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 2515 modifies Iowa's sentencing rules for individuals convicted of violating Section 728.12, which prohibits sexual exploitation of minors. The bill specifically removes the option for deferred or suspended sentences in these cases, requiring offenders to serve actual prison time instead of having sentences postponed or reduced. This change directly affects anyone found guilty under Section 728.12, mandating immediate incarceration for this specific offense. The bill passed unanimously in the Iowa House on March 4, 2026, and now awaits action in the Senate.
HF 2337 makes it a class D felony to falsely claim possessing an academic degree or credentials for employment or personal gain. The bill directly affects individuals who misrepresent their educational background to secure jobs or other advantages. It adds a new provision (Section 714.8, subsection 6A) criminalizing this specific fraud, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. This law targets deception in credential claims, not general fraud or academic dishonesty.
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.
SF 2284 restricts how law enforcement uses automated traffic systems. It prohibits sharing historical license plate data collected to monitor potential crime with private companies if the data could identify a person or vehicle, creating a misdemeanor for violations. The bill also bans citations for noise violations based on brake or exhaust sounds while slowing down, and requires local authorities to let vehicle owners contest automated citations by proving they weren’t driving at the time - allowing citations to be transferred to the actual driver if evidence is provided. This affects police departments using automated systems and vehicle owners who receive automated traffic violation notices.
HF 2202 amends Iowa's controlled substances schedule to add 12 specific synthetic drugs, including various fentanyl analogs (like "Butonitazene" and "Flunitazene") and other novel compounds. The bill directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these newly listed substances within Iowa. Violations involving these drugs would trigger existing penalties: a Class B felony (up to 25 years in prison and $5,000-$100,000 fine), a Class C felony (up to 10 years and $1,000-$50,000), or an aggravated misdemeanor. The bill aligns Iowa's schedule with federal designations from Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill (SF 2400) strengthens penalties for assaults against specific public safety and service workers in Iowa. It adds "employee or contractor of a public utility engaged in public utility responsibilities" to the list of protected occupations, expanding existing assault penalty tiers. Assaults causing injury or using weapons against these workers become class C felonies, while assaults involving spitting or saliva contact are classified as aggravated misdemeanors requiring a minimum 7-day jail term. The bill directly affects public utility employees and contractors, as well as other covered professions like police, firefighters, and healthcare workers, by increasing legal consequences for violence against them.
SF 2019 makes it a crime to knowingly view, photograph, or film another person (or attempt to do so) for sexual gratification, directly affecting individuals who commit such acts. The bill specifies that violating this law is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of $855-$8,540, and requires registration as a tier II sex offender unless the victim is under 13 (then tier III). This law amends Iowa Code section 709.21 to clarify penalties for privacy violations involving sexual motives.
