Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

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

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5393XD: Scheduling of Kratom as a Controlled Substance (5393XD) - Public Safety, Department of

This Iowa bill (5393XD) designates kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, making possession illegal. It directly affects anyone in Iowa who possesses kratom products containing the alkaloids mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine. The law creates tiered penalties: a first-time possession offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and a $430-$2,560 fine), subsequent offenses are aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years and $855-$8,540), and three or more prior convictions make it a class D felony (up to 5 years and $1,025-$10,245). The bill defines kratom broadly to include both natural plant products and synthetic versions containing these specific alkaloids.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCriminalizes kratom possession with tiered penalties, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences, opposing criminal justice reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 16, 2025

HF 72: A bill for an act relating to the possession of small quantities of marijuana, and providing penalties.

HF 72 changes Iowa's penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. It makes possessing 10 grams or less of marijuana (not offered for sale) a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine, instead of potential felony charges under current law. The bill repeals an existing law that previously treated small amounts as intent to deliver. This directly affects individuals caught with minimal personal use quantities, not commercial activity.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces marijuana possession penalties from felony to misdemeanor for small amounts, repealing prior intent-to-deliver presumption. Aligns with criminal justice reform by minimizing unnecessary criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 27, 2025

HF 126: A bill for an act relating to penalties for the manufacture, delivery, or possession of certain amounts of controlled substances involving cocaine or cocaine base.

HF 126 modifies Iowa's sentencing for cocaine-related offenses to create consistent penalties between powdered cocaine and cocaine base (crack). It sets clear thresholds: possession of over 500 grams of either substance becomes a Class B felony (max 50 years, $1 million fine), 100-500 grams is a Class B felony (max 25 years, $5k-$100k fine), and under 100 grams is a Class C felony (max 10 years, $1k-$50k fine). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of manufacturing, delivering, or possessing specified amounts of these substances, as well as law enforcement and courts applying these sentencing guidelines. It eliminates prior inconsistencies where different weight thresholds applied to similar substances. The changes apply to all violations under Iowa Code §124.401 involving cocaine, its salts, isomers, or cocaine base.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill standardizes cocaine sentencing to eliminate racial disparity between powdered and crack cocaine, advancing criminal justice equity by aligning penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 11, 2025

HF 324: A bill for an act relating to domestic abuse threat evaluation and deterrence.

HF 324 requires Iowa law enforcement officers to conduct a threat evaluation for individuals identified as the primary physical aggressor in domestic abuse incidents *when no arrest is made*. This evaluation uses a department-adopted checklist considering factors like prior abuse convictions, violations of protective orders, felony convictions, and weapon possession. If two or more checklist factors apply, officers must provide the aggressor with resources like counseling, job programs, and housing assistance information. The bill also mandates that officers provide victims with materials about financial aid, mental health services, and legal support. These changes aim to address domestic abuse risks and provide support services without advocating for specific outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires threat evaluation and referrals to counseling/job programs instead of arrest in domestic abuse cases, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures per bill's resource provision language.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HSB 124: A bill for an act relating to initial appearance minimum bond amounts for certain criminal offenses.

This bill sets a $100,000 minimum bond amount for individuals arrested on warrants for six specific serious offenses in Iowa, including attempted murder (Code §707.11), assault with a weapon (§708.1), and possession by a felon (§724.26). It directly affects defendants charged with these offenses by requiring magistrates to set bonds no lower than $100,000 at initial appearances, overriding standard bond schedules. The key provision prevents the use of pre-set judicial council bond schedules for these cases, mandating individualized minimums based on the offense. This change applies only to the listed offenses and forcible felonies, not all criminal cases. The bill aims to ensure higher bail for the most severe charges at the initial court appearance.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRaises minimum bond to $100k for serious offenses, restricting pretrial release rights and increasing detention without reform intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Violent Crime

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SF 367: A bill for an act designating kratom as a schedule I controlled substance, and making penalties applicable.

SF 367 designates kratom (all parts of the Mitragyna speciosa plant and its compounds like mitragynine) as a Schedule I controlled substance in Iowa. It directly affects anyone possessing kratom, imposing criminal penalties based on prior offenses: a first offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $2,560 fine), a second offense is an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years or $8,540), and three or more prior convictions make it a class D felony (up to 5 years or $10,245). The bill creates a tiered penalty system for possession, with increasingly severe consequences for repeat violations. It does not address medical use or enforcement beyond these specific criminal penalties for possession.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases criminal penalties for kratom possession (misdemeanor to felony), expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 12, 2025

HSB 290: A bill for an act making an appropriation to the department of public safety for the creation of a drug interdiction program.

This bill appropriates $1.2 million from the state general fund for the Iowa Department of Public Safety to create a drug interdiction program in partnership with the Iowa National Guard, effective July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. It directly affects state public safety agencies by authorizing up to 12 full-time equivalent positions (10 drug interdiction specialists and 2 criminal analysts) to combat illicit drug trafficking within Iowa. Key provisions include funding for salaries, support, and equipment, with unspent funds carrying over to the next fiscal year instead of reverting. The program’s concrete policy change is the establishment of this dedicated state-local law enforcement partnership focused on disrupting drug trafficking networks.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1.2M from state general fund to fund a new public safety program, directly advancing government spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds drug interdiction program (law enforcement) within criminal justice system, advancing public safety efforts without reform implications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 16, 2025

HF 78: A bill for an act relating to the possession of small quantities of marijuana, and providing penalties.

HF 78 reduces penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana by making possession of half an ounce or less (not offered for sale) a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine. It repeals an existing law that previously imposed harsher penalties, including aggravated misdemeanors or class B felonies, for similar small-quantity offenses. This change directly affects individuals caught with minimal personal-use marijuana quantities. The bill simplifies penalties that previously varied significantly based on the amount possessed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces penalties for minor marijuana possession, aligning with criminal justice reform by decreasing criminalization of low-level offenses and simplifying sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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