Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 65Died when the session ended · January 16, 2025

Relating to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer

Sponsored by Sen. Liz Bennett (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D)

Topics:Crime & correctionsPublic safety & emergencies

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 16, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 2025
  3. Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
  4. Next: Passes the Senate
  5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the House
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. 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 who want to become or stay law enforcement officers must pass a thorough background check to prove they have good character. They cannot have been convicted of a felony or certain crimes involving dishonest or harmful behavior, such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, or child abuse. This rule applies to both new officers starting their training and current officers who need to renew their certification.1

Read the official explanation

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. 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.

Full bill text2

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

How the Code works3

Lobbying

2 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →

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 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 · nearly identical
    Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.