Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to aid, processes, and services for children in, adopted from, or in need of foster care
Sponsored by Rep. Brian K. Lohse (R)
Topics:Courts & civil lawFamilies & human services
Same legislation: HF 873
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 17, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 2025
- Done: House committeeMarch 4, 2025
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 873 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 873 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to aid, processes, and services for children in, adopted from, or in need of foster care. The bill allows a court to adjudicate a child in need of assistance (CINA) when the child requires treatment to cure or alleviate a serious chemical dependency or mental or behavioral health disorder that compromises the child’s safety or causes untoward aggressive behavior toward others in the household, and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian (parent) is unwilling to provide such treatment, or the parent’s efforts to secure needed treatment have been exhausted and unsuccessful.
Read the full explanation
Under current law, to be adjudicated a CINA, a child must need treatment to cure or alleviate a serious mental illness or disorder, or emotional damage as evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or untoward aggressive behavior toward the child’s self or others and the child’s parent is unwilling to provide such treatment. The bill eliminates certain circumstances when a child may be adjudicated a CINA. preceding the fiscal year, and eliminates the additional stipend for special needs children. Instead, the bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to adopt rules relating to the foster parent reimbursement rates (rates) and to review the rates no less than once every three years. The bill requires HHS to reimburse an adoption petitioner for the costs of the preplacement and postplacement investigations related to the adoption up to a maximum amount of $2,000 per investigation. The bill prohibits HHS from making such reimbursements until the person performing the preplacement background check approves the adoption petitioner’s initial required background checks.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
House subcommittee
Named January 23, 2025. On January 28, 2025 it recommended passage.
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
Iowa Code it changes
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 · 0 against · 16 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.
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.