Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2159: A bill for an act designating kava as a schedule I controlled substance, and making penalties applicable.

This Iowa bill (HF 2159) reclassifies kava - a plant substance used recreationally - as a Schedule I controlled substance under state law. It directly affects anyone possessing kava in Iowa, with penalties escalating based on prior offenses: a first-time offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and $2,560 fine), subsequent offenses are aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years, $8,540 fine), and three or more prior convictions make it a class D felony (up to 5 years, $10,245 fine). The bill defines kava broadly to include all parts of the *piper methysticum* plant and synthetic equivalents. It does not change federal scheduling but imposes state-level criminal penalties for possession. The bill was introduced to the Public Safety committee on January 26, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill reclassifies kava as Schedule I controlled substance, imposing escalating criminal penalties (misdemeanors/felony) for possession, directly expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 27, 2026

HF 2175: A bill for an act relating to the purchase or sale of an individual including surrogate mother agreements, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2175 makes it a class C felony to buy or sell a person, punishable by up to 10 years in prison or fines up to $13,660. The law specifically exempts surrogate mother arrangements where the surrogate receives no money or other value for agreeing to carry a child and give up all parental rights to the intended parents. This bill directly affects individuals involved in commercial surrogacy arrangements and anyone attempting to buy or sell people, while clarifying that non-monetary surrogacy agreements remain legal. The key provision prohibits financial transactions involving people but explicitly allows surrogacy without payment to the surrogate.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new class C felony for buying/selling a person, expanding criminalization (explicit indicator for oppose)90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2026

HF 2095: A bill for an act requiring the filing of a tax return when child support obligations are delinquent, and providing for penalties.

HF 2095 requires individuals with delinquent child support obligations referred to a collection agency to file an Iowa tax return, regardless of their income level. This applies to both Iowa residents and nonresidents with income allocated to Iowa, overriding existing income thresholds for filing. Failure to file constitutes a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,560 fine. The bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services notify the Department of Revenue when child support arrears are referred to collection or resolved, ensuring tax filing requirements are enforced.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes child support non-compliance via misdemeanor penalties, expanding criminal justice reach into civil matters.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SF 2017: A bill for an act relating to intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and making penalties applicable.

This bill amends Iowa Code section 708.6 to clarify and strengthen penalties for intimidation involving dangerous weapons. It creates two felony classifications: a class "C" felony (up to 10 years in prison, $1,370-$13,660 fine) for intentionally discharging a weapon to provoke fear or anger in others, and a class "D" felony (up to 5 years, $1,025-$10,245 fine) for similar acts without that specific intent. The law applies when someone shoots, throws, or launches a weapon at or near occupied buildings, vehicles, or assemblies, causing reasonable fear of serious injury. It directly affects individuals who threaten or carry out such acts, updating existing penalties to address specific scenarios.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for weapon intimidation by creating stricter felony classifications and increasing prison terms, opposing criminal justice reform efforts that reduce harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 28, 2026

HF 2139: A bill for an act related to eluding, including aggravated eluding and fresh pursuit, and providing penalties.

HF 2139 amends Iowa law to address fleeing police across state lines. It defines "aggravated eluding" as knowingly crossing into another state while being pursued without yielding to police, making it a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,245. The bill also allows Iowa officers to continue pursuing and arresting drivers in other states during "fresh pursuit" (defined as pursuit without unreasonable delay), requiring them to report the arrest to that state's authorities and subjecting the driver to extradition. This directly affects drivers fleeing police across state borders and Iowa law enforcement officers conducting interstate pursuits.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for fleeing police across state lines, classifying aggravated eluding as a class D felony with harsher sentencing, expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Iowa · Senate May 13, 2026

SF 2114: A bill for an act relating to intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and making penalties applicable.

SF 2114 amends Iowa law to define intimidation involving a dangerous weapon as a felony, directly affecting anyone who threatens or shoots/throws such a weapon at others to cause fear of serious injury. It creates two felony classifications: Class C (up to 10 years in prison and up to $13,660 fine) for more severe cases, and Class D (up to 5 years and up to $10,245 fine) for less severe cases. The bill removes the previous reference to "assembly of people" but keeps the core offense of threatening with a weapon at individuals or occupied spaces (like buildings or vehicles). Penalties apply when the threat causes reasonable fear of serious injury or is carried out under circumstances that make the threat credible.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates intimidation with dangerous weapon to felony with up to 10-year prison term, increasing penalties for this offense.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SF 2035: A bill for an act related to eluding, including aggravated eluding and fresh pursuit, and providing penalties.

This bill creates a new offense called "aggravated eluding" in Iowa law. It makes it a class D felony (carrying up to 5 years in prison and a $1,025-$10,245 fine) for a driver who, while being chased by police within Iowa, knowingly crosses into another state without yielding to the officer. The bill also allows Iowa police to continue pursuing and arresting such drivers in other states during "fresh pursuit" (defined as pursuit without unreasonable delay), requiring them to report the arrest to the other state's authorities and follow extradition rules. It directly affects drivers fleeing police across state lines and law enforcement officers conducting cross-state pursuits.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for eluding police (class D felony), expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing without reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5449XD: Correctional Facilities, Contraband (5449XD) - Corrections, Department of

This bill (5449XD) makes possessing certain items in Iowa correctional facilities a class D felony. It defines "restricted or disruptive contraband" as non-illegal items (like tobacco, cell phones, money, or synthetic drugs) prohibited by facilities for security reasons. Possessing such items carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison, and any punishment must be served consecutively to the inmate's existing sentence. The bill also creates an aggravated misdemeanor for failing to report contraband to facility staff. It directly affects inmates in Iowa's state correctional facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill classifies possession of non-illegal items (tobacco, phones, money) in prisons as class D felony with consecutive sentencing, expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5367XD: Theft of Public Funds (5367XD) - Auditor of State

This bill increases penalties for public employees and officials who steal more than $10,000 from government entities. It requires courts to impose mandatory prison time without options for probation, deferred judgment, or suspended sentences in these cases. The law applies broadly to state, school, and local government employees - including contractors - and defines "public employer" to include all government bodies. Courts may only avoid mandatory incarceration if the defendant proves exceptional mitigating circumstances with clear evidence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates mandatory prison time without alternatives for public fund theft, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 899: A bill for an act relating to indecent exposure, including the unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material, and providing penalties.

HF 899 makes it a serious misdemeanor (punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $430-$2,560 fine) to knowingly send unsolicited, unwanted explicit images electronically to someone 18 or older. It specifically prohibits sending images showing: (1) a person's genitals or pubic area, (2) someone engaged in a sex act, or (3) a male person's visible genitals in an erection. The law applies to adults who send such material they know or should know the recipient didn't want. This bill directly affects individuals who share unsolicited explicit images via email, text, or other digital means in Iowa.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for unsolicited explicit images, increasing penalties for digital communication without consent.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track