This bill grants law enforcement officers the right to challenge a prosecutor's decision to place them on a Brady-Giglio list, which flags them as having credibility issues that could affect their ability to testify in court. It allows officers to petition a district court for a confidential review of the evidence used to make that decision, with the court empowered to remove the officer from the list if the challenge is successful. If an officer wins the legal challenge, the court must award them reasonable attorney fees and court costs, which are paid by the state or the local government responsible for the prosecutor. The law applies retroactively to all such placements made on or after July 1, 2021, ensuring past cases are also covered by these new protections.
This bill provides funding and sets operational rules for the Iowa Department of Justice, the Office of Consumer Advocate, and the Department of Corrections for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates specific amounts to support the Attorney General's office, victim assistance programs, legal aid for low-income individuals, cybersecurity improvements, and the operation of state correctional facilities. The legislation also mandates that the Department of Justice track and report non-state funding sources, such as reimbursements from other agencies, and authorizes the hiring of additional staff for victim services and human trafficking training.
HF 2769 allocates approximately $202.7 million from the state general fund to the Iowa judicial branch for the fiscal year 2026-2027, primarily to pay salaries for judges, court staff, and administrative personnel. The bill also provides specific funding for jury and witness fees, interpreter costs, and court-ordered services for juveniles, including a provision that prevents counties from being billed for these state-funded juvenile services. Additionally, it establishes a $500,000 reserve for a potential specialty business court and mandates that district court clerk offices remain open during regular hours in all 99 counties. To ensure accountability, the legislation requires the judicial branch to submit monthly financial reports and semiannual updates on collected fines and court costs to state agencies.
This Iowa bill changes how money from the juvenile detention home fund is distributed to county and multicounty facilities. Under the new rules, every eligible detention home will first receive a guaranteed $150,000 allocation for that fiscal year. Any remaining funds in the fund will then be shared among the homes based on their proportion of the total costs incurred in the previous year. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for calculating these amounts and managing the distribution.
HF 2356 makes Iowa's temporary child welfare legal representation pilot program permanent as the "Project to Preserve Families" (PPF). It allows the state public defender to implement this program statewide (previously limited to 16 counties) for indigent families involved in child welfare cases. The program uses innovative legal approaches - such as team-based representation - to help keep families together, reduce trauma for children, and generate cost savings for communities. The public defender must coordinate with other agencies, study outcomes, and adopt rules to administer the PPF through 2025.
This bill establishes a grant program and trust fund to support sexual assault forensic examination centers in Iowa, primarily affecting nonprofit organizations and survivors of sexual violence. It requires the Attorney General to contract with eligible nonprofits that are independent of hospitals and focus on serving diverse populations, including rural residents and people with disabilities. The funded centers must provide medical forensic services, offer training to professionals and the public, and submit annual reports on their activities and service gaps. Additionally, the bill creates a dedicated trust fund to accept private contributions and state or federal money specifically for operating these centers.
HF 2598 requires new applicants for Iowa class A, B, or C commercial driver’s licenses to complete a 30-minute human trafficking prevention training course using state-approved materials. The training must cover recognizing, preventing, and reporting human trafficking and be offered in English. The Iowa Department of Transportation will develop and update these materials every three years, collaborating with education and trafficking specialists. The law takes effect on or after March 1, 2027, or when the new licensing system is implemented.
SF 2379 strengthens protections for crime victims by establishing strict confidentiality for communications between victims and certified victim counselors, prohibiting disclosure without written consent or in cases of imminent danger. It allows courts to issue lifetime protective orders for victims of sexual offenses, removing previous one-year limits and enabling unlimited extensions based on ongoing safety concerns. The bill also clarifies that confidentiality does not apply to evidence chain-of-custody matters or if a counselor suspects a victim provided false testimony. These changes directly affect victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes who use victim services or seek protective orders.
HF 2256 expands Iowa's criteria for identifying a child as needing assistance (CINA) due to chemical dependency, mental health issues, or behavioral disorders. The bill allows courts to declare a child a CINA if they require treatment for serious chemical dependency, mental illness, or behavioral health issues that threaten safety or cause aggressive behavior, and the parent/guardian is unwilling or unable to secure that treatment. It removes an outdated subsection (232.96A(13)) to align the law with this expanded definition. This change directly affects children needing specialized treatment and their families when parents cannot or will not seek care.
HF 523 allows peace officers in Iowa to file petitions for 72-hour emergency protective orders on behalf of domestic abuse victims who claim to be in immediate danger and request the officer's assistance. The bill amends Iowa Code 236.6 to permit this action, directly affecting victims who may be unable to file petitions themselves during urgent situations. Key provisions require the victim to both state they are in present danger of domestic abuse and specifically ask the officer to submit the petition. This change streamlines access to emergency protection without altering the legal standard for issuing such orders.
