body areas (like inner thighs, groin, or breasts) without the intent to commit sexual abuse. First offenses are classified as serious misdemeanors, repeat offenses escalate to aggravated misdemeanors or class D felonies, and courts may require sex offender registration (tier I for victims 14+, tier II for victims under 14) if the act is deemed sexually motivated. The law directly affects individuals committing such acts in Iowa and defines the specific body parts and penalty structure.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense with escalating penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanded criminalization.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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