Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring the department of health and human services to establish peer-run respite programs
Sponsored by Rep. Timi M. Brown-Powers (D), Rep. Ken Croken (D), Rep. Monica Kurth (D), Rep. Mary Lee Madison (D), Rep. Ross Wilburn (D)
Topics:Health careFamilies & human servicesMental health & addiction
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2026
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa would create seven new support programs run by people who have personal experience with mental health challenges or life-altering struggles. These programs would offer short-term help to anyone going through an emotional crisis or a difficult time. To keep them separate from hospitals, these centers cannot be located on medical or clinical campuses.1
Read the official explanation
This bill requires the department of health and human services to establish seven peer-run respite programs (programs) throughout the state. The programs must offer voluntary, short-term support for individuals experiencing emotional distress, behavioral health distress, a mental health crisis, or a life-altering challenge as that term is defined in the bill. The programs cannot be located on a clinical, medical, or mental health facility’s campus, and must operate independently from other medical clinics and behavioral health clinics. At least percent of a program’s board of directors must be comprised of individuals who have a history of living with a psychiatric condition or a behavioral health condition, or who have experienced a life-altering challenge. If a program offers clinical mental health services, such services must constitute less than percent of the total services offered by the program.