All Roll Calls
Yes: 107 • No: 29
IowaHF 31491st General Assembly (2025–2026)House
A bill for an act authorizing the waiver of preplacement investigations and reports in certain adoption proceedings. (Formerly HSB 41.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Easier adoptions for relatives and guardians
Beginning July 1, 2025, close relatives and long-term guardians can skip some adoption steps. The court may waive the preplacement investigation if you are a relative within the fourth degree. The court may also waive it if you are the legal guardian, you have been guardian for 36 straight months, and you followed section 232D.402 during those months. If you are a qualifying relative who already has custody, an old preplacement report (over two years) does not block placement; the court can set a new time to finish the report or waive it.
Less paperwork for adult and stepparent adoptions
Beginning July 1, 2025, no automatic preplacement investigation is required when the person to be adopted is an adult or the petitioner is a stepparent. The court can still order an investigation if someone asks or the court states reasons on the record.
Court review for petitioners with past offenses
Beginning July 1, 2025, if you disclose a criminal conviction or deferred judgment other than a simple misdemeanor, or a founded child-abuse report, you must tell the court before the final adoption hearing. The court must make a specific, on-the-record ruling on whether to waive any required investigation or report.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 36 • No: 11
House vote • 3/10/2025
Passed House
Yes: 71 • No: 18
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
4/18/2025GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.
4/17/2025SenateMessage from Senate.
4/8/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/7/2025legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 36, nays 11.
4/7/2025SenateSubstituted for SF 154.
4/7/2025legislaturePlaced on calendar under unfinished business.
4/3/2025legislatureExplanation of vote.
3/18/2025legislatureRead first time, attached to SF 154.
3/10/2025legislatureMessage from House.
3/10/2025HouseImmediate message.
3/10/2025legislaturePassed House, yeas 71, nays 18.
3/10/2025HouseIntroduced, placed on calendar.
2/10/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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