HF 706: Relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

What it does

Under current law, a court is required to assess a person who participated in a violation of Code chapter (open meetings) damages between $100 and $500. This bill increases the damages to between $500 and $2,500. Under current law, if a violation was knowingly committed, a court is required to assess the person damages between $1,000 and $2,500. The bill increases the damages to between $5,000 and $12,500. The bill requires a court to issue an order removing a member of a governmental body from office if that member has engaged in a prior violation of Code chapter regardless of whether damages were assessed against the member during the member’s term, which is a prerequisite to removal under current law.

Senate subcommittee · named March 26, 2025

• Sen. Scott Webster (R) · scott.webster@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Thomas Townsend (D) · thomas.townsend@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R) · cherielynn.westrich@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 5 for, 2 against

For: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Iowa Broadcasters Association; Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club; Iowa Freedom of Information Council; Iowa Newspaper Association

Against: Iowa Broadcasters Association; Iowa Newspaper Association

In plain words

1. February 28, 2025Filed in the House
2. March 24, 2025Passed the House, 95–0
3. March 25, 2025Arrived in the Senate
4. March 26, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Webster, Townsend and Westrich
5. March 31, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
6. April 2, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
7. April 17, 2025Passed the Senate, 34–13
8. April 23, 2025Passed the House, 83–10
9. May 19, 2025Sent to the Governor
10. June 6, 2025Signed into law