This bill modifies how criminal case fines collected within a county are distributed, reducing the percentages allocated to the state court administrator and county treasurer. It establishes a new "victim restitution fund" in the state treasury, which will receive 7% of these collected fines. The fund is dedicated to providing restitution for crime victims, covering "pecuniary damages" and restitution for the death of a victim, as defined by existing law. Monies in this fund will remain available for expenditure year-to-year and will not revert at the close of a fiscal year.
Senate Study Bill 1232 appropriates funds from the state's general fund to support various components of the justice system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates money to the Department of Justice for the Attorney General's office, prosecuting attorney training, victim assistance grants for crime victims, legal services for low-income individuals, and cybersecurity improvements. The bill also provides funding for the Office of Consumer Advocate and the operation of multiple correctional facilities across the state. It specifies the number of full-time equivalent positions for these departments and includes conditions such as reporting requirements for the Department of Justice regarding funding sources. Additionally, it mandates the Department of Justice to reimburse the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for a human trafficking instructor position.
This bill appropriates funds to the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates money for salaries of judicial officers and staff, general court operations, and juror and witness fees. The bill also provides significant funding for court-ordered services for juveniles, including school-based supervision and delinquent graduated sanctions, and sets guidelines for their distribution and use. Additionally, it requires the judicial branch to use state financial systems, submit regular financial reports, focus on collecting delinquent fines, and maintain clerk of court offices in all 99 counties.
HSB 339 is a bill that appropriates funds to various parts of the state's justice system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. It allocates money to the Department of Justice for general operations, victim assistance grants (including for human trafficking victims), legal services for persons in poverty, and cybersecurity improvements. The bill also provides funding for the Office of Consumer Advocate and for the operation of correctional facilities, such as Fort Madison and Anamosa. Additionally, it requires the Department of Justice to report on its funding sources and to reimburse the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for an instructor position focused on human trafficking training.
HF 1046 is a bill that appropriates state funds for various operations within Iowa's justice system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates money to the Department of Justice for purposes such as the Attorney General's office, victim assistance grants (including those for human trafficking victims), legal services for low-income individuals, and cybersecurity infrastructure. The bill also provides funding for the Office of Consumer Advocate and the operation of state correctional facilities like Fort Madison and Anamosa. Additionally, it outlines staffing levels for certain justice department functions and includes reporting requirements for agency funding.
HF 50 changes how local authorities in Iowa handle revenue from automated traffic enforcement systems. It requires them to deposit any excess funds (after covering system operation, maintenance, and administration costs) into the state's road use tax fund each month, instead of using those funds for transportation projects or police/fire department costs as current law allows. Local authorities must also submit monthly reports detailing all revenue and expenses related to these systems. The bill directly affects cities and counties using automated traffic cameras or remote enforcement technology.
HF 879 strengthens penalties for intentionally damaging critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water systems, or transportation networks. It increases criminal penalties for sabotage acts that threaten public safety or disrupt essential services. The law directly affects individuals who commit such acts by imposing stricter fines and potential prison sentences. This bill, signed into law by the Governor on May 1, 2025, modifies existing statutes to apply enhanced penalties to these specific offenses.
This bill establishes a new prison construction account within the Iowa prison infrastructure fund. Starting in fiscal year 2025, once bonds for the Iowa State Penitentiary are paid off, an equivalent amount will be deposited annually into this new account. These funds can then be appropriated by the General Assembly for building new prisons or replacing infrastructure at existing correctional facilities. Additionally, the bill mandates annual infrastructure project reports from the Department of Corrections and creates a legislative study committee to examine future prison capacity needs.
SF 644 is a funding bill that allocates state money to key parts of the justice system. It directly provides resources for legal representation for people who cannot afford an attorney (indigent defense), funds for rebuilding or improving correctional facilities (corrections capital reinvestment), and manages federal funds received by the corrections system (corrections federal receipts fund). The bill specifies how these funds are to be used and when the funding takes effect. It was signed into law by the Governor on June 11, 2025.
SJR 9 proposes adding a new section to the Iowa Constitution to protect children under 18 and witnesses with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities. It would allow future laws to limit an accused person's right to confront these specific witnesses during legal proceedings. The amendment requires voter approval after being referred to the general assembly for the next election. This is a proposed constitutional change, not an enacted law, and would enable state lawmakers to create procedures for handling testimony from vulnerable witnesses.
