Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to immunity from criminal or civil liability in cases involving the justifiable use of reasonable force
Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Samantha Fett (R), Rep. Judd Lawler (R), Rep. Jeff Shipley (R), Rep. Sam Wengryn (R)
Topics:Courts & civil law
Same legislation: HF 668
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 28, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 3, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 19, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- 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
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to immunity from criminal or civil liability in cases involving the justifiable use of reasonable force. Under current law, a person who is justified in using reasonable force against an aggressor in defense of the person’s self, another person, or property is immune from criminal or civil liability for all damages incurred. The bill provides that there shall be a presumption that the person reasonably believed that such use of force was necessary to defend the person, another person, or property from what the person reasonably believed to be the use of or imminent use of unlawful force by another person.
Read the full explanation
A law enforcement agency may investigate the use or threatened use of force, but the law enforcement agency shall not arrest the person for using or threatening to use force unless law enforcement determines that there is probable cause to believe that the force that was used or was threatened to be used was unlawful. The bill provides that in a criminal prosecution or civil action, once a justified use of force immunity has been raised by a person at a pretrial immunity hearing, the burden of proof, to be carried by clear and convincing evidence, is on the party seeking to overcome the immunity. The court shall hold a pretrial immunity hearing within days of the person filing a motion to dismiss on the grounds of immunity. The bill provides that a probable cause determination by the court that the person committed the crime and that the person should stand trial for the criminal offense must include a determination that the person’s use of force was not justified.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 11, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Amends§704.13
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
2 for · 1 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.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 239 Relating to immunity from criminal or civil liability in cases involving the justifiable u…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.