This bill modifies how criminal case fines collected within a county are distributed, reducing the percentages allocated to the state court administrator and county treasurer. It establishes a new "victim restitution fund" in the state treasury, which will receive 7% of these collected fines. The fund is dedicated to providing restitution for crime victims, covering "pecuniary damages" and restitution for the death of a victim, as defined by existing law. Monies in this fund will remain available for expenditure year-to-year and will not revert at the close of a fiscal year.
HF 1001 creates a rural attorney recruitment assistance program to help eligible rural counties and municipalities attract and retain legal professionals. The College Student Aid Commission will administer the program, assessing counties and municipalities with populations under 26,000 and located more than 20 miles from a larger city. Participating attorneys agree to practice law full-time in these areas for five years, serve as contract public defenders, and participate in volunteer legal projects. In return, they receive annual incentive payments over five years, with the local government covering 35% and the state covering the remaining 65%. The program is initially limited to assisting up to five attorneys.
HF 792 establishes a new cause of action for first-degree murder related to fentanyl. The bill states that a person commits first-degree murder if they unlawfully deliver, dispense, or provide fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance that proximately causes another person's death through injection, inhalation, absorption, or ingestion. It clarifies that it is not a defense if the deceased person contributed to their own death by willingly taking the substance. This offense is classified as a Class "A" felony, punishable by life imprisonment without parole.
House File 926 creates a process for victims of human trafficking to petition the court for expungement of certain criminal history records. This allows records for offenses committed while they were victims to be removed from public access. Petitioners must submit a sworn statement, and official documentation of their victim status can be provided, though it's not strictly required. The bill specifies that no fees are charged for filing these petitions, and expunged records become confidential, though they remain accessible to criminal justice agencies or by court order. However, certain serious offenses, such as homicide or sexual abuse, are not eligible for expungement under this bill.
House File 945 establishes a new process for individuals to claim immunity from criminal or civil liability if they use reasonable force to defend themselves, others, or their property. In criminal cases, a defendant can file a pretrial motion for immunity, leading to a hearing where the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the immunity claim is not valid. If the state fails to overcome the immunity claim, the criminal case is dismissed; otherwise, it proceeds to trial. The bill also allows this immunity to be used as an affirmative defense in civil lawsuits.
This bill increases penalties for individuals who commit assaults against specific professionals, including peace officers, correctional staff, healthcare providers, firefighters, and certain state employees. It upgrades assaults intended to inflict serious injury or involving a dangerous weapon from a Class D to a Class C felony. Additionally, assaults causing bodily injury or mental illness against these professionals are elevated from an aggravated misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Other assaults, such as those causing contact with saliva, are reclassified from a serious to an aggravated misdemeanor, and carry a mandatory minimum 7-day jail sentence that cannot be suspended.
This bill creates new criminal offenses and penalties specifically targeting theft, forgery, and fraud involving gift cards. It defines various illegal actions, such as acquiring or using gift cards or their redemption information without consent, altering gift cards, or using fraudulent schemes to obtain them. Penalties for these crimes range from serious misdemeanors to Class C felonies, with the severity determined by the monetary value of the gift card or property involved. The bill also allows for the aggregation of values from multiple incidents over a six-month period to determine the appropriate charge, and it will take effect on July 1, 2025.
HF 515 increases state funding for Iowa school districts that share school resource officer (SRO) services with other entities. It raises the supplementary weighting for SRO sharing from 2 to 4 pupils per shared function (up from current law), meaning districts sharing SRO duties receive more state funding based on this higher rate. The bill applies to school budget years starting July 1, 2025, and affects any district sharing SRO operational functions for at least 20% of the school year with a political subdivision or another district. This change redirects additional resources toward student programming by adjusting the funding formula for shared SRO services.
HF 570 creates a new credit system for Iowa defendants on probation, allowing them to reduce their probation time based on compliance, education, or employment. It provides a 14-day reduction per full compliant month (discharge credit), 90 days for earning a diploma or vocational certification (educational credit), and 30 days for six months of verifiable employment (30+ hours/week, workforce credit). These credits can reduce probation by up to 40% and must be verified by probation officers using documents like pay stubs or certificates. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and requires annual reporting on credit usage, though it excludes specialized courts unless they adopt the provisions.
This bill sets a $100,000 minimum bond amount for defendants arrested on specific serious criminal charges, including attempted murder (Iowa Code §707.11), assault with a weapon (§708.1), and possession by a felon (§724.26). Magistrates must apply this minimum bond requirement and cannot use the standard bond schedule for these offenses or forcible felonies. The bill directly affects individuals arrested for these listed crimes during initial court appearances. It changes how bail is determined, ensuring higher financial barriers for these specific offenses before a defendant can be released.
