Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to bonds and insurance policies for public officers
Topics:State governmentInsurance
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 25, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2024
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 15, 2024
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 9, 202446–0
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 27, 202497–0
- Done: To the GovernorApril 19, 2024
- Done: Signed into lawApril 19, 2024
HF 2398 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 2398, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 2398 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Public officers who are usually required to get a bond can now choose to get an insurance policy instead. These insurance policies must cover the same amount and follow similar rules as a bond. If a county or township normally pays for a bond, they must also pay for this insurance. The bill also changes the rules for how an officer is suspended or removed from their job if they fail to provide the required coverage.1
Read the official explanation
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to bonds and insurance policies for public officers. The bill allows a public officer that is required to obtain a bond pursuant to Code chapter 64 (official and private bonds) to instead obtain an insurance policy in an amount not less than the amount required of a bond for that officer. The bill requires that the terms of the insurance policy substantially comply with the terms required of an official bond. If the reasonable expenses of a bond would be paid for by a county or township, the bill requires the reasonable expenses of the insurance policy obtained in lieu of a bond to also be paid by that county or township. The state of Iowa shall be the beneficiary of an insurance policy obtained in lieu of a bond, and the bill requires the insurance policy to be approved, filed, and recorded in the same manner as a bond for a public officer. The bill changes the circumstances under which an officer can be removed from office for failure to give a bond. The bill allows an officer to be suspended from office after acting in an official capacity without giving a required bond until the officer gives an appropriate bond. If an officer who has been suspended from office for failure to give a bond does not give a bond after a reasonable time, the bill allows the officer to be removed from office.
Why it matters. Public officers who are required to have a bond could instead choose to get an insurance policy that meets the same requirements. Counties and townships would pay the reasonable expenses for these insurance policies if they were already paying for bonds. The bill also changes how an officer is suspended or removed from office if they fail to provide a required bond.2
Changed since by amendments S-5131, H-8065; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 30, 2024. On February 8, 2024 it recommended amendment and 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
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90th General Assembly