Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by Sen. Liz Bennett (D), Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Art Staed (D), Sen. Thomas Townsend (D), Sen. Janice Weiner (D), Sen. Cindy Winckler (D)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 26, 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 People running for office could use their campaign money to pay for childcare if the care is needed specifically because of their campaign or official duties. Candidates must keep detailed records of these payments and show them to state officials if asked. If someone breaks these rules, they could face fines or even criminal charges.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the payment of dependent care expenses with campaign funds. The bill permits a candidate to pay for dependent care expenses using campaign funds if the expense is incurred as a direct result of a campaign activity or official duty if the candidate wins election, the candidate would not have needed the dependent care but for the candidate’s candidacy or election, the payment to the dependent care provider is reasonable, and the dependent care provider is not the spouse or dependent child of the candidate. The bill requires the candidate to keep logs relating to payment for any such services, which shall be provided to the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board upon request during the course of an audit. The bill requires the candidate’s committee to preserve a dependent care log for five years following the submission of a report relating to the log, or for three years following the dissolution of the committee. A person who violates a provision of Code chapter 68A is subject to civil penalties imposed by the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board, including remedial action, a reprimand, and a civil penalty up to $2,000. In addition, a person who willfully violates a provision of Code chapter 68A is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 26, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
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
Family tree
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 3 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.
- SF 117 Relating to the payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds, and making penalti…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 145 Relating to the payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds and making penaltie…89th General Assembly · In committee · nearly identicalCleared committee
- HF 475 Relating to the payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds and making penaltie…88th General Assembly · In committee · similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- SF 2332 Relating to the payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds, and making penalti…91st General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
- HF 2597 Relating to the payment of home security expenses from campaign funds, and making penaltie…91st General Assembly · Approved by committeeSimilar
- HF 2160 Relating to the payment of personal and home security expenses from campaign funds, and ma…91st General Assembly · In committeeSimilar
Matched by wording or an identical title.