Sign in

Back to the bill

91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 2356: Establishing the state public defender’s pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families

Signed into law

What it does

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. Under current law, the state public defender (SPD) may establish a pilot project to implement innovative models of legal representation to assist families involved in the child welfare system by implementing and studying ways to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities.

Sponsors

Judiciary committee

Cost

See the fiscal note

5 million annually to the Indigent Defense Fund once the PPF is fully implemented across the State. However, that estimate is compared to current law for FY 2027, in which the pilot program would be expired. The pilot program has been in operation since 2020, …

House subcommittee · named January 15, 2026

  • Rep. Charley Thomson (R) · charley.thomson@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Blaine C. Watkins (R) · blaine.watkins@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) · beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 0 against

For: Iowa ACEs 360; State Public Defender's Office

In plain words

  1. January 15, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee · as HSB 566
  2. January 15, 2026House subcommittee named: Thomson, C., Watkins and Wessel-Kroeschell · as HSB 566
  3. January 22, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 566
  4. January 26, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 566
  5. January 26, 2026Committee vote: 19–0 · as HSB 566
  6. February 9, 2026Filed in the House
  7. February 9, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2356 · as HSB 566
  8. February 25, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  9. February 26, 2026Passed the House, 90–0
  10. March 2, 2026Arrived in the Senate
  11. March 23, 2026Took the place of SF 2370 on the Senate floor (the same legislation)
  12. March 23, 2026Passed the Senate, 47–0
  13. April 9, 2026Sent to the Governor
  14. April 9, 2026Signed into law
  15. May 20, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted

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/91/HF2356