SF 2079: Relating to parole eligibility for a person under the age of twenty-one convicted of a class “A” felony and making penalties applicable

What it does

This bill relates to parole eligibility for a person under the age of convicted of a class “A” felony. Current law provides that a person under the age of convicted of first degree murder, a class “A” felony, shall receive one of the following sentences: commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with no possibility of parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years; commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court; or commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole.

Senate subcommittee · named January 27, 2026

• Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Matt Blake (D) · matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) · mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 1 against

For: Iowa Association for Justice; Iowa Catholic Conference; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska

Against: Iowa County Attorneys Association

In plain words

1. January 21, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
2. January 27, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Schultz, Blake and Bousselot