90th General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 2062: Relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

Became HF 2539 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

Under current law, a court is required to assess a person who participated in a violation of Code chapter (open meetings) damages between $100 and $500. This bill increases the damages to between $1,000 and $5,000. Under current law, if a violation was knowingly committed, a court is required to assess the person damages between $1,000 and $2,500. The bill increases the damages to between $10,000 and $25,000. The bill requires a court to issue an order removing a member of a governmental body from office if that member has engaged in a prior violation of Code chapter regardless of whether damages were assessed against the member during the member’s term, which is a prerequisite to removal under current law.

Cost

See the fiscal note

The fiscal impact of HF 2539 is anticipated to be minimal. Source Iowa Public Information Board /s/ Jennifer Acton May 14, 2024 Doc ID 1449682 The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this …

House subcommittee · named January 18, 2024

Rep. Brent Siegrist (R) · brent.siegrist@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Jacob Bossman (R) · jacob.bossman@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Adam Zabner (D) · adam.zabner@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 1 against

For: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Iowa Freedom of Information Council

Against: Iowa Association of School Boards

In plain words

January 17, 2024Filed in the House and sent to the State Government committee
January 18, 2024House subcommittee named: Siegrist, Bossman and Zabner
January 24, 2024Subcommittee recommended passing it
February 13, 2024Approved by the House committee
February 15, 2024Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2539
February 22, 2024Withdrawn