Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2128: A bill for an act relating to orders for child support including requests for information regarding digital financial accounts, and providing penalties.

This bill allows Iowa child support agencies to request records from digital financial accounts (like online banking or payment apps) to enforce child support orders. It defines "digital financial account" as any online account storing, transferring, or receiving money digitally. Parents or putative fathers who refuse to provide these records without valid reason face a class D felony charge, punishable by up to five years in prison or fines up to $10,245. The law directly affects individuals legally responsible for child support payments.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal penalties for non-compliance with child support, increasing criminalization of civil matters without reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 27, 2026

HF 2133: A bill for an act designating kratom as a schedule I controlled substance, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2133 designates kratom (including all parts of the Mitragyna speciosa plant and its derivatives like mitragynine) as a hallucinogenic Schedule I controlled substance in Iowa. This bill directly affects anyone possessing kratom, imposing escalating penalties: a first offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and up to $2,560 fine), subsequent offenses become aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years jail, up to $8,540 fine), and a third conviction is a class D felony (up to 5 years jail, up to $10,245 fine). The law creates new criminal penalties for possession without specifying medical or personal use exceptions. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2026, and remains pending.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDesignates kratom as Schedule I with escalating penalties, expanding criminalization of substance use per controlled substances policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HSB 508: A bill for an act designating kratom as a schedule I controlled substance, and making penalties applicable.

HSB 508 would designate kratom (including all parts of the Mitragyna speciosa plant and its derivatives like mitragynine) as a Schedule I controlled substance in Iowa. This bill directly affects anyone possessing kratom, imposing tiered penalties: a first offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, $430-$2,560 fine), subsequent offenses are aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years, $855-$8,540), and three or more prior convictions become a Class D felony (up to 5 years, $1,025-$10,245). The key mechanism establishes these escalating criminal penalties based on the number of prior violations. This is a substantive policy change, not a procedural measure, and would significantly restrict legal access to kratom in Iowa.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes kratom possession with tiered penalties, expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing - directly opposing criminal justice reform goals of reducing unnecessary incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2127: A bill for an act relating to parent, legal guardian, and legal custodian attendance in court-ordered classes due to the actions of the parent’s, legal guardian’s, or legal custodian’s child, and providing penalties.

HF 2127 requires a child's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian to attend court-ordered classes with the child when the child is adjudicated for a delinquent act and ordered to attend such classes. For children with three or more delinquent adjudications, the court must mandate a separate "parental responsibility class." Failure to attend results in penalties: a first offense is a simple misdemeanor (up to 10 days jail or $100 fine), escalating to serious misdemeanors for repeat offenses. Parents may avoid penalties by filing an affidavit proving a good-faith effort to comply, and the requirement does not apply to parents without physical care of the child or non-individual guardians.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires parental involvement in juvenile delinquency cases to prevent recidivism, aligning with rehabilitation-focused juvenile justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SF 2065: A bill for an act relating to prostitution and providing penalties.

SF 2065 amends Iowa law to increase penalties for purchasing sex services. It classifies buying sex from an adult as a class D felony (previously an aggravated misdemeanor), and buying sex from someone under 18 or someone believed to be under 18 (including undercover officers posing as minors) as a class C felony. The bill directly affects individuals who purchase sexual services, with harsher penalties for transactions involving minors or minors posing as minors. This is a policy change to strengthen criminal penalties for clients of commercial sex, not a new prohibition on the act itself.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for purchasing sex, classifying adult transactions as class D felony (up from misdemeanor) and minor-related as class C felony, expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory sentences.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SSB 3018: A bill for an act relating to intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and making penalties applicable.

This bill amends Iowa Code Section 708.6 to clarify penalties for intimidation involving dangerous weapons. It establishes two felony classifications: a Class C felony (up to 10 years in prison and up to $13,660 in fines) for threatening or discharging weapons in occupied buildings, vehicles, or assemblies, and a Class D felony (up to 5 years in prison and up to $10,245 in fines) for direct threats at people or occupied spaces. The law specifically targets acts that place others in reasonable fear of serious injury through weapon threats or discharge in shared spaces. It directly affects individuals who threaten or fire weapons in public settings like buildings, vehicles, or gatherings, with penalties applying based on the severity of the threat.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for intimidation with weapons by creating stricter felony classifications with longer sentences and higher fines, expanding criminalization of threats.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 29, 2026

HSB 509: A bill for an act relating to level II law enforcement academy training programs.

This bill sets new requirements for Iowa's Level II law enforcement academy training programs. To qualify, applicants must show they completed a two- or four-year police science or criminal justice degree from an accredited school approved by the academy, plus meet specific qualifications for military veterans or federal officers. It also requires individuals to be hired by a law enforcement agency within 18 months of finishing the training to maintain certification. The bill directly affects aspiring law enforcement officers seeking Level II certification in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires accredited criminal justice degrees for law enforcement academy certification, raising professional standards in policing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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died · Iowa · House Mar 16, 2026

HF 2091: A bill for an act relating to fraudulent practices involving academic credentials and providing penalties.

HF 2091 prohibits falsely claiming to hold an academic degree or credentials for employment or personal gain. It defines this as a fraudulent practice, making it a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. The bill directly affects individuals who misrepresent their education to secure jobs or other benefits. Key provisions establish clear penalties for this specific type of fraud, aligning it with existing fraudulent practice laws under Iowa code.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new class D felony for academic credential fraud, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2059: A bill for an act relating to victim’s rights including the definition of victim.

HF 2059 amends Iowa law to expand the definition of "victim" to include first responders (law enforcement, fire personnel, and emergency medical services) for the purpose of presenting victim impact statements at sentencing. This change directly affects first responders who experience trauma or harm while responding to crimes, allowing them to formally share how an offense impacted them during court proceedings. The bill specifically adds this category to the existing definition, which already covers individuals harmed by crimes and certain family members of victims. The key provision enables first responders to participate in sentencing discussions under Code section 915.21, without altering broader victim rights protections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim definition to include first responders for sentencing impact statements, enhancing their role in court proceedings within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2159: A bill for an act designating kava as a schedule I controlled substance, and making penalties applicable.

This Iowa bill (HF 2159) reclassifies kava - a plant substance used recreationally - as a Schedule I controlled substance under state law. It directly affects anyone possessing kava in Iowa, with penalties escalating based on prior offenses: a first-time offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and $2,560 fine), subsequent offenses are aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years, $8,540 fine), and three or more prior convictions make it a class D felony (up to 5 years, $10,245 fine). The bill defines kava broadly to include all parts of the *piper methysticum* plant and synthetic equivalents. It does not change federal scheduling but imposes state-level criminal penalties for possession. The bill was introduced to the Public Safety committee on January 26, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill reclassifies kava as Schedule I controlled substance, imposing escalating criminal penalties (misdemeanors/felony) for possession, directly expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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