# Iowa HF 2490: A bill for an act relating to public meetings and records, including public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body, supervision and fees associated with examining and copying public records, employment separation information for certain government employees, contractors, or appointees, and injunctions to restrain vexatious requesters. (Formerly HSB 578.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Iowa HF 2490, A bill for an act relating to public meetings and records, including public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body, supervision and fees associated with examining and copying public records, employment separation information for certain government employees, contractors, or appointees, and injunctions to restrain vexatious requesters. (Formerly HSB 578.) Effective date: 07/01/2026., is a 91st General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT; status signed, last action 2026-05-15 (Signed by Governor.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF2490-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Iowa HF 2490 - State: Iowa - Session: 91st General Assembly (2025–2026) - Title: A bill for an act relating to public meetings and records, including public notice requirements for meetings of a governmental body, supervision and fees associated with examining and copying public records, employment separation information for certain government employees, contractors, or appointees, and injunctions to restrain vexatious requesters. (Formerly HSB 578.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-16 - Last action: 2026-05-15, Signed by Governor. - Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: state government - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (221 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Easier public records access, tighter fees: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa records offices must fill copy requests made in writing, by phone, or electronically. They cannot require you to appear in person, and an authorized staff member may supervise access. Offices must make every reasonable effort to charge only copying costs for records tak… - Free records for veterans benefit claims: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa county recorders cannot charge to examine or copy records needed for veterans benefit claims. The records must be necessary to complete and file a claim with Iowa or U.S. Veterans Affairs. Records unrelated to the claim do not qualify. - Clearer public notices for government meetings: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa government bodies must give public notice of meetings, including reconvened meetings. Notices must state the time, date, place, and tentative agenda and reach news media that requested notice. Bodies must post notices in a prominent place they designate annually and on… - More disclosure of government departure payments: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa government bodies must disclose more information about covered people who resign or are discharged. Disclosures include the last date they worked or actively carried out their position's essential duties. They also include continued pay, severance, and other compensatio… - Court limits and protections for records requesters: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa district courts can bar a person's access to one government body's records or limit requests. The body must support its petition with an affidavit and clear and convincing evidence, give reasonable notice, and receive a hearing. Courts must find a pattern of abusive req… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | House | Passed House | pass | 89 | 0 | | | 2026-04-20 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 44 | 0 | | | 2026-02-23 | House | Passed House | pass | 88 | 1 | | ## Actions (25) - 2026-05-15: Signed by Governor. (House) - 2026-05-06: Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. (House) - 2026-05-01: Explanation of vote. (House) - 2026-04-22: Message from House. (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Immediate message. (House) - 2026-04-22: Passed House, yeas 89, nays 0. (House) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Senate amendment H-8389. (House) - 2026-04-20: Senate amendment H-8389 filed. (House) - 2026-04-20: Message from Senate. (House) - 2026-04-20: Immediate message. (Senate) - 2026-04-20: Passed Senate, yeas 44, nays 0. (Senate) - 2026-04-20: Amendment S-5116 adopted, as amended. (Senate) - 2026-04-20: Amendment S-5193 to S-5116 filed, adopted. (Senate) - 2026-03-26: Placed on calendar under unfinished business. (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Placed on calendar. (legislature) - 2026-03-19: Amendment S-5116 filed. (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Committee report, recommending amendment and passage. (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage. (legislature) - 2026-03-04: Subcommittee Meeting: 03/05/2026 11:30AM Room 315. (legislature) - 2026-02-26: Subcommittee: Salmon, Townsend, and Webster. (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Read first time, referred to State Government. (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Message from House. (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Immediate message. (House) - 2026-02-23: Passed House, yeas 88, nays 1. (House) - 2026-02-16: Introduced, placed on calendar. (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/HF2490.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/91/HF2490.pdf) ## Related bills - HF 2801: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 785.) Effective date: 10/02/20… (signed) - SF 2472: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, fees, financial authority, and budgets, by modifying property assessment provisions, divisions… (signed) - HF 2601: A bill for an act relating to campaign finance, including participation in ballot issue campaigns by foreign nationals and investigations of election misconduc… (signed) - SF 2399: A bill for an act relating to bail and bond amounts and conditions. (Formerly SSB 3162.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. (signed) - SF 2471: A bill for an act relating to fees for lifetime fur harvester licenses. (Formerly SF 2317, SSB 3121.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. (signed) - SF 2299: A bill for an act relating to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program. (Formerly SF 2176.) Vetoed 6-2-26. (vetoed) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/HF2490.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/91/HF2490.pdf) ## Related - [HF 2801: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program, and i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF2801-2025-2026) - [SF 2472: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, fees, financial…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2472-2025-2026) - [HF 2601: A bill for an act relating to campaign finance, including participation in ball…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF2601-2025-2026) - [SF 2399: A bill for an act relating to bail and bond amounts and conditions. (Formerly S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2399-2025-2026) - [SF 2471: A bill for an act relating to fees for lifetime fur harvester licenses. (Former…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2471-2025-2026) - [SF 2299: A bill for an act relating to the district-to-community college sharing or conc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-SF2299-2025-2026) - [Iowa bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/iowa/bills) - [Iowa state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/iowa) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IA-HF2490-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).