Relating to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 20, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 25, 2025
Done: Senate committeeMarch 6, 2025
Done: Passes the SenateMarch 17, 202531–15
Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
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

AI summary The governor would appoint six people instead of five to each district judicial nominating commission. These commissions choose the people who become district court judges. Instead of a judge leading the group, the commission members will now vote to pick one of their own to be the chairperson.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions. Under current law, the governor appoints five eligible electors of each judicial district to each 11-person commission. The bill increases the number of electors appointed by the governor to six. Under current law, the most senior judge in the district serves as a commissioner and as the chairperson of that particular district judicial nominating commission. The bill removes the judge from the commission and from being chairperson and requires the members of each district judicial nominating commission to elect a chairperson from their own number. District judicial nominating commissions are responsible for screening applicants and selecting nominees for district court judicial vacancies. There is a nominating commission for each of Iowa’s judicial election subdistricts. District judicial nominating commissions provide the governor with a slate of two nominees from which to make an appointment to the district court.

Full bill text²

House subcommittee

Named March 25, 2025. On April 2, 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

2 written public comments to its subcommittee: April 2, 2025 (1), April 1, 2025 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§46.3 §46.5 §46.6

How the Code works³

Lobbying

5 for · 12 against · 4 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 2014Renumbered89th GA SF 171Passed a chamber90th GA

91st General Assembly

SF 407Passed a chamber

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None became law, though one got through a chamber.

SF 171 Relating to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions
90th General Assembly · Passed Senate · very similar
Passed a chamber
SF 2014 Relating to the membership of the district judicial nominating commissions
89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2132 · very similar
Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.