Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to inmates, including requiring inmates to be paid the minimum wage for labor performed in or while under the custody of an institution under the control of the department of corrections, and the automatic restoration of the right to vote
Sponsored by Rep. Mary Lee Madison (D)
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedMarch 4, 2025
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- 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
This bill requires inmates to be paid the minimum wage for labor performed in or while under the custody of an institution under the control of the department of corrections, and provides for the automatic restoration of the right to vote. Current law provides that the director of the department of corrections may when practicable pay the inmate an allowance as the director deems proper in view of the circumstances, and in view of the cost attending the maintenance of the inmate. The allowance is a gratuitous payment and is not a wage arising out of an employment relationship.
Read the full explanation
The payment shall not exceed the amount paid to free labor for a like or equivalent service.1(1)(b).701 and for deposit of moneys sent to the inmate from a source other than the department of corrections. The director may deduct up to percent of the amount of the wage, to be deposited into the inmate savings fund. The director may also deduct from an inmate account any amount sent to the inmate from a source other than the department of corrections for deposit in the inmate savings fund until the amount in the fund equals the amount due the inmate upon discharge, parole, or placement on work release. The director shall deduct from the inmate account the following: an amount the inmate is legally obligated to pay for child support; an amount established by the inmate’s restitution plan of payment; an amount sufficient to pay all or part of any judgment against the inmate, including but not limited to judgments for taxes and child support; court costs and fees assessed as a result of the inmate’s confinement; and an amount sufficient to pay all or part of any costs assessed against the inmate for misconduct or damage to the property of others. The director may pay all or any part of remaining wages paid directly to a dependent of the inmate, or may deposit the wages to the account of the inmate, or may deposit a portion and allow the inmate a portion for the inmate’s personal use. The bill requires the department of corrections or the judicial district department of correctional services to provide written notice upon discharge from confinement or supervision that a person’s voting rights are restored and that the person must provide written notice of discharge when registering to vote. The notice shall also include a voter registration form.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§914.8
Amends§904.508§904.701§904.702§914.2§914.6
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
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.
- SF 464 Requiring inmates to be paid the Iowa minimum wage for labor performed in or while under t…90th General Assembly · In committee · very similarCleared 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.