Immigration

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 550: A bill for an act relating to voter registration, including voter registration file maintenance, applications for voter registration, and verification of voter eligibility.

SF 550 establishes a centralized statewide voter registration system in Iowa, requiring all counties to submit voter data to a single, computerized state file by 2007. The bill mandates annual verification of registrations against state databases (including DMV records for noncitizens, felons, and deceased voters) and requires voter ID cards for registered voters whose names don’t match DMV records. It also makes driver’s license applications automatically serve as voter registration forms (unless declined or noncitizen status is shown) and requires the state registrar to publish annual reports on canceled registrations. The law directly affects voters, county election officials, and state agencies like the DMV, which must share noncitizen data.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationVerifies noncitizens via DMV records to prevent voting, restricting immigrant participation in elections as part of voter eligibility enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1418XD: Voter List, Maintenance and Verification (1418XD) - Secretary of State

This bill establishes a single, centralized statewide voter registration database managed by Iowa's Secretary of State, replacing separate county systems. It requires counties to share all voter data with this central system, which must cross-check registrations against driver's license records (including noncitizen data from the Department of Transportation) and other state databases to verify eligibility. The system mandates annual verification to cancel registrations of ineligible voters (e.g., noncitizens or deceased persons), with reports to the legislature. It also creates new status codes like "unconfirmed" for voters who self-report noncitizenship on registration forms. The changes directly affect all registered voters and election officials who must use this unified system for election administration.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill cross-checks voter registrations against noncitizen data from driver's licenses, restricting noncitizens from voting per immigration restriction indicators.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2025

HF 63: A bill for an act establishing the criminal offense of human smuggling, and providing penalties.

This bill establishes human smuggling as a criminal offense in Iowa. It makes it illegal to knowingly transport, harbor, or conceal someone entering the U.S. without proper documentation when the person benefits financially and knows the individual is likely to be exploited. Standard human smuggling is a class D felony (up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $10,245), while aggravated cases involving weapons, bodily harm, or sexual exploitation are class B felonies (up to 25 years in prison). The law directly affects individuals who facilitate undocumented immigration for financial gain, particularly those who exploit vulnerable people.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill establishes new felony for human smuggling with mandatory prison terms, expanding criminalization without reform elements or reduced penalties.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes human smuggling with felony penalties, increasing state enforcement against immigration-related crimes, aligning with 'oppose' stance by restricting facilitation of illegal immigration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HSB 37: A bill for an act relating to citizenship or immigration status for purposes of a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires applicants for Iowa driver's licenses or nonoperator ID cards to provide their citizenship status (U.S. citizen or noncitizen authorized to be in the U.S.) when applying or renewing. It mandates that this status appear on the back of both licenses and ID cards. The policy applies to all new applications and renewals processed on or after the bill’s effective date. The bill does not change eligibility requirements but adds transparency about applicants' immigration status on identification documents.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires disclosure of immigration status on state IDs, increasing visibility for enforcement without changing eligibility, aligning with restrictive policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HSB 187: A bill for an act relating to participation by law enforcement agencies in immigration programs.

HSB 187 requires all Iowa law enforcement agencies to enter written agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by January 1, 2026, to participate in two federal immigration programs: the jail enforcement model and the warrant service officer program under Section 287(g) of federal law. This applies directly to every law enforcement agency in Iowa, mandating formal cooperation with ICE for immigration enforcement. The bill specifies that agencies must establish these agreements for both federal program models. It overrides a state law that would have exempted agencies from complying if funding wasn't provided, making the requirement mandatory.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates Iowa law enforcement to cooperate with ICE in federal immigration enforcement programs, increasing state-level enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HSB 15: A bill for an act establishing the criminal offense of the smuggling of persons, and providing penalties.

This bill establishes a new criminal offense for smuggling noncitizens in Iowa, making it illegal to knowingly transport or assist noncitizens for payment or benefit under specific circumstances. It prohibits actions like using vehicles to conceal individuals from police, encouraging illegal U.S. entry by hiding people, or guiding groups onto agricultural land without owner consent. Smuggling is generally a class "C" felony, but becomes a more severe class "B" or "A" felony if it involves children, creates serious injury risk, causes death, involves firearms, or results in sexual abuse. The bill includes a defense for close family members (within second degree of blood or marriage) in most cases, except for the most serious violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new felony offense for smuggling noncitizens, expanding criminalization and penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of increased criminalization.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes smuggling noncitizens for payment, increasing state enforcement against immigration facilitation, which restricts immigrant movement and limits protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Policing

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2025

HSB 282: A bill for an act relating to cooperation by public and private schools with federal immigration and customs enforcement officers.

This bill requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited private schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to cooperate with lawful requests from federal immigration and customs enforcement officers. It prohibits schools from adopting policies that discourage staff from assisting such officers or distributing communications indicating non-cooperation to students, parents, or employees. Violations could lead to loss of school accreditation (for public/private schools) or revocation of charter contracts (for charter schools), as determined by the state education department. The law specifically mandates that administrators must comply with these requirements and face disciplinary action if they violate them.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates school cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, prohibiting non-cooperation policies. Aligns with indicators for opposing immigrant protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 12, 2025

HSB 285: A bill for an act relating to the enforcement of immigration laws, and providing penalties.

This bill imposes criminal penalties on Iowa law enforcement officers, including sheriffs, who knowingly fail to comply with state immigration enforcement requirements. A conviction for violating this law would constitute a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. Additionally, a conviction would automatically result in the revocation of the officer's law enforcement certification by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. The bill directly affects sworn law enforcement personnel whose duties involve immigration enforcement under Chapter 27A of Iowa Code.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates state law enforcement compliance with immigration enforcement, imposing felony penalties for non-compliance, directly increasing state-level immigration enforcement efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 576: A bill for an act providing penalties for certain nonimmigrant visa holders attending or employed by certain institutions of higher education who express support for certain terrorist activities or organizations and including effective date provisions.

HF 576 requires Iowa institutions of higher education (including state-regulated and accredited private colleges) to adopt policies prohibiting nonimmigrant visa holders (such as F-1, M-1, or J-1 students and staff) from publicly supporting terrorist activities or organizations, as defined by federal law. If an institution suspects a violation, it must investigate and may suspend students for at least one year or permanently expel them (or terminate staff employment) for a second offense. Institutions must then update federal student visa records to reflect the action and prohibit affected individuals from transferring to other Iowa institutions. The Attorney General enforces the law and can deny state tuition grants to institutions failing to comply.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts nonimmigrant visa holders' speech by penalizing support for terrorism, requiring institutional enforcement, aligning with immigration restriction indicators.90% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SSB 1223: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for the economic development of the state, including the economic development authority, Iowa finance authority, department of workforce development, and certain state board of regents institutions.

SSB 1223 is an appropriations bill allocating $12.99 million for Iowa's Economic Development Authority (EDA) for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directs the EDA to focus on statewide economic growth through business development, workforce recruitment, tourism marketing, and support for women entrepreneurs and value-added agriculture projects. The bill requires businesses receiving funds to hire only U.S. citizens or legally authorized workers, with penalties for noncompliance, and prohibits funding for geothermal snow-melting systems. Additional funding includes $1 million for the World Food Prize and $1.1 million for tourism advertising. This bill primarily affects state agencies, businesses receiving EDA support, and Iowa residents through economic development initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $12.99M to EDA for economic development programs, directly advancing state budget appropriations for growth initiatives.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill requires businesses receiving funds to hire only U.S. citizens or legally authorized workers, restricting non-authorized immigrants' employment access. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence

Tags Economic Development

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