HF 2505: Relating to bail and bond amounts and conditions

What it does

This bill relates to bail and bond amounts and conditions. The bill provides that when the offense is bailable, the magistrate shall fix bail at the amount endorsed on the warrant unless the bail set on the warrant is less than that specified on the bond schedule. In fixing bail, the magistrate shall not set bail at an amount that is less than, or a percentage of, that on the uniform bond schedule, unless the magistrate provides justification for the deviation in writing. The bill provides that a defendant is only eligible to be released on the defendant’s own recognizance if the defendant has been charged with a nonviolent, nondrug simple or serious misdemeanor.

House subcommittee · named January 29, 2026

• Rep. Mike Vondran (R) · mike.vondran@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Daniel Gosa (D) · daniel.gosa@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Bill Gustoff (R) · bill.gustoff@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 4 against

For: Cicero Action; Lederman Bonding Company

Against: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Iowa Association for Justice; Iowa Mental Health Advocacy; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska

In plain words

1. January 29, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Public Safety committee · as HSB 641
2. January 29, 2026House subcommittee named: Vondran, Gosa and Gustoff · as HSB 641
3. February 4, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 641
4. February 11, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 641
5. February 11, 2026Committee vote: 15–8 · as HSB 641
6. February 16, 2026Filed in the House
7. February 16, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2505 · as HSB 641
8. March 4, 2026Withdrawn