Relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, providing for properly related matters including indigent defense and representation, the corrections capital reinvestment fund, and a corrections federal receipts fund, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions

Sponsored by the House Appropriations Committee

Topics:State budget Crime & corrections Public safety & emergencies

Same legislation: SSB 1232, HSB 339, SF 644

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedApril 30, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeApril 30, 2025
Done: House committeeMay 12, 2025
Done: Passes the HouseMay 14, 202560–27
Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
Done: Passes the SenateMay 13, 202533–13
Done: To the GovernorMay 23, 2025
Done: Signed into lawJune 11, 2025

SF 644 became law → The same legislation passed as SF 644, so this version was set aside. Go to SF 644 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary This bill provides funding for several state agencies, including the departments of justice, corrections, and public safety. It increases the hourly pay for lawyers who are appointed by the court to represent people who cannot afford their own attorney. Additionally, the bill sets up new ways for the Department of Corrections to manage and use certain federal and real estate funds.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to and makes appropriations to the justice system. FY 2025-2026 APPROPRIATIONS. The bill makes appropriations for FY 2025-2026 from the general fund of the state to the departments of justice, corrections (DOC), public defense, public safety, and homeland security and emergency management, and the Iowa law enforcement academy, office of the state public defender, and board of parole. The bill also appropriates moneys from the commerce revolving fund to the office of consumer advocate of the department of justice; from the gaming enforcement revolving fund to the department of public safety; from the 911 emergency communications fund to the department of homeland security and emergency management; and from the consumer education and litigation fund to the department of justice for farm mediation services and for criminal prosecutions, criminal appeals, and performing certain duties. INDIGENT DEFENSE AND REPRESENTATION. The bill increases the hourly rates for court-appointed counsel by $2 per hour and provides that for appointments made on or after July 1, 2025, compensation is calculated on the basis of $88 per hour for class “A” felonies, $83 per hour for class “B” felonies, and $78 per hour for all other cases. ATTORNEY GENERAL —— CONSUMER EDUCATION AND LITIGATION FUND.16C that have been in effect since FY 2014-2015. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS —— CAPITAL REINVESTMENT FUND. The bill authorizes proceeds from the sale of real estate by DOC to be used for upgrades to the Iowa corrections offender network system. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS —— FEDERAL RECEIPTS FUND.41 (block grants). Moneys in the fund are appropriated to DOC for purposes of DOC operations and any other use authorized or required under the federal law or contract pursuant to which the moneys were paid, unless otherwise provided for by law. Moneys in the fund do not revert and interest or earnings on moneys in the fund are credited to the fund. This division of the bill takes effect upon enactment and applies retroactively to FY 2023-2024.

Why it matters. State agencies including the departments of justice, corrections, public safety, homeland security and emergency management, and the Iowa law enforcement academy will receive various appropriations for their operations. Court-appointed attorneys will see their hourly rates increase by $2 per hour for appointments made on or after July 1, 2025. The Department of Corrections will also be authorized to use proceeds from real estate sales to upgrade its offender network system and will establish a new fund for federal moneys.²

Changed since by amendment S-3155; see Amendments.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed³

House subcommittee

Named April 30, 2025 (as HSB 339). Meeting: Thursday, May 1 · 2:30 PM · RM 102.

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

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§904.118

Amends§714.16C §815.7 §904.317

How the Code works⁴

Lobbying

1 for · 1 against · 21 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 2434Didn’t advance90th GA SSB 1214Renumbered90th GA

Study bill

SSB 1232Renumbered HSB 339Renumbered

91st General Assembly

SF 644Became lawfrom SSB 1232 HF 1046Didn’t advancefrom HSB 339

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in 3 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.

SSB 1214 SSB 1214
90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 562 · nearly identical
Cleared committee
SF 2434 Relating to and making appropriations to the justice system
90th General Assembly · Withdrawn · very similar
Didn’t advance
SSB 3191 SSB 3191
90th General Assembly · In committee · similar
Cleared committee
SSB 1244 SSB 1244
89th General Assembly · In committee · similar
Cleared committee
SSB 3103 SSB 3103
88th General Assembly · In committee · similar
Cleared committee

Similar bills this General Assembly

SF 2481 Relating to and making appropriations to the justice system
91st General Assembly · Withdrawn
Nearly identical
SSB 1224 Relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, including a corrections capit…
91st General Assembly · In committee
Very similar

Matched by wording or an identical title.