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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 321: Relating to magistrate qualifications

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

This bill relates to magistrate qualifications. Under current law, a magistrate is required to be an attorney licensed to practice in the state unless the magistrate was holding office on April 1, 2009. The bill removes the requirement that a magistrate be a licensed attorney and provides that licensed attorneys instead receive first consideration. The bill substantively matches the provision in effect prior to 2009.

Sponsors

Rep. Dean Fisher (R)

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named February 12, 2025

  • Rep. John H. Wills (R) · john.wills@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Rick L. Olson (D) · rick.olson@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Henry Stone (R) · henry.stone@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 0 for, 7 against

Against: Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers; Iowa Association for Justice; Iowa Association of Magistrate Judges; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Iowa Judicial Branch - Supreme Court; Iowa State Bar Association; Reforging Families

In plain words

  1. February 11, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee
  2. February 12, 2025House subcommittee named: Wills, J., Olson and Stone

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HF321