All Roll Calls
Yes: 175 • No: 91
IowaSF 63991st General Assembly (2025–2026)Senate
A bill for an act creating a specialty business court, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SF 570, SSB 1203.) Effective date: 09/01/2026.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Signed by Governor
ways and means
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Business Court judges, staffing, and rules
Starting September 1, 2025, the Iowa Supreme Court sets how the Business Court operates and how cases are assigned or moved. The governor appoints two or three exclusive Business Court judges from nominees, and the Supreme Court can add visiting district or senior judges. The state court administrator may hire needed staff. Business Court judges get district‑judge pay and follow the same conduct and retention rules. Each case gets a presiding judge and a second judge to run settlement talks. Judges generally issue written opinions on legal questions to build clear precedent. Jury trials happen in a proper county; if a case was removed, trial is in the original filing county. Juror selection follows chapter 607A.
New court for big business disputes
Beginning September 1, 2026, Iowa runs a Business Court for complex, high‑value business cases. It can hear civil cases with $500,000 or more in compensatory damages, or cases that mainly seek injunctions or declarations in set business areas. Covered areas include IP licensing; corporate and LLC internal affairs; big business‑to‑business contract, fraud, or statute claims; shareholder suits; bank transactions; trade secrets and noncompetes; nonresidential commercial real estate; antitrust and securities; and other business torts. The court does not hear personal injury or death claims, most government‑party cases unless the agency consents, certain probate‑related claims, or most professional negligence unless tied to a covered deal. Parties may file directly or move to transfer from district court. If the court lacks jurisdiction over some or all claims, it may transfer, dismiss without prejudice, or keep only the parts it can hear. Appeals follow the same rules as district‑court appeals. Removal to the Business Court does not use Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.441.
When Business Court changes start
The law takes effect September 1, 2025. It applies to eligible civil actions filed on or after that date. Cases pending before that date can move to the Business Court only if all parties agree.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 5/2/2026
Amendment H-8456
Yes: 8 • No: 77
House vote • 5/2/2026
Passed House
Yes: 79 • No: 6
Senate vote • 5/2/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 38 • No: 8
Senate vote • 4/28/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 50 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Fiscal note.
6/2/2026legislatureSigned by Governor.
6/1/2026GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
5/18/2026SenateMessage from Senate.
5/2/2026SenateImmediate message.
5/2/2026legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 38, nays 8.
5/2/2026SenateSenate concurred with S-5255.
5/2/2026SenateMessage from House, with amendment S-5255.
5/2/2026HouseImmediate message.
5/2/2026legislatureExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026legislaturePassed House, yeas 79, nays 6.
5/2/2026HouseAmendment H-8447 adopted.
5/2/2026legislatureExplanation of vote.
5/2/2026legislatureAmendment H-8456, yeas 8, nays 77, lost.
5/2/2026legislatureAmendment H-8440 adopted.
5/2/2026legislatureAmendment H-8456 filed.
5/1/2026legislatureAmendments H-8440 and H-8447 filed.
4/30/2026legislaturePlaced on Ways and Means calendar.
4/22/2026legislatureCommittee vote: Yeas, 18. Nays, 6. Excused, 1.
4/21/2026legislatureCommittee report, recommending passage.
4/21/2026legislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
2/4/2026legislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/04/2026 12:15PM RM 102.
2/2/2026legislatureSubcommittee: Nordman, Lundgren and Wilson.
1/29/2026legislature* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
12/31/2025legislatureRead first time, referred to Ways and Means.
4/30/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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