Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SF 2017: 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 and strengthen penalties for intimidation involving dangerous weapons. It creates two felony classifications: a class "C" felony (up to 10 years in prison, $1,370-$13,660 fine) for intentionally discharging a weapon to provoke fear or anger in others, and a class "D" felony (up to 5 years, $1,025-$10,245 fine) for similar acts without that specific intent. The law applies when someone shoots, throws, or launches a weapon at or near occupied buildings, vehicles, or assemblies, causing reasonable fear of serious injury. It directly affects individuals who threaten or carry out such acts, updating existing penalties to address specific scenarios.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for weapon intimidation by creating stricter felony classifications and increasing prison terms, opposing criminal justice reform efforts that reduce harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 28, 2026

HF 2139: A bill for an act related to eluding, including aggravated eluding and fresh pursuit, and providing penalties.

HF 2139 amends Iowa law to address fleeing police across state lines. It defines "aggravated eluding" as knowingly crossing into another state while being pursued without yielding to police, making it a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,245. The bill also allows Iowa officers to continue pursuing and arresting drivers in other states during "fresh pursuit" (defined as pursuit without unreasonable delay), requiring them to report the arrest to that state's authorities and subjecting the driver to extradition. This directly affects drivers fleeing police across state borders and Iowa law enforcement officers conducting interstate pursuits.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for fleeing police across state lines, classifying aggravated eluding as a class D felony with harsher sentencing, expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HSB 510: A bill for an act relating to the possession of contraband in department of corrections facilities, and providing penalties.

HB 510 creates new criminal penalties for possessing "restricted or disruptive contraband" in Iowa's correctional facilities, including county jails and state prisons. It defines such contraband as items like tobacco, cell phones, money, or synthetic drugs (unless covered under other laws), which facilities prohibit for security reasons. Possessing this contraband is a class D felony (up to 5 years in prison), while failing to report it is an aggravated misdemeanor. The bill requires any sentence for this offense to be served consecutively to the inmate's existing sentence and authorizes facility X-rays to detect hidden contraband.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes class D felony penalties for contraband possession in prisons, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

Track

signed · Iowa · Senate May 13, 2026

SF 2114: A bill for an act relating to intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and making penalties applicable.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates intimidation with dangerous weapon to felony with up to 10-year prison term, increasing penalties for this offense.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SSB 3035: A bill for an act relating to controlled substances schedules and precursor substances reporting requirements, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

This bill adds specific synthetic opioids and related compounds to Iowa's most restrictive controlled substances schedule. It directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these substances, including new fentanyl variants like "Butonitazene" and "Flunitazene," as well as compounds like "Metodesnitazene" and "ethylphenidate." The law establishes penalties: violations can result in a Class B felony (25-year minimum prison term plus $5,000-$100,000 fine), Class C felony, or aggravated misdemeanor. The changes align Iowa's law with federal chemical designations under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds synthetic opioids to strictest drug schedule with 25-year minimums, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties - directly opposes reform by hardening sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SF 2035: A bill for an act related to eluding, including aggravated eluding and fresh pursuit, and providing penalties.

This bill creates a new offense called "aggravated eluding" in Iowa law. It makes it a class D felony (carrying up to 5 years in prison and a $1,025-$10,245 fine) for a driver who, while being chased by police within Iowa, knowingly crosses into another state without yielding to the officer. The bill also allows Iowa police to continue pursuing and arresting such drivers in other states during "fresh pursuit" (defined as pursuit without unreasonable delay), requiring them to report the arrest to the other state's authorities and follow extradition rules. It directly affects drivers fleeing police across state lines and law enforcement officers conducting cross-state pursuits.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for eluding police (class D felony), expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing without reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5449XD: Correctional Facilities, Contraband (5449XD) - Corrections, Department of

This bill (5449XD) makes possessing certain items in Iowa correctional facilities a class D felony. It defines "restricted or disruptive contraband" as non-illegal items (like tobacco, cell phones, money, or synthetic drugs) prohibited by facilities for security reasons. Possessing such items carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison, and any punishment must be served consecutively to the inmate's existing sentence. The bill also creates an aggravated misdemeanor for failing to report contraband to facility staff. It directly affects inmates in Iowa's state correctional facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill classifies possession of non-illegal items (tobacco, phones, money) in prisons as class D felony with consecutive sentencing, expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5367XD: Theft of Public Funds (5367XD) - Auditor of State

This bill increases penalties for public employees and officials who steal more than $10,000 from government entities. It requires courts to impose mandatory prison time without options for probation, deferred judgment, or suspended sentences in these cases. The law applies broadly to state, school, and local government employees - including contractors - and defines "public employer" to include all government bodies. Courts may only avoid mandatory incarceration if the defendant proves exceptional mitigating circumstances with clear evidence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates mandatory prison time without alternatives for public fund theft, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 899: A bill for an act relating to indecent exposure, including the unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material, and providing penalties.

HF 899 makes it a serious misdemeanor (punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $430-$2,560 fine) to knowingly send unsolicited, unwanted explicit images electronically to someone 18 or older. It specifically prohibits sending images showing: (1) a person's genitals or pubic area, (2) someone engaged in a sex act, or (3) a male person's visible genitals in an erection. The law applies to adults who send such material they know or should know the recipient didn't want. This bill directly affects individuals who share unsolicited explicit images via email, text, or other digital means in Iowa.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for unsolicited explicit images, increasing penalties for digital communication without consent.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

died · Iowa · House Mar 14, 2025

HF 64: A bill for an act relating to the dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors and providing penalties.

HF 64 amends Iowa Code 728.2 to increase penalties for distributing or displaying obscene material to minors, excluding parents or guardians. The bill upgrades the offense from a serious misdemeanor to a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of $1,025-$10,245. Convicted individuals must also register as sex offenders for 10 years. The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, after committee approval.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill upgrades offense to felony with harsher penalties and sex offender registration, expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track