Bills › 90th General Assembly

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 9, 2024
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 9, 2024
  3. Done: House committeeFebruary 14, 2024
  4. Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2616
  5. Next: Senate committee
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Became HF 2616 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2616 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to defense subpoenas in criminal cases. _____ court. An application shall not be granted unless a defendant proves by clear and convincing evidence there is a compelling need for the evidence sought and that such evidence is material, necessary, exculpatory, and admissible at trial; and the evidence sought does not include the private information of a crime victim or any other person except for the defendant’s own private information. Notwithstanding any rule of criminal procedure concerning the issuance of a subpoena, the bill provides that the procedure set forth in the bill is the exclusive mechanism for a criminal defendant or counsel acting on behalf of the defendant to issue a subpoena for documents or other evidence.

Read the full explanation

Documents or other evidence obtained by a subpoena that does not comply with the requirements of the bill shall not be admissible in any criminal action if offered by the defendant, and an attorney who knowingly issues a defense subpoena that does not comply with the requirements of the bill commits a simple misdemeanor. An application for a defense subpoena shall not be made or reviewed ex parte. Any documents or evidence obtained by a defense subpoena must be provided to the prosecuting attorney within hours of obtaining the documents or evidence. The bill provides that upon application by a crime victim or the prosecuting attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent a person or entity served with a defense subpoena, if the person or entity is indigent. The bill provides that an applicant for postconviction relief shall not be entitled to relief on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel as a result of evidence obtained through a defense subpoena.

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

House subcommittee

Named January 9, 2024. On February 12, 2024 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

Fiscal note

The total fiscal impact of House File 2616 cannot be estimated, but the costs to the SPD are anticipated to be significant. Under the Bill, the amount of attorney time spent on a case is estimated to increase due to the increased numbers of motions, hearings, and investigations, and fewer resolutions before trials which may increase the average cost per criminal case handled by court-appointed attorneys.

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§821A.1

Amends§815.9

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

Lobbying

4 for · 4 against · 9 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.

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

Similar bills

  • HSB 20 Relating to defense subpoenas in criminal cases, and providing penalties
    91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage
    Nearly identical

Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.