Relating to qualifications to practice law in Iowa and regulation of persons admitted to practice law in a jurisdiction of the United States other than Iowa

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedFebruary 8, 2019
2. –
   Skipped: SubcommitteeSkipped
3. ✓
   Done: House committeeApril 4, 2019
4. ✓
   Done: Passes the HouseApril 18, 2019
5. –
   Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
6. ✓
   Done: Passes the SenateApril 9, 201948–0
7. ✓
   Done: To the GovernorApril 30, 2019
8. ✓
   Done: Signed into lawMay 1, 2019

SF 379 became law → The same legislation passed as SF 379, so this version was set aside. Go to SF 379 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill removes the requirement that an applicant for admission to practice law (be admitted to the bar) in Iowa be a resident of Iowa. The bill, in part, is a response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Supreme Court of New Hampshire v. 274 (1985). That case held that a state residency requirement to be admitted to the bar violated the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the United States Constitution. The bill provides that people who are qualified to be admitted to practice law in Iowa at the discretion of the court include not only persons who have been admitted to the bars of any other state or the District of Columbia but also a territory of the United States.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed¹

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