Criminal Justice

signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2026

HF 2542: A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates 20-year minimum sentence for habitual offenders, increasing mandatory incarceration and restricting parole eligibility, opposing criminal justice reform efforts focused on reducing harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing Violent Crime

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2379: A bill for an act allowing the carrying of weapons on the grounds of a school under certain circumstances.

HF 2379 would amend Iowa law to allow individuals with a valid permit to carry weapons to possess firearms on school grounds under specific conditions. The bill creates a new exception to the current prohibition (which treats carrying weapons on school grounds as a class D felony), permitting permit holders who carry a firearm for a lawful purpose on their person, with the firearm continuously under their control. This directly affects licensed gun permit holders who wish to carry firearms on school property for permitted activities, such as security roles or personal protection during lawful school events. The key change removes the felony charge for these permit holders when meeting the defined conditions of continuous control and lawful purpose.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes felony charge for permit holders carrying on school grounds, weakening existing criminal justice restrictions on firearms in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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introduced · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2026

HF 2625: A bill for an act relating to orders for child support including requests for information regarding digital financial accounts, and providing penalties.

HF 2625 allows Iowa child support agencies to subpoena records from digital financial accounts (like online banking or payment apps) to enforce child support orders. It defines "digital financial account" as any online account storing, transferring, or receiving money digitally, and permits agencies to obtain transaction histories, income payments, and other relevant financial data. Parents or putative fathers who fail to comply with such subpoenas without a valid reason face a class "D" felony charge, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. The bill directly affects individuals obligated to pay child support who use digital financial services.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes class D felony penalties for child support non-compliance, expanding criminalization of civil enforcement (noted in summary).85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Iowa · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SF 2400: A bill for an act relating to assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and harassment against public utility employees or contractors, and making penalties applicable.

This bill (SF 2400) strengthens penalties for assaults against specific public safety and service workers in Iowa. It adds "employee or contractor of a public utility engaged in public utility responsibilities" to the list of protected occupations, expanding existing assault penalty tiers. Assaults causing injury or using weapons against these workers become class C felonies, while assaults involving spitting or saliva contact are classified as aggravated misdemeanors requiring a minimum 7-day jail term. The bill directly affects public utility employees and contractors, as well as other covered professions like police, firefighters, and healthcare workers, by increasing legal consequences for violence against them.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates assaults on public utility workers to class C felonies and expands criminalization, increasing penalties and aligning with 'oppose' indicators: increases mandatory sentences and expands criminalization.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workplace safety protections for public utility workers by increasing penalties for assaults, directly strengthening labor protections under the Labor & Employment topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

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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

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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signed · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 2202: A bill for an act relating to controlled substances schedules and precursor substances reporting requirements, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2202 amends Iowa's controlled substances schedule to add 12 specific synthetic drugs, including various fentanyl analogs (like "Butonitazene" and "Flunitazene") and other novel compounds. The bill directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these newly listed substances within Iowa. Violations involving these drugs would trigger existing penalties: a Class B felony (up to 25 years in prison and $5,000-$100,000 fine), a Class C felony (up to 10 years and $1,000-$50,000), or an aggravated misdemeanor. The bill aligns Iowa's schedule with federal designations from Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds synthetic drugs to controlled substances schedule, increasing felony penalties for possession/distribution, expanding criminalization within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2088: A bill for an act relating to fraudulent practices including providing a false social security number to an employer or prospective employer, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2088 makes it illegal for someone to provide a Social Security number that doesn't belong to them to an employer or prospective employer, whether to get a job, keep a job, or gain another benefit. The bill directly affects job seekers and workers who might try to use a false SSN. Penalties range from a class C felony (for higher-value fraud) to a simple misdemeanor, depending on the financial impact. This bill adds a specific criminal provision to Iowa's existing fraud laws targeting SSN misuse in employment contexts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offense for false SSN use in employment, aligning with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence

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introduced · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2119: A bill for an act relating to the possession of contraband in department of corrections facilities, and providing penalties.

HF 2119 defines "restricted or disruptive contraband" in Iowa correctional facilities as items not inherently illegal (like tobacco, cell phones, money, or synthetic cannabinoids) but prohibited for security reasons. It makes possessing such contraband a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison, with sentences served consecutively to any existing sentence. The bill also requires inmates to report contraband (failure is an aggravated misdemeanor) and authorizes X-ray searches of inmates suspected of carrying such items. This law directly affects inmates in Iowa Department of Corrections facilities and aims to enhance facility security by strengthening penalties for contraband possession.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates contraband possession to class D felony (5-year sentence), expanding criminalization in correctional facilities rather than promoting reform or rehabilitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SF 2011: A bill for an act relating to mandatory minimum sentences for certain criminal offenses, and making penalties applicable.

This bill (SF 2011) changes parole eligibility requirements for specific criminal convictions in Iowa. It requires individuals convicted of certain offenses - including forcible felonies involving dangerous weapons, habitual offenders, methamphetamine crimes involving minors, child endangerment, and repeat domestic abuse assault - to serve a minimum of half their sentence before becoming eligible for parole (instead of shorter current terms). The bill directly affects people sentenced under these specific criminal provisions. These changes modify existing parole rules without altering the underlying conviction penalties or sentence lengths. The bill is currently under review by the Judiciary Subcommittee.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory parole eligibility requirements for violent/habitual offenders, extending incarceration periods and opposing reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 28, 2026

HF 2130: A bill for an act relating to noncompliance with and circumvention of ignition interlock device requirements, and providing penalties.

HF 2130 strengthens penalties for drivers required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) after DUI convictions. It creates a simple misdemeanor offense for operating a vehicle without an approved IID installed or removing it without authorization, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $105-$855 fine. The bill also elevates tampering with or circumventing an IID to a serious misdemeanor and mandates automatic revocation of a temporary restricted license (TRL) for both violations. This directly affects individuals with DUI-related license restrictions who fail to comply with IID requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeStrengthens penalties for DUI noncompliance, expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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