Establishing the criminal offense of looting, and providing penalties

Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee

Topics:Courts & civil law Crime & corrections

Same legislation: HF 2259

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 1, 2024
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 1, 2024
Done: House committeeFebruary 14, 2024
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 6, 202494–0
Done: Senate committeeMarch 13, 2024
Done: Passes the SenateApril 1, 202442–6
Done: To the GovernorApril 19, 2024
Done: Signed into lawApril 19, 2024

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill establishes the criminal offense of looting.2, with another person or any group of persons and the person obtains, exerts control over, damages, or removes the property of another without authorization. Joint criminal conduct occurs when two or more persons act in concert and knowingly participate in a public offense, and for which each is responsible for the acts of the other done in furtherance of the commission of the offense or escape therefrom, and each person’s guilt will be the same as that of the person so acting.

Read the full explanation

The bill provides that the looting of property exceeding $10,000 in value, by any one person or all persons engaged in the looting of the property, or the looting of any property not exceeding $10,000 in value by one person who has once before been convicted of looting in the first or second degree, or any looting that involves a dangerous weapon, is looting in the first degree. Looting in the first degree is a class “C” felony punishable by an indeterminate term of confinement not to exceed years, with a mandatory minimum term of five years, and the assessment of a minimum fine of $1,000 and a maximum fine of $10,000. The bill provides that the looting of property exceeding $1,000 in value but not exceeding $10,000 in value, by any one person or all persons engaged in the looting of the property, or the looting of any property not exceeding $1,000 in value by one person who has once before been convicted of looting in the third degree, is looting in the second degree. Looting in the second degree is a class “D” felony punishable by an indeterminate term of confinement not to exceed five years, with a mandatory minimum term of one and one-half years, and the assessment of a minimum fine of $650 and a maximum fine of $7,500. The bill provides that the looting of property exceeding $300 but not exceeding $1,000 in value, by any one person or all persons engaged in the looting of the property, is looting in the third degree. Looting in the third degree is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by an indeterminate term of confinement not to exceed two years. The bill provides that a person whose business or property is directly or indirectly injured by looting may bring a civil action against any person involved in the violation, and may recover up to threefold the actual damages sustained and costs and expenses including reasonable attorney fees. Each person exerting control over, damaging, or removing the property of another shall be jointly and severally liable for any such injury.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed

Senate subcommittee

Named March 11, 2024. On March 13, 2024 it recommended passage. [].

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

Can’t be estimated Compare with other bills

House File 2598 creates new criminal offenses, and the fiscal impact cannot be estimated due to a lack of existing conviction data. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per offense for a Class C felony, a Class D felony, and an aggravated misdemeanor. The estimated impact to the State General Fund includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC.

Mob Looting, Criminal Offense · March 5, 2024

Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§714.2B

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

1 for · 1 against · 5 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

90th General Assembly

HF 2259Renumbered HF 2598Became lawfrom HF 2259

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.