HSB 590: Requiring the department of health and human services to pay for the costs of a child’s placement in shelter care

What it does

“Shelter care” is the temporary care of a child in a physically unrestricting facility at any time between the child’s initial contact with juvenile authorities and the final judicial disposition of the child’s case. Under current law, if the department of health and human services (HHS) is not authorized to pay all of the costs of a child’s shelter care placement, then the child’s custodial parent’s county of residence shall pay for the difference between the actual and allowable costs of the shelter care and the amount HHS paid to the shelter care provider. This bill requires HHS to pay all costs for a child’s shelter care and requires HHS to amend its rules to reflect HHS’s responsibility to pay the costs of shelter care.

House subcommittee · named January 20, 2026

• Rep. Hans C. Wilz (R) · hans.wilz@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Tracy A. Ehlert (D) · tracy.ehlert@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Ann Meyer (R) · ann.meyer@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 0 against

For: Coalition for Family and Children's Services in Iowa; Ellipsis

In plain words

1. January 20, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Health and Human Services committee
2. January 20, 2026House subcommittee named: Wilz, H., Ehlert, Meyer and A
3. January 28, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it