What changed in HF 2542

1 passage reworded, 13 added and 6 removed; 2 of 22 unchanged.

Removed AddedIntroduced textText as passedAmendments

Compares wording only. The printed bills also mark changes to existing law with strikes and underlines, which aren’t shown here.

Section 1. Section 902.8, Code 2026, is amended by striking the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 902.8 Habitual offender.

1. As used in this section:

a. “Level one offense” means all class “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” felonies, and all aggravated misdemeanors that involve sexual abuse under chapter 709, domestic abuse assault under section 708.2A, assault with the intent to inflict a serious injury or while using or displaying a dangerous weapon under section 708.2, subsections 1 and 3, organized retail theft under section 714.2B, subsection 3, paragraph “c”, theft, and possession of a controlled substance. For purposes of determining habitual offender status, each conviction of a level one offense is worth one point.

b. “Level two offense” means all aggravated misdemeanors that are not classified as a level one offense under paragraph “a”, and serious misdemeanors that involve assault causing bodily injury or mental illness under section 708.2, subsection 2, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury or mental illness under section 708.2A, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, harassment under section 708.7, subsection 3, unlawful possession of a controlled substance under section 124.401, subsections 3 and 5, theft in the fourth degree under section 714.2, and criminal mischief in the third degree under section 716.4. For purposes of determining habitual offender status, each conviction of a level two offense is worth one-half point.

2. A habitual offender is a person who has been convicted in a court of this state of an offense, or has been convicted of an offense committed in another jurisdiction that would constitute an equivalent offense, or any combination of level one or level two offenses resulting in the accumulation of three or more points.

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person sentenced as a habitual offender shall not be eligible for parole or work release until the person has served a minimum term of commitment of twenty years unless the current level one offense the person is convicted of carries a higher minimum sentence, which shall be considered the minimum sentence under this section.

Section 1. Section 902.8, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 902.8 Minimum sentence —— habitual offender. An A habitual offender is any person convicted of a class “C” or a class “D” felony, who has twice before been convicted of any felony in a court of this or any other state, or of the United States. An offense is a felony if, by the law under which the person is convicted, it is so classified at the time of the person’s conviction. A person convicted of a third qualifying felony shall be sentenced as a habitual offender and shall serve a minimum of seven years of the sentence imposed by law. A person sentenced as an a habitual offender shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served the minimum sentence of confinement of three seven years. Earned time accrued pursuant to chapter 903A shall not reduce the minimum sentence of confinement of seven years.

Sec.

2. Section 902.9, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:

c. An A habitual offender shall be confined for no more than fifteen years sentenced to confinement as provided in section 902.8. twenty years.

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3. Section 907.2, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:

NEW SUBSECTION.

3. Probation officers shall report probation violations to the proper authorities.

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4. Section 907.3, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:

NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.

(10) An offense qualifying the defendant as a habitual offender under section 902.8.

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5. Section 907.3, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:

NEW PARAGRAPH.

i. A sentence imposed pursuant to section 902.8.