Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to restitution to the state from certain state employees who commit torts within the scope of office or employment
Sponsored by Sen. Annette Sweeney (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeMarch 4, 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
AI summary If a state employee causes damage through intentional wrongdoing or bad behavior while working, the state can ask them to pay the money back. Currently, the state only does this in certain situations. This new law would require the state to take action to get that money back whenever there is a reasonable belief that the employee should pay.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to restitution to the state from certain state employees who commit torts within the scope of office or employment. Under the Iowa tort claims Act, the state is generally required to indemnify and hold harmless a state employee who, by negligence or wrongful act or omission, caused damages while acting within the scope of the employee’s office or employment. This requirement to indemnify and hold harmless does not apply if the employee fails to cooperate in the investigation or defense of the claim, or if, in an action commenced by the state against the employee, it is determined that the conduct of the employee upon which a tort claim or demand was based constituted a willful and wanton act or omission or malfeasance in office. In these cases, the state is entitled to restitution from the employee. The bill requires the state to commence an action for restitution in every case in which there is a reasonable belief that the action for restitution is warranted.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 4, 2025. On March 6, 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