Bills › 89th General Assembly
HSB 143
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 26, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 26, 2021
- Done: House committeeFebruary 24, 2021
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HJR 11
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HJR 11 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HJR 11 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the qualifications of electors. The amendment provides that a person who is convicted of a felony is not entitled to the privileges of an elector until that person discharges his or her sentence. Under current law, a person convicted of any infamous crime is not entitled to the privileges of an elector unless that person’s rights are restored by the governor. The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly (90th) for adoption, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
House subcommittee
Named January 26, 2021. On February 18, 2021 it recommended passage. 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
Fiscal note
AI summary This constitutional amendment would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of a felony once they have completed their sentences. The estimated cost to publish the amendment if passed by the 89th General Assembly is $14,400 in fiscal year 2023. If passed a second time by the 90th General Assembly, the estimated cost to publish in all 99 counties would be $178,200 in fiscal year 2025, which would be reimbursed by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
House Joint Resolution 11 proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that a person who is convicted of a felony is not entitled to the privileges of an elector until that person discharges the person’s sentence. This amendment would automatically restore the privileges of an elector to persons convicted of any felony who have discharged their sentences.
Background
Under current law, a person convicted of any infamous crime is not entitled to the privileges of an elector unless that person’s rights are restored by the Governor. “Infamous crime” means a felony as defined in Iowa Code section 701.7 or an offense classified as a felony under federal law.
Iowa Code section 49A.1 and the Iowa Constitution require that when a proposed amendment to the Constitution has passed the General Assembly and has been referred to the next succeeding General Assembly, the General Assembly is required to publish the proposed amendment in two newspapers of general circulation in each Iowa congressional district once each month, for three consecutive months, prior to the start of the next General Assembly. Upon passage of the same amendment by the succeeding General Assembly, Iowa Code section 49A.2 requires the amendment to be published in newspapers in all 99 counties once each month for three consecutive months immediately preceding the general election.
Assumptions
- The average cost to publish a proposed constitutional amendment in a single newspaper is $600.
- Publication of the initial amendment would occur monthly in eight newspapers (two in each congressional district) for a three-month period if the proposed amendment were passed by the 89th General Assembly.
- Subsequent publication of the amendment would occur monthly in 99 newspapers (one in each county) for a three-month period prior to the 2024 General Election if the amendment were passed by the 90th General Assembly.
Fiscal Impact
Constitutional Amendment Publication Cost. The estimated cost to publish a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the 89th General Assembly would be $14,400 (8 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2022 (FY 2023), prior to the convening of the 2023 Legislative Session.
Assuming the proposed amendment is passed a second time by the 90th General Assembly, the estimated cost would be $178,200 (99 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2024 (FY 2025).
These publication costs would be incurred by the Secretary of the Senate’s Office and the Chief Clerk’s Office in the House of Representatives and reimbursed by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.
Sources
- Legislative Services Agency
- Office of the Secretary of State
- Felon Voting, Constitutional Amendment · March 1, 2021 · $14,400
Lobbying
20 for · 0 against · 3 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Tried before
89th General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None became law, though one got through a chamber.
- HJR 14 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the qualificat…88th General Assembly · Passed House · same titlePassed a chamber
Matched by wording or an identical title.