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HF 946 Iowa House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

HF 946 establishes a process for addressing law enforcement officers, including elected sheriffs, who knowingly and intentionally fail to comply with state immigration enforcement laws. Under this bill, such officers can be investigated by the Attorney General. If a complaint is found valid and the officer continues to refuse compliance, their case may be referred to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council. The Council could then receive a recommendation to revoke the officer's certification.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates accountability for law enforcement officers failing to comply with immigration laws, enhancing police accountability within criminal justice law enforcement.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates compliance with state immigration enforcement, imposing penalties for non-compliance, increasing state-level enforcement.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 12, 2025 Last action Apr 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprinted · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reprinted with significant substantive changes to its enforcement provisions. The original version imposed mandatory felony penalties and automatic certification revocation for law enforcement officers who knowingly failed to comply with immigration law requirements. The reprinted version replaces these harsh penalties with an investigation process led by the attorney general, giving officers an opportunity to comply before any certification revocation is considered.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from imposing immediate criminal penalties to establishing an administrative investigation and compliance process before enforcement actions are taken.
ENFORCEMENT

Replaced mandatory felony conviction and automatic certification revocation with attorney general investigation and opportunity to comply before any disciplinary action

REQUIREMENT

Changed from direct criminal liability to a process where violations are investigated and referred to the law enforcement academy council only after the attorney general determines a complaint is valid

Added provision allowing law enforcement officers to be given an opportunity to comply with chapter requirements before facing certification revocation

Floor votes · House Mar 26, 2025

How they voted

62–35
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 101
Mar 26, 2025
D Democratic33
1 Yea 31 Nay 1
93% Nay
R Republican68
61 Yea 4 Nay 3
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Amendments
4
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Reichman, Garrett, and Petersen.
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 61, nays 35.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1171 adopted, as amended.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1190 to amendment H-1171 adopted.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Amendment H-1190 filed.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Amendment H-1171 filed.
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.