Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer
Sponsored by Sen. Liz Bennett (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D)
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 16, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 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 General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer. The bill provides that prior to enrollment in a certifying training program, all law enforcement officers shall be of good moral character as determined through a thorough background investigation and shall not have been convicted of any felony or a crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude. The bill defines “moral turpitude” as an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties that a person owes to another person or to society in general, and includes conduct that is contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that a crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude includes but is not limited to any of the following: offenses of domestic violence; an adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult; any sex crime or crime listed in Code chapter 709 (sexual abuse); any crime committed as an adult that resulted in being listed on the sex offender registry; an adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult that resulted in being listed on the sex offender registry; or any crime involving child abuse. The bill provides that law enforcement officers seeking recertification shall be subject to the same background investigation.
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 January 23, 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
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§80B.17A
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
2 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 260 Relating to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforc…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.