All Roll Calls
Yes: 110 • No: 106
IowaHF 277091st General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET
A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, providing fees, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 775.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 07/01/2026.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
29 provisions identified: 25 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Loan repayment help for Iowa attorneys
Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible Iowa attorneys can get up to $10,000 yearly toward federal Stafford, graduate PLUS, and Perkins loans. Help covers principal and interest for up to six consecutive years, without exceeding the eligible balance when the agreement starts. Applicants must be licensed in Iowa and have graduated from an accredited law school within five years before applying. They must practice or commit to practice in Iowa, stay in their designated area, and provide required indigent-defense service. Priority goes first to rural attorneys who live and practice there and provide at least 50 service hours yearly. Next are rural attorneys providing at least 100 hours, then Iowa attorneys providing 200 hours. Within each group, preference goes to Iowa law-school or high-school graduates and graduates of Iowa private instruction under chapter 299A. Rural areas have fewer than 26,000 people and lie more than 20 miles from a city with at least 50,000 people, using the latest federal census. The program is limited to 25 attorneys yearly and 150 at once. Help stops immediately when an attorney breaks the practice agreement, with payment prorated for compliant months. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission runs the program, which ends July 1, 2041.
Iowa tax break for attorney loans
Beginning July 1, 2026, recipients of Iowa's Attorney Loan Repayment Program can subtract eligible assistance from Iowa taxable income. This includes payments made directly to a lender. The deduction is capped at $10,000 yearly and six consecutive tax years in a person's lifetime. Amounts also claimed as federal student-loan interest cannot be deducted again. This lowers taxable income, not the tax bill dollar for dollar.
Funding for community supervision and prison alternatives
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, correctional districts receive: first, $17.396 million; second, $14.106 million; third, $8.915 million; fourth, $6.564 million. Allocations for the fifth through eighth districts are $25.195 million, $17.555 million, $11.003 million, and $10.260 million, respectively. The fifth district amount includes statewide electronic monitoring devices. Within available funds, districts must continue supervision, sex-offender treatment, low-risk diversion, job development, and nonprison penalties, and provide safe rehabilitation-focused prison alternatives. Districts may establish day programs; the Board of Parole receives $1.545 million and up to 10.60 full-time-equivalent positions.
Funding for prisons and confinement costs
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, prison operating funds include Fort Madison, $46.725 million; Anamosa, $40.256 million; and Oakdale, $59.344 million. Newton receives $32.509 million; Mount Pleasant, $30.619 million; Rockwell City, $11.917 million; Clarinda, $29.678 million; Mitchellville, $26.351 million; and Fort Dodge, $34.467 million. Another $10.175 million at Oakdale covers department-wide prison medicines and related purposes. Reimbursements for Clarinda youth corporation services also support the Clarinda prison. Corrections must continue contracts for a Muslim imam and a Native American spiritual leader using prison funding. The law provides $1.345 million to repay counties for specified confinement costs and $234,411 for federal prison reimbursements, out-of-state placements, and related contracts.
Funding for state patrol and investigations
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the State Patrol receives $94.252 million and up to 613 full-time-equivalent positions. Criminal Investigation receives $23.283 million and up to 184 positions. Public Safety administration and criminal justice information systems receive $7.325 million and up to 33 positions. The criminalistics laboratory receives $650,000, with unused money available through June 30, 2028. Department-wide operations receive $3.430 million, increasing by $230,000 if the separate 2026 Senate File 639 is not enacted.
Court filers lose extra journal fee
Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa ends the extra $5 journal publication fee on qualifying petition filings. The former fee applied in counties with at least 98,000 people. Filers in those counties no longer pay this added charge.
Sick-leave funding for public safety employees
Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa provides $279,517 for the Department of Public Safety's sick-leave benefits fund. The money supports employees eligible for accrued sick-leave benefits under their collective bargaining agreement. The law does not set each employee's payment.
Funding helps farms access mediation services
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $300,000 for farm mediation services through the Justice Department. The money comes from the consumer education and litigation fund. It supports services, rather than a set payment to each farmer.
Court fees fund defense and loan repayment
For covered court fees paid starting July 1, 2026, clerks must send collections to the state court administrator monthly. The administrator directs $10 per counted fee to indigent defense and $10 to the attorney loan repayment trust fund. Remaining revenue goes to the state general fund. Sex offender civil penalties are excluded, and dissolution-of-marriage fees follow a separate allocation rule. This allocation rule itself does not raise filing charges.
District corrections grants and monitoring continue
Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa's Department of Corrections must continue arranging statewide rentals of electronic monitoring equipment. It must contract with a district corrections department for this service. The Office of Drug Control Policy must treat federal corrections grants benefiting any of the eight district departments as local government grants. That classification applies under federal rules; the law sets no grant amount or rental price.
Divorce fees fund victim support services
For divorce filing fees paid starting July 1, 2026, 20% supports sexual assault and domestic violence centers through June 30, 2027. The other 80% goes to Iowa's general fund. Starting July 1, 2027, the 20% share goes to a sexual assault forensic examination center grant program, provided a 2026 law establishes it. The general fund keeps its 80% share. This allocation rule directs fee revenue; it does not itself set the filing fee.
Free abuse and trafficking training statewide
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy must offer free statewide domestic abuse and human trafficking training. This training must add to, not replace, its existing training on these subjects. The Justice Department must fully reimburse one additional trafficking instructor using unrestricted money from three named victim and trafficking funds. For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the academy receives $2.919 million and up to 31 full-time-equivalent positions. Its operations include jailer training and technical assistance.
Funding and staffing for gambling oversight
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $13.084 million from the gaming enforcement fund and up to 68 full-time-equivalent positions. Each additional qualifying gambling license issued that year brings up to $300,000 more for enforcement positions. With Management Department approval, Public Safety may add up to three agents per additional riverboat or gambling structure regulated after July 1, 2026. It may also add up to three agents per racing facility opening during that budget year, with the same approval.
Funding for crime victim services
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $5.542 million in victim assistance grants. This includes $225,000 for providers serving human trafficking victims; unused grant money remains available through June 30, 2028. Justice officials must also transfer at least $150,000 from the victim compensation fund to these grants. The law funds the Office to Combat Human Trafficking with $200,742. Seven additional victim compensation staff positions are allowed only while sufficient federal money supports them each year.
Funding for drug enforcement and prevention
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, narcotics enforcement receives $10.497 million and up to 71 full-time-equivalent positions. One additional position is allowed only while sufficient federal funds support it each year. Another $209,042 funds undercover narcotics purchases. The Office of Drug Control Policy receives $270,546 and up to four positions, including statewide drug-prevention program coordination.
Funding for emergency management and communications
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Homeland Security and Emergency Management receives $2.396 million and up to 25.44 full-time-equivalent positions. Another $115,661 supports public safety radio and broadband communications. The law also provides $300,000 from the 911 fund for administration, program management, and an annual state audit. These funds support system operations, not direct household payments.
Funding for firefighters and fire protection
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the State Fire Marshal receives $3.635 million and up to 21 full-time-equivalent positions. The funding includes fire protection and emergency response services. Another $1.076 million supports volunteer firefighter training and equipment. Unused volunteer firefighter funds remain available through June 30, 2028.
Funding for low-income legal help
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $41.576 million for defense services for eligible adults and juveniles. Another $38.628 million funds State Public Defender operations, with up to 276 full-time-equivalent positions. The law also provides $2.635 million in legal services grants for people in poverty. These funds pay for legal help, not cash benefits to households.
Funding for state lawyers and prosecutions
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $11.672 million for Justice Department general operations and authorizes 238 full-time-equivalent positions. That appropriation increases by $165,000 if the separate 2026 Senate File 639 is not enacted. Another $2 million from the consumer education and litigation fund supports prosecutions, criminal appeals, and related legal duties. The department also receives $202,060 for computer security and technology improvements. It must track estimated time spent representing each state agency.
Funding for state public defense operations
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Iowa provides $7.646 million to the Department of Public Defense. The money covers salaries, support, maintenance, and other department operations. The law authorizes up to 242 full-time-equivalent positions; it does not create a household cash benefit.
Higher pay for appointed defense attorneys
For appointments made on or after July 1, 2026, Iowa raises appointed defense attorney pay by $4 an hour. Rates rise from $88 to $92 for class A felonies and from $83 to $87 for class B felonies. For all other cases, the rate rises from $78 to $82 an hour.
Inmate labor supports local restoration work
From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Iowa may use inmate labor to restore rural cemeteries and historical landmarks. That work must be coordinated with townships, Iowa cemetery associations, or other nonprofit or government groups. Iowa may also use inmate labor to clean roads and water sources in cooperation with counties.
Police academy can exchange training cars
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy may select at least five State Patrol cars before public auction. It must exchange one academy car for each selected car and use the selected cars for officer training. The exchanged academy cars must be sold at public auction. Receipts go to the State Patrol depreciation fund.
Public safety gains spending flexibility
Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa's Department of Public Safety can move covered appropriations to meet funding needs. Before a transfer takes effect, it must notify the Legislative Services Agency and Department of Management and explain why. It cannot move money for the purpose of eliminating a program.
County court expense list drops claims
Beginning July 1, 2026, the law removes claims under Iowa Code section 622.93 from listed county court expenses. It does not identify who pays those claims instead. It also does not state any resulting savings for counties or households.
Higher fees for Iowa court users
For fees paid on or after July 1, 2026, covered Iowa court filing and service fees rise by $20. General petitions rise from $195 to $215, divorce petitions from $265 to $285, and small-claims filings from $95 to $115. Other chapter 598 petitions and agreed divorce modifications rise from $110 to $130. Small-claims appeals and writs of error rise from $195 to $215. Motions to show cause and civil judgment transcripts rise from $60 to $80; tribal judgment filings rise from $110 to $130. Statutory liens and real-estate title certifications rise from $60 to $80; certificates and seals rise from $30 to $50. Chapter 626 executions rise from $35 to $55; chapter 654 executions and lis pendens rise from $60 to $80. Confession-of-judgment filings rise from $60 to $80 for judgments up to $5,000, and from $110 to $130 for larger judgments. The certificate-and-seal waiver remains for applications seeking a pension, bounty, or back pay for military members or other people. Creditors can recover chapter 626 execution fees from debtors. That fee remains waived for political subdivisions when a county attorney or designee collects the delinquent judgment under the specified collection law.
Courts lose a pretrial assessment tool
Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa courts cannot use the public safety assessment in pretrial detention or release decisions. The ban lasts until the Iowa legislature specifically authorizes its use. The law does not set a required detention or release outcome for any defendant.
State furniture purchases require prison-industry bids
From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, state agencies must seek bids from Iowa State Industries. This applies to office furniture purchases over $5,000, or as agency purchasing rules provide. Agencies are also encouraged, but not required, to buy its available products.
Consumer advocacy funding requires cost recovery
For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Iowa provides about $3.78 million for the Office of Consumer Advocate. The money comes from the commerce revolving fund and supports up to 18 full-time-equivalent staff positions. The office must recover that funding and state-assessed indirect costs through charges or other revenue. The Department of Justice also receives otherwise unassigned antitrust and consumer education and litigation fund money for its legal duties. No total is set for those balances, and the law sets no individual household charge.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/2/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 29 • No: 17
legislature vote • 5/2/2026
Amendment H-8416 to amendment H-8414
Yes: 27 • No: 58
House vote • 5/2/2026
Passed House
Yes: 54 • No: 31
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
6/2/2026HouseReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.
5/13/2026HouseNOBA: Final
5/8/2026legislatureMessage from Senate.
5/2/2026HouseImmediate message.
5/2/2026SenateExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026SenatePassed Senate, yeas 29, nays 17.
5/2/2026SenateSubstituted for SF 2481.
5/2/2026SenateRead first time, attached to SF 2481.
5/2/2026SenateMessage from House.
5/2/2026SenateImmediate message.
5/2/2026HouseExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026HousePassed House, yeas 54, nays 31.
5/2/2026HouseExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8414 adopted, as amended.
5/2/2026HouseExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8416 to amendment H-8414, yeas 27, nays 58, lost.
5/2/2026HouseExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8417 to amendment H-8414, yeas 29, nays 56, lost.
5/2/2026HouseExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8451 to amendment H-8414, yeas 82, nays 3, adopted.
5/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8451 filed.
4/30/2026HouseAmendments H-8414, H-8416 and H-8417 filed.
4/28/2026HouseNOBA: House Full Approps
4/15/2026HouseIntroduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.
4/15/2026House
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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: 10/02/2026.
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 of revenue, and funding from the secure an advanced vision for education fund, establishing a program for first-time homebuyers, modifying and making appropriations, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3001.) Effective date: 05/18/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027. Applicability date: 01/01/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027, 07/01/2027, 07/01/2028.
HF 992, A bill for an act relating to the fee for duplicates or other evidence of interstate fuel use tax permits or licenses. (Formerly HF 695, HSB 203.) Effective date: 07/01/2026.
HF 2772, A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for the economic development of the state, including to the economic development authority, Iowa finance authority, department of workforce development, and state board of regents and certain regents institutions, and codifying the housing renewal program. (Formerly HSB 773.) Effective date: 07/01/2026.
HF 2771, A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection, and including contingent effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 772.) Effective Date: Conditional, 07/01/2026.
HF 2799, A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the economic development authority, the utilities commission, and the department of education, including creation of the headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment program, and the business incentives for growth program training fund; repeal of the new jobs tax credit program; the major economic growth attraction program; load forecasting and analysis of electric transmission system expansion plans; creation of the electric transmission system expansion planning and analysis and load forecasting fund; the industrial new jobs training program; and establishing the new jobs training program interim study committee; and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 755.) Effective date: 06/02/2026, 07/01/2026.