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Amendments › SF 579

Amendment H-8091 to SF 579

Relating to local laws implementing the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, local civil rights commissions, and local civil rights agencies, and including effective date provisions

Withdrawn · March 5, 2026

Filed March 3, 2026 in the House by

In plain words

AI summary This amendment adds a rule that local agencies must screen complaints within 120 days or close them, and they must also file any complaints involving state laws with the Iowa office of civil rights within that same timeframe. It also requires that any complaint not resolved within 12 months be sent to the state office and mandates that the state office review any damages awarded by local agencies before they are enforced through July 1, 2027. Finally, it changes the year mentioned in the bill from 2025 to 2026.1

What it changes

  1. Page 1, before line 1 by inserting: “Section
  2. Section 216.19, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: All cities shall, to the extent possible, protect the rights of the citizens of this state secured by the Iowa civil rights Act. A city or local government shall not enact any ordinance or other law which is broader or has different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices than those provided in this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as indicating any of the following: Sec. ___. Section 216.19, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2026, is amended by striking the paragraph. Sec. ___. Section 216.19, subsection 7, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
  3. a. A local agency or local commission shall not overrule, modify, or award damages contrary to a final decision issued by a district court pursuant to section 17A.19 or 216.17. b. A final decision by a referral agency shall be subject to judicial review as provided in section 216.17 in the same manner and to the same extent as a final decision of the agency.”
  4. Page 1, line 1, by striking “2025” and inserting “2026”
  5. Page 1, by striking lines 7 through 31 and inserting: “NEW SUBSECTION .
  6. a. A complaint filed with a local agency or local commission shall be preliminarily screened by the local agency or local commission within one hundred twenty days of filing. b. If a complaint arises from an alleged violation of a state law, rule, or regulation under the jurisdiction of the Iowa office of civil rights, the local agency or local commission shall cross file the complaint with the Iowa office of civil rights within one hundred twenty days of the date the complaint was filed with the local agency or local commission. c. A complaint that is not preliminarily screened within one hundred twenty days shall be administratively closed.”
  7. Page 1, after line 33 by inserting: “NEW SUBSECTION .
  8. a. Beginning the effective date of this Act, a complaint filed with a local agency or local commission that has not been resolved within twelve months of the filing date of the complaint shall be referred to the Iowa office of civil rights for processing. b. Any damages awarded by a local agency or local commission between the effective date of this Act and July 1, 2027, shall be reviewed by the Iowa office of civil rights prior to enforcement. Sec. ___. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.”
  9. Title page, by striking lines 1 and 2 and inserting “An Act relating to local laws implementing the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, local civil rights commissions, and local civil rights agencies, and including effective date provisions.”
  10. By renumbering as necessary.

Official amendment (PDF) · In the Bill Book