Relating to awarding costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing party in a civil action and including effective date and applicability provisions

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 20, 2025
Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to the award of costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing party in civil actions. Under current law, subject to certain exceptions, each party to a civil lawsuit is responsible for its own attorney fees. The bill provides that a court shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing party. The bill defines prevailing party as the party with a net monetary recovery, a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, a defendant where neither plaintiff nor defendant obtains any relief, or a defendant as against a plaintiff who does not recover any relief against the defendant.

Read the full explanation

If a party recovers other than monetary relief and in situations other than as specified, the court shall determine if a party is a prevailing party. The bill does not apply to actions by or against the state, other governmental entities, or public officials acting in their official capacity or under color of law. The bill requires the supreme court to submit legislative proposals, in due course, to the senate and house of representatives standing committees on judiciary to amend the Iowa Code to delete redundancies, resolve inconsistencies and conflicts, and remove any ambiguities caused by the bill. The bill applies to causes of action filed on or after July 1, 2025.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

Senate subcommittee

Named February 20, 2025. On March 3, 2025 it recommended amendment and 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

Creates§625.30

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

0 for · 0 against · 6 undecided · Who →