All Roll Calls
Yes: 93 • No: 40
IowaSF 64491st General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, providing for properly related matters including indigent defense and representation, the corrections capital reinvestment fund, and a corrections federal receipts fund, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1232.) Effective date: 06/11/2025, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: 07/01/2023.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
22 provisions identified: 19 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Funding for defense lawyers and representation
For July 2025–June 2026, the law provides about $35.53 million for the State Public Defender and 266 full-time-equivalent jobs. It separately provides about $42.73 million for defense payments for eligible adults and juveniles. The first amount includes $100,000 for rural attorney recruitment administration only if House File 1001, Senate File 250, or successor legislation creates the program. Unused, uncommitted federal Title IV-E funds transfer to the juvenile justice improvement fund instead of expiring. Those funds remain available in later years only for federally allowed Title IV-E purposes.
Legal help for low-income Iowans
The law provides about $2.63 million for legal services grants for people in poverty. Funding covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The money supports organizations providing legal help, not individual cash grants. The law does not set a new income formula or an amount each person receives.
Prison education funding supports successful release
Beginning July 1, 2025, the law provides about $3.11 million for education in state prisons. Corrections must prioritize education and job training that help people prepare for successful release. The department can also transfer money from prison industry and canteen operating funds into these programs. Unused, uncommitted funding remains available through June 30, 2027.
Funding keeps Iowa prisons operating
For July 2025–June 2026, prison funding includes about $46.56 million for Fort Madison, $39.36 million for Anamosa, and $58.95 million for Oakdale. Newton receives about $32.28 million; Mount Pleasant, $30.36 million; Rockwell City, $11.72 million; and Clarinda, $29.25 million. Mitchellville receives about $26.08 million and Fort Dodge, $34.09 million, with another $10.18 million for department-wide medicines and related institutional costs. The law provides about $1.35 million for specified county confinement reimbursements and $234,411 for federal prison reimbursements, out-of-state placements, and contracts. Clarinda youth corporation reimbursements must support the Clarinda facility, and facility funds must maintain contracts with a Muslim imam and Native American spiritual leader.
Funding supports police, firefighters, and investigations
For July 2025–June 2026, public safety funding includes about $92.23 million for the State Patrol, $22.81 million for criminal investigations, and $10.27 million for narcotics enforcement. Narcotics enforcement also receives $209,042 for undercover purchases and can add one job only while sufficient federal money supports it each year. The law provides about $7.10 million for administration, $3.55 million for the State Fire Marshal, $3.06 million for department-wide duties, and $279,517 for sick-leave benefits. It also provides $115,661 for interoperable communications, $200,742 to combat human trafficking, and $249,219 for drug-control policy. About $1.08 million for volunteer firefighter training and equipment and $650,000 for the criminalistics laboratory remain available through June 30, 2027, if unused and uncommitted.
Corrections funding supports programs and systems
For July 2025–June 2026, corrections receives about $8.17 million for administration, including a director for centralized prison education. It also receives $2 million for its offender data system, $28,065 for mental health and substance use treatment, and about $5.91 million for department-wide duties. The department can move the act's funds among institutions, administration, and district correctional services, following state law. It must notify the Legislative Services Agency and notify the Department of Management before changes take effect. Transfers cannot be used to eliminate a program.
Funding for justice and farm mediation
For July 2025–June 2026, the Attorney General's office receives about $10.91 million and authorization for 234 full-time-equivalent jobs. This supports prosecution training, victim assistance grants, and office duties; the department must track time spent representing each agency. The law also provides $300,000 for farm mediation, $2 million for prosecutions, appeals, and state tort-claim duties, and $202,060 for cybersecurity and technology. The office can temporarily carry a negative cash balance only when money owed to it covers that balance. Spending cannot exceed its appropriation at year-end.
Funding supports community supervision and parole
For July 2025–June 2026, district corrections funding is about $17.30 million for the First, $13.95 million for the Second, $8.92 million for the Third, and $6.47 million for the Fourth. The Fifth receives about $25.01 million; Sixth, $17.41 million; Seventh, $11 million; and Eighth, $10.24 million. The Fifth's funding includes statewide electronic-monitoring devices; the First, Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh must maintain drug courts, including two in the Second. Within available funds, districts must continue intensive supervision, sex-offender treatment, low-risk diversion, job development, and intermediate sanctions. They must provide safe alternatives to prison focused on rehabilitation and can establish day programs. The Board of Parole also receives about $1.55 million for operations and up to 11 full-time-equivalent jobs.
Funding supports emergency management and 911
For July 2025–June 2026, Homeland Security and Emergency Management receives about $2.45 million and up to 25.44 full-time-equivalent jobs. The department can temporarily carry a negative cash balance when federal money owed to it covers that balance. It cannot exceed its appropriation at year-end. The 911 emergency communications fund also provides $300,000 for administration, program management, and an annual audit by the State Auditor.
Gambling enforcement funding grows with facilities
For July 2025–June 2026, the gaming enforcement revolving fund provides about $12.23 million for up to 65 full-time-equivalent enforcement jobs. Each additional qualifying gambling-games license issued that year allows up to $300,000 more for enforcement staffing. Beginning July 1, 2026, public safety can hire up to three special agents per additional riverboat or gambling structure regulated after that date. It can also hire up to three agents per racing facility opening during July 2026–June 2027. Those hires require Department of Management approval; the money supports enforcement, not payments to gambling operators.
Grants and staffing support crime victims
Beginning July 1, 2025, the law provides about $5.17 million in victim assistance grants, including $150,000 for human-trafficking care providers. The rest supports providers serving other violent-crime victims, and at least $150,000 also transfers from the victim compensation fund. Unspent grant money remains available through June 30, 2027. The victim compensation fund can support up to 24 full-time-equivalent jobs and operating costs. Seven additional positions, including an accountant and four program planners, depend on enough federal money each year.
Higher pay for court-appointed defense lawyers
Iowa raises hourly pay for lawyers appointed to represent people eligible for state-paid defense. For appointments starting July 1, 2025, rates are $88 for class A felonies, $83 for class B felonies, and $78 for other cases. For appointments from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the rates are $86, $81, and $76, respectively. This change does not itself change who qualifies for counsel or what an eligible person pays.
Inmate crews can restore local sites
From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, corrections can use inmate labor to restore rural cemeteries and historic landmarks. That work must involve townships, cemetery associations, or other nonprofit or government groups. Inmate crews can also clean roads and water sources in cooperation with counties. The law does not specify project funding or household payments.
Police academy offers free abuse training
For July 2025–June 2026, the Law Enforcement Academy receives about $2.96 million and up to 31 full-time-equivalent jobs for operations, jailer training, and technical help. Temporary negative cash balances require matching receivables, and spending cannot exceed the appropriation at year-end. Beginning July 1, 2025, the academy must offer free statewide domestic-abuse and human-trafficking training without replacing existing courses. The Justice Department must fully reimburse one added trafficking instructor's costs from unrestricted victim compensation, trafficking victim, or trafficking enforcement funds. The academy can select at least five State Patrol cars before auction for training, exchanging an academy car for each; auction proceeds from exchanged cars go to the patrol's depreciation fund.
Public Defense funding supports department operations
For July 2025–June 2026, the Department of Public Defense receives about $7.27 million for operations. The law authorizes up to 248 full-time-equivalent jobs. The department can temporarily draw beyond available funds when federal money owed to it covers the negative balance. It cannot exceed its appropriation at year-end.
Higher funding limits for fighting fraud
Beginning July 1, 2025, the annual consumer-fraud education and enforcement funding ceiling rises from $1.125 million to $1.875 million. The annual ceiling for fraud investigations, prosecutions, and education involving older Iowans rises from $75,000 to $125,000. These are maximum funding amounts, not payments to consumers. For July 2025–June 2026, the Justice Department also receives money not already appropriated from the antitrust and consumer education and litigation funds. That money supports its legal duties and operating costs; the law gives no total.
Inmate work contracts must protect privacy
Beginning July 1, 2025, covered private-company inmate work agreements must limit access to citizens' identifying information as much as feasible. This applies to agreements for company use of building space to provide inmate employment. Agreements must also ban inmate labor for partisan political purposes for candidates seeking Iowa public office. A violation results in lease termination.
Corrections gains dedicated federal receipts fund
Effective June 11, 2025, the law creates a corrections federal receipts fund and applies retroactively to the year beginning July 1, 2023. The fund receives federal corrections money and other deposits, except money legally assigned to a separate special fund. Its money supports department operations and uses allowed or required by federal law or contract, subject to separate spending laws. Unspent balances stay in the fund, and earnings return to it. The law states no specific funding amount.
Corrections property proceeds can upgrade technology
Beginning July 1, 2025, corrections can use property-sale proceeds in its capital reinvestment fund to upgrade its offender network system. The fund can still pay for real estate purchases and improvements to property under the director's supervision. This expands allowed uses of existing proceeds; it does not set a new spending amount.
Courts face limits on pretrial assessments
Beginning July 1, 2025, Iowa courts cannot use the Public Safety Assessment to decide pretrial detention or release. The restriction continues unless the Iowa General Assembly specifically authorizes its use. This rule limits a court decision tool; it does not itself require a defendant's detention or release.
State furniture purchases require industry bids
For July 2025–June 2026, agencies must seek Iowa State Industries bids for office furniture purchases over $5,000, or as agency purchasing rules provide. This gives Iowa State Industries a bidding opportunity while adding a required purchasing step for agencies. Agencies are also encouraged to buy its available products when a purchase is required. The law does not require accepting its bid or set the final price.
Consumer advocacy funding requires cost recovery
For July 2025–June 2026, the Office of Consumer Advocate receives about $3.76 million from the commerce revolving fund. The law authorizes up to 18 full-time-equivalent jobs. The office must collect charges or other revenue covering that funding and state-assessed indirect costs. The law does not set a household charge.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/14/2025
Passed House
Yes: 60 • No: 27
Senate vote • 5/13/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 33 • No: 13
Actions Timeline
Explanations of votes.
6/27/2025HouseSigned by Governor.
6/11/2025SenateNOBA: Final
5/28/2025legislatureReported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
5/23/2025SenateExplanation of vote.
5/20/2025HouseMessage from House.
5/14/2025SenateImmediate message.
5/14/2025HouseNOBA: Senate Floor
5/14/2025SenatePassed House, yeas 60, nays 27.
5/14/2025HouseAmendment H-1348 filed, withdrawn.
5/14/2025HouseAmendment H-1341 withdrawn.
5/14/2025HouseSubstituted for HF 1046.
5/14/2025HouseAmendment H-1341 filed.
5/13/2025HouseRead first time, passed on file.
5/13/2025HouseMessage from Senate.
5/13/2025HouseImmediate message.
5/13/2025SenatePassed Senate, yeas 33, nays 13.
5/13/2025SenateAmendment S-3155 adopted.
5/13/2025SenateAmendment S-3155 filed.
5/12/2025SenateNOBA: Senate Full Approps
4/30/2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill.
4/30/2025SenateIntroduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.
4/30/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
Related Bills
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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 2601, A bill for an act relating to campaign finance, including participation in ballot issue campaigns by foreign nationals and investigations of election misconduct, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly HF 2044.) Effective date: 07/01/2026.
SF 2399, A bill for an act relating to bail and bond amounts and conditions. (Formerly SSB 3162.) Effective date: 07/01/2026.
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.
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.