Bills › 91st General Assembly
Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions, including by victims of sexual abuse, minors, and persons with mental illness, entitling certain cases to a preference in trial order, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by Sen. Sandy Salmon (R), Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R)
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 17, 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
This bill modifies the periods of time to bring civil actions relating to young persons and persons with mental illness and entitles certain cases to a preference in trial order.1(12), a civil action for damages for injury suffered as result of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction can only be brought within five years after the date that the victim was either last treated by the counselor or therapist or last enrolled in or attended the school.
Read the full explanation
The bill amends this provision by making a distinction between victims that are minors at the time of abuse and victims that are years of age or older at the time of abuse. The bill does not change the statute of limitations for victims that are years of age or older at the time of abuse. For victims who are minors at the time of abuse, the action may be brought at any time.8, the applicable limitations period in which to bring certain civil actions is extended for persons with mental illness and minors. and for minors applies to claims brought pursuant to Code chapters 659A, 669, and 670, which are already mentioned at the beginning of the applicable provisions.8A, the bill extends the time for filing a civil action relating to sexual abuse which occurred when the injured person was a minor from one year after the attainment of majority or within four years from the time of discovery of both the injury and the causal relationship between the injury and the sexual abuse to any time. The bill also provides for the filing of civil actions for injuries incurred from other sexual offenses. The bill provides that claims related to offenses under the bill that arise prior to the effective date of the bill must be brought not later than three years after the effective date of the bill. If an action was previously dismissed before the effective date of the bill on the grounds that it was time-barred or because the party failed to file a petition, the party shall have a right to file a revival action.8A(2) or actions in which the interests of justice, as determined by the supreme court, will be served by early trial. If a party intends to invoke this preference, the party must serve the notice of a motion for preference with the petition. Such notice must be served days after such service by any other party. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
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
Amends§602.1205§614.1§614.8§614.8A
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
5 for · 1 against · 7 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 3 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.
- SF 158 Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions, including by victims of sexu…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 259 Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions, including by victims of sexu…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 32 Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions, including by victims of sexu…89th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 2037 Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions, including by victims of sexu…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- SF 2083 Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions by victims of sexual abuse an…91st General Assembly · In committeeSimilar
- SF 364 Modifying the periods of time to bring certain civil actions by victims of sexual abuse an…91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passageSimilar
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.