Bills › 89th General Assembly
Regarding legislative oversight of supreme court decisions, and including applicability provisions
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 21, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 26, 2021
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Under this law, only the Iowa Supreme Court would have the power to decide if a law is unconstitutional, meaning lower courts could no longer strike laws down. If the Supreme Court makes a decision that changes or cancels an existing law, that change would not happen for one year. During that year, the state legislature could hold hearings to question the justices or vote to overturn the court's decision.1
Read the official explanation
This bill gives the supreme court discretionary and exclusive jurisdiction over any challenge to any law and provides that district courts and the court of appeals shall not invalidate a law on any grounds. The bill provides that any decision of the supreme court that invalidates existing law or has the effect of creating a new law does not have any effect for one year. The bill provides that, if within one year of the date a supreme court decision is rendered that invalidates existing law or has the effect of creating new law, the general assembly may hold a public hearing and compel the attendance of justices to justify the decision. Based on the results of the hearing, a justice present at the hearing may change the justice’s vote or alter the justice’s individual contribution to a decision that invalidates existing law or has the effect of creating a new law. Lastly, the bill provides that a supreme court decision that invalidates existing law or has the effect of creating new law will not take effect if two-thirds of both the senate and the house of representatives approves of a resolution to overturn the decision within one year of the date the decision was published. The bill applies to decisions published by the supreme court on or after the effective date of the bill.
House subcommittee
Named January 26, 2021. On February 2, 2021 it recommended indefinite postponement. Vote Total: 3-0.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SSB 3181 SSB 318188th General Assembly · In committee · similarCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.