Relating to a peace officer’s search of garbage placed outside of a person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area

Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee

Topics:Crime & corrections Public safety & emergencies

Same legislation: SF 2111

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 26, 2022
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 27, 2022
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 16, 2022
Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 22, 202249–0
Done: House committeeMarch 9, 2022
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 22, 202258–36
Done: To the GovernorApril 21, 2022
Done: Signed into lawApril 21, 2022

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Police officers can search and take trash left outside a home for collection without needing a search warrant. This law states that once garbage is placed in a public area for pickup, it is considered abandoned property. Local city or county rules cannot change this rule to give people more privacy over their trash.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to a peace officer’s search of garbage placed outside of a person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area. The bill provides that it is the public policy of this state that a person has no reasonable expectation of privacy in garbage placed outside of the person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area. An ordinance or a regulation adopted by a city or county shall not be construed by a person to create a reasonable expectation of privacy in garbage placed outside of the person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area. The bill provides that garbage placed outside of a person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area shall be deemed abandoned property and shall not be considered to be constitutionally protected papers or effects of the person. A peace officer may conduct a search and may seize garbage placed outside of a person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area without making an application for a search warrant.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed²

House subcommittee

Named February 23, 2022. On March 3, 2022 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-1.

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

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§808.16

How the Code works³

Lobbying

5 for · 2 against · 5 undecided · Who →

Family tree

89th General Assembly

SF 2111Renumbered SF 2296Became lawfrom SF 2111