Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable
Topics:State government
Same legislation: HF 2539
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 17, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 18, 2024
- Done: House committeeFebruary 13, 2024
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2539
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 2539 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2539 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People who break open meeting laws would face much higher fines, especially if they did so on purpose. Government officials would also have to take a class about meeting and record rules, and failing to take the class counts as a violation. If a member of a government group breaks these rules after having done so before, a court must remove them from their position.1
Read the official explanation
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. The bill requires members elected or appointed to a governmental body to take an educational course provided by the governmental body on the provisions of Code chapter and Code chapter (open records) that are relevant to the member’s position.6.
Changed since by amendments S-5184, S-5061; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named January 18, 2024. On January 24, 2024 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 bill increases the amount of money damages a member of a governmental body must pay for violating public records laws and changes the rules for removing a member from office. The fiscal impact of this bill is anticipated to be minimal.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 2539 increases the penalty for violation by a member of a governmental body of Iowa Code chapter 21 to no more than $2,500 and no less than $500 in damages. This Bill also increases the penalty for a member of a governmental body who knowingly violates Iowa Code chapter 21 to no more than $12,500 and no less than $5,000 in damages. The Bill also removes the requirement that damages need to have been assessed during a member’s term due to a previous violation of Iowa Code chapter 21 for a court to issue an order removing a member of a governmental body from office.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact of HF 2539 is anticipated to be minimal.
Source
- Iowa Public Information Board
- Final Fiscal Note — Public Records, Education and Enforcement · May 14, 2024
- Public Records, Education and Enforcement · February 21, 2024
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90th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Similar bills
- HF 416 Relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties appl…91st General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 706Very similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.