Sign in

Back to the bill

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

HF 61: Relating to adoption proceedings by providing for representation of adoptive parents and guardians ad litem by local public defenders for children in certain adoption proceedings and modifying filing requirements for adoption petitions and notice requirements for adoption hearings of adults

Became HF 398 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

This bill relates to adoption proceedings including provisions relating to representation of the parties and provision of a guardian ad litem for a child in certain adoption proceedings, attachments to an adoption petition, and requirements for notice of an adoption hearing. Regarding the powers and duties of local public defenders, the bill provides for the representation of certain parties and for provision of a guardian ad litem for a child in certain adoption proceedings. Under current law, a local public defender office shall represent an indigent party, upon order of the court, in child in need of assistance, family in need of assistance, delinquency, and termination of parental rights proceedings pursuant to Code chapter 232 (juvenile justice) when designated by the state public defender to represent the indigent party in the type of case for that county.

Sponsors

Not listed

Cost

See the fiscal note

The annual estimated expense of HF 398 to the Office of the State Public Defender is between $204,000 and $408,000, as shown in Table 1. This includes the cost of attorneys both to represent the petitioner and to serve as the guardian ad litem for the child fo…

House subcommittee · named January 26, 2023

  • Rep. Brian K. Lohse (R) · brian.lohse@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Megan Jones (R) · megan.jones@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Brian Meyer (D) · brian.meyer@legis.iowa.gov

In plain words

  1. January 18, 2023Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee
  2. January 26, 2023House subcommittee named: Lohse, Jones, Meyer and B
  3. February 14, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes
  4. February 21, 2023Approved by the House committee
  5. February 22, 2023Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 398
  6. March 9, 2023Withdrawn

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/90/HF61