All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 23
IowaHF 70691st General Assembly (2025–2026)House
A bill for an act relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly HF 416.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Signed by Governor
state government
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Higher fines and removal for illegal meetings
Beginning July 1, 2025, courts assess personal fines on each member who took part in an illegal closed meeting. If you did not knowingly join, you must pay $500 to $2,500. If you knowingly joined, you must pay $5,000 to $12,500. The money goes to the state for state bodies, or to the local government for local bodies. You avoid fines if you voted against the closed session, acted in good faith based on facts, or reasonably relied on certain written or formal legal opinions. If you already had damages for a violation during this same term, the court removes you from office.
Public Information Board can order fines
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Iowa Public Information Board can hold proceedings and issue final orders with the force of law. The Board can find violations of open meetings or records laws, require compliance, and impose civil penalties. It can also order damages when a court could award the same under sections 21.6, 21.12, or 22.10. The Board may order other remedies to stop or fix a violation.
New officials must finish open meetings training
Beginning July 1, 2025, new elected or appointed officials on a governmental body must finish 1 to 2 hours of training on open meetings and records. You must finish by the 90th day after your oath, start date, or election. At least one approved course is free. You get a certificate, and your body must keep completion records open to the public. Missing the deadline does not void actions, but you must finish within 60 days or face damages under the law. This does not apply to members or bodies excluded from the Iowa Public Information Board’s jurisdiction under section 23.12.
State security videos and badge data private
Beginning July 1, 2025, two sets of state records are no longer public. Security camera footage run by the legislative branch that watches state property is exempt. Data from state employee ID card access systems for state‑owned or leased buildings and rooms is also exempt. These records are not available under the open records law.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2025
Passed House
Yes: 83 • No: 10
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 34 • No: 13
House vote • 3/24/2025
Passed House
Yes: 95 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
6/6/2025GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.
5/19/2025SenateMessage from House.
4/23/2025HouseImmediate message.
4/23/2025legislaturePassed House, yeas 83, nays 10.
4/23/2025HouseHouse concurred in Senate amendment H-1250.
4/23/2025SenateExplanation of vote.
4/22/2025legislatureSenate amendment H-1250 filed.
4/17/2025SenateMessage from Senate.
4/17/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/17/2025legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 34, nays 13.
4/17/2025SenateAmendment S-3109 ruled out of order.
4/17/2025legislatureAmendment S-3110 adopted.
4/17/2025legislaturePoint of order raised on S-3110, ruled in order.
4/17/2025legislatureAmendment S-3110 filed.
4/17/2025legislatureAmendment S-3109 filed, deferred.
4/17/2025legislaturePlaced on calendar under unfinished business.
4/10/2025legislaturePlaced on calendar.
4/2/2025legislatureCommittee report, recommending passage.
4/2/2025legislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
3/31/2025legislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 03/31/2025 11:30AM Senate Lounge.
3/27/2025SenateSubcommittee: Webster, Townsend, and Westrich.
3/26/2025legislatureRead first time, referred to State Government.
3/25/2025legislatureMessage from House.
3/25/2025HouseExplanation of vote.
3/25/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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