Bills › 91st General Assembly
Establishing drug-free homeless service zones, and providing penalties
Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee
Topics:Courts & civil lawCrime & corrections
Same legislation: HSB 705
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 10, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 10, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 17, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 25, 202670–21
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill establishes drug-free homeless service zones. The bill prohibits a person from intentionally or knowingly doing any of the following: the person sells or transfers or attempts to sell or transfer a controlled substance while present within a drug-free homeless service zone; or the person operates or has authority to enforce the policies and requirements of a facility-based drug-free service zone that primarily serves homeless individuals and that receives state, local, or federal funding, and the person allows an individual accessing services to possess or use a controlled substance on the premises of the facility.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that a person who sells or transfers a controlled substance, or attempts to sell or transfer a controlled substance within a drug-free homeless service zone is punishable as the same class of criminal violation for which the offense would be punishable under existing law had the violation not occurred within a drug-free homeless service zone, except that the minimum and maximum sentence for the offense shall be increased by one year. A person convicted of this offense is not eligible for a deferred judgment, a deferred or suspended sentence, probation, or work release. The bill provides that a person who operates or has authority to enforce the policies and requirements of a facility-based drug-free service zone who allows an individual accessing services to possess or use a controlled substance on the premises of the facility is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. An operator of a facility-based drug-free service zone who violates the bill is ineligible to apply for homelessness assistance grants from the state for a period of three years from the date of conviction. The bill provides that in addition to any other penalty, a person convicted of an offense under the bill shall be punished by a fine of not less than $2,000 or three times the value as determined by the court of the drugs involved in or giving rise to the offense, whichever is greater. The fine may not be suspended, in part or whole, for any reason. The bill requires the operator of a facility-based service that primarily serves homeless individuals to place and maintain permanently affixed signs located in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public at the main entrance of the facility that identifies the building and its accompanying grounds as a drug-free homeless service zone. Such signs shall be written in both English and Spanish and in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height. The bill defines “drug-free homeless service zone”, “facility-based services”, and “operator”.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-8035; see Amendments. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named March 3, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.
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
32 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 11, 2026 (32) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
Can’t be estimated Compare with other bills
The fiscal impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions under the Bill cannot be estimated. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per relevant offense. The estimated impact to the General Fund includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. The costs would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
- Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones · March 12, 2026
- Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones · February 24, 2026
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§716.15
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
1 for · 16 against · 4 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Study bill
91st General Assembly
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