Relating to the establishment of an electronic court notification system

Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee

Topics:Courts & civil law Technology & privacy

Same legislation: HSB 732

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2026
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 12, 2026
Done: House committeeFebruary 18, 2026
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 4, 202681–16
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 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 will create a new system that sends text messages to people involved in criminal court cases. These messages will include reminders about court dates, locations, and any fees that need to be paid. People can choose to sign up for these alerts or opt out if they do not want them.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the establishment of an electronic court notification system. The bill provides that the state court administrator shall, by July 1, 2027, establish an opt-out electronic court notification system for all pending and future criminal case actions. The system shall: deliver text-based notifications to enrolled individuals regarding all public case proceedings and events, including appearance reminders containing the date, time, and location, and notification of fees due and methods of payment; provide enrolled individuals with a clear and simple option to opt out of receiving notifications through the electronic court notification system; protect against the disclosure of nonpublic information, including information filed in cases under seal; and limit participation in the electronic court notification system to enrolled individuals. The bill provides that the electronic court notification system may be operated by the Iowa judicial branch or be operated under a contract with a qualified third-party entity that meets the requirements of the bill.

Why it matters. People involved in criminal cases could receive text notifications about court dates, locations, and fees due. The Judicial Branch expects one-time implementation costs between $1.0 million and $1.5 million, followed by an estimated annual maintenance cost of $100,000 per year.²

Full bill text³

Senate subcommittee

Named March 10, 2026. On March 11, 2026 it recommended indefinite postponement. [].

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

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 17, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Fiscal note

Cost: up to $100,000 Compare with other bills

AI summary This bill requires the State Court Administrator to create an electronic system that sends text notifications to people involved in criminal cases regarding court events, reminders, and fees. The Judicial Branch expects one-time implementation costs between $1.0 million and $1.5 million, followed by an estimated annual maintenance cost of $100,000 per year.⁴

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 2645 requires the State Court Administrator to establish an opt-out electronic notification system by July 1, 2027, that may be operated by the Judicial Branch or through a contract with a qualified third-party entity. The system is used to provide text-based notifications to individuals involved in pending and future criminal case actions. The system must perform the following functions:

Deliver notifications regarding public case proceedings and events.
Provide appearance reminders with date, time, and location.
Notify individuals of fees due and methods of payment.
Provide a clear opt-out option.
Protect nonpublic and sealed information.
Limit participation to enrolled individuals.

Background

The Iowa Judicial Branch provides electronic access to case information through Iowa Courts Online and the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). The EDMS has an integrated email-based notification system. The Judicial Branch currently has a text-based system available for those who opt in for jury service-related notifications but no automated text-based notification for criminal proceedings.

Assumptions

Implementation of a statewide, opt-out notification system requires an expansion of existing electronic services and requires integration with case management infrastructure.
Enrollment is automatic with opt-out, meaning high participation rates are anticipated.
Each case may generate multiple notifications, such as the initial appearance, hearings, continuances, and fee reminders.
Enhanced security controls will be required to prevent disclosure of confidential information.

Fiscal Impact

House File 2645 is expected to increase expenditures for the Judicial Branch. The Judicial Branch estimates a two-year to three-year implementation timeline that includes one-time costs for internal system development and execution between $1.0 million and $1.5 million. Once implemented, the estimated annual cost for ongoing maintenance of the system is anticipated to be $100,000 per year.

Source

Judicial Branch

Electronic Court Notifications, Criminal Case Actions · March 3, 2026 · $100,000

Reading a fiscal note⁵

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§602.1209B

How the Code works⁶

Lobbying

0 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Study bill

HSB 732Renumbered

91st General Assembly

HF 2645Passed a chamberfrom HSB 732

Notes

The summary is written by an AI model from the official explanation. It can miss details; the explanation and the bill are what count. ↩
Written by an AI model from the official explanation and fiscal note only, for bills that passed a chamber, drew heavy lobbying or carry a large cost. It doesn’t weigh whether the bill is a good idea. ↩
The explanation is printed with the bill as introduced and written by the Legislative Services Agency, the Legislature’s nonpartisan staff. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected in it. ↩
Written by an AI model from the newest fiscal note. It can miss details; the note itself is what counts. ↩
Fiscal notes are nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is listed first. ↩
Code sections are read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. ↩