Criminal Justice

passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 826: A bill for an act relating to obscene materials involving minors, and providing penalties.

HF 826 creates new offenses related to "obscene material involving a minor." The bill defines this material as any visual depiction of a minor engaging in a prohibited sexual act that meets specific criteria for being obscene. It prohibits individuals from knowingly producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing with intent to distribute such material, or attempting these actions. Violations are an aggravated misdemeanor for a first offense and a class "D" felony for subsequent offenses, requiring sex offender registration. The bill exempts law enforcement, educational materials, and internet service providers.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses for obscene materials involving minors and increases penalties (aggravated misdemeanor to class D felony), aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 945: A bill for an act providing for a hearing to determine immunity from criminal or civil liability following a use of reasonable force in defense of one’s self, others, or property.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendant rights in self-defense claims by requiring state to prove immunity invalid, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice.85% confidence

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 1001: A bill for an act creating a rural attorney recruitment assistance program, and making appropriations.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates rural attorney program requiring public defender service, enhancing access to legal representation in underserved criminal justice areas.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate May 6, 2025

SSB 1233: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch.

This bill appropriates over $220 million from the state's general fund to the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The funds are allocated to cover salaries for judges and court staff, jury and witness fees, and reimbursements for state public defender attorney fees. It also designates specific amounts for court-ordered services for juveniles, including school-based supervision and delinquent graduated sanctions programs. Additionally, the bill includes funding for the creation of a business court and establishes requirements for financial reporting and the operation of clerk of district court offices.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $220M from general fund to judicial branch for salaries, court operations, and juvenile services, directly funding essential government functions under budget management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $220M for judicial branch, public defenders, and juvenile rehabilitation programs (school-based supervision, graduated sanctions), strengthening system operations and reform initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

Track

died · Iowa · House May 14, 2025

HF 908: A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including screening children, civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution, and making appropriations.

HF 908 aims to combat human trafficking by implementing new screening procedures for children and extending civil statutes of limitations for victims. The bill mandates the use of standardized tools to screen children involved in court complaints or child abuse allegations for commercial sexual exploitation and substance use. It also extends the time frame for survivors of child sexual abuse or human trafficking to file civil actions to five years after reaching adulthood. Additionally, the legislation establishes an annual stakeholder meeting to develop further legislative proposals, prevents the prosecution of minors involved in prostitution, and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to plan for increased restoration facilities for juvenile victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends civil statute of limitations for trafficking victims and mandates child screening, enhancing victim protections and legal recourse in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

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passed · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SF 634: A bill for an act relating to registration fees for persons on the sex offender registry.

SF 634 increases the annual registration fee for sex offenders in Iowa from $25 to $50. This fee must be paid to the sheriff in the offender's county of principal residence, beginning with their first required in-person appearance after July 1, 2009. If an offender cannot pay upfront, sheriffs may allow installment payments or waive the fee. The collected fees are specifically designated to cover costs related to sex offender registration under the law. The bill directly affects individuals required to register as sex offenders in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases fees specifically to fund sex offender registration costs, directly supporting operational funding of the registry system within criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SF 462: A bill for an act relating to weapons, including mandatory minimum sentences relating to the control, possession, receipt, or transportation of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon, and the sharing of identifying information of persons prohibited from acquiring a pistol or revolver by court order, and providing penalties.

SF 462 strengthens firearm restrictions for convicted felons by mandating minimum prison sentences for possessing, receiving, or transporting firearms or offensive weapons. It directly affects individuals convicted of felonies who are prohibited from owning guns under state law. The bill requires courts to share identifying information about these prohibited individuals with law enforcement to prevent gun sales. Additionally, it establishes penalties for violations, focusing on reducing firearm access by high-risk individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates minimum sentences for felon firearm possession, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Sentencing

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SF 105: A bill for an act relating to mandatory minimum sentences relating to the control, possession, receipt, or transportation of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon and providing penalties.

SF 105 imposes mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of felonies (or adjudicated delinquent for felony-level conduct) who possess, receive, transport, or control a firearm or offensive weapon. For a first offense, it mandates a minimum two-year prison term for a class D felony; second offenses require a minimum four years; third offenses become class C felonies with a seven-year minimum; and fourth or subsequent offenses require a ten-year minimum. The bill requires courts to sentence offenders to these minimum terms without the option to defer sentencing or suspend the prison time. This directly affects convicted felons who handle firearms or weapons, increasing penalties for repeat offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates harsh mandatory minimum sentences for felons possessing firearms, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per bill's sentencing requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Sentencing

Track

died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 1011: A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including the establishment of human trafficking prosecution units and the remittance of wire transmission fees to the office to combat human trafficking.

Bill HF 1011 establishes two human trafficking prosecution units within the Department of Justice, one for the eastern and one for the western half of the state. These multidisciplinary teams will identify, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking cases while providing care and support for victims. To fund these initiatives, the bill introduces a new fee on wire transmissions, collected from customers by money transfer services. This fee, $5 for transfers up to $500 and an additional 2% on amounts over $500, will be remitted to the Office to Combat Human Trafficking, and customers can claim an individual income tax credit for the fees paid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new wire transmission fee ($5 base + 2%) to fund human trafficking prosecution units, directly using taxation to support government program spending.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes dedicated human trafficking prosecution units and funds victim support, strengthening criminal justice response to trafficking cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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signed · Iowa · House May 19, 2026

HF 1036: A bill for an act relating to human trafficking, including screening children, civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution, and including effective date provisions.

HF 1036 aims to combat human trafficking by implementing several measures, primarily affecting child victims and those involved in the justice and social services systems. It mandates standardized screening for commercial sexual exploitation for children in certain court and child abuse cases and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to plan for increased restoration facilities for juvenile victims. The bill also extends the civil statute of limitations for actions related to child sexual abuse or human trafficking to five years after reaching majority or discovery. Additionally, it prevents the prosecution of minors under 18 who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation, instead referring them to protective services, and establishes an annual stakeholder meeting to develop legislative proposals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates child trafficking victim screening, extends civil statutes of limitations for victims, and funds restoration facilities, advancing victim protections within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights