Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to noneconomic, punitive, and exemplary damage awards against health care providers and hospitals
Sponsored by Sen. Molly Donahue (D)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 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 relates to noneconomic, punitive, and exemplary damage awards against health care providers. Under current law, the damages for loss of dependent care due to death of or severe injury to a spouse or parent who is the primary caregiver are considered economic damages. include loss of dependent care. Current law limits the amount of noneconomic damages that a jury can award a plaintiff to $250,000, but provides an exception for cases where a jury finds that there is a substantial or permanent loss or impairment of a bodily function, substantial disfigurement, loss of pregnancy, or death in which case the limit is increased to $1 million, or $2 million if the action includes a hospital.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that if the exception to the $250,000 cap applies, there is no limit to the amount of noneconomic damages that may be awarded, and removes loss of pregnancy as a qualifying exception.1 percent annual increase in the damages cap. The bill repeals this provision. Under current law, punitive or exemplary damages may be awarded if, by a preponderance of clear, convincing, and satisfactory evidence, the conduct of the defendant from which the claim arose constituted willful and wanton disregard for the rights or safety of another. In cases involving a medical provider or hospital and arising out of medical care, the full amount of the award of punitive or exemplary damages shall be paid to the claimant. Under the bill, in cases involving a medical provider or hospital and arising out of medical care, the amount of punitive and exemplary damages paid to a claimant shall not exceed percent, with the remainder awarded to the civil reparations trust fund, unless the conduct of the defendant was directed specifically at the claimant, or at the person from which the claimant’s claim is derived. Funds in the civil reparations trust are used for purposes of indigent civil litigation programs or insurance assistance programs.
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
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
1 for · 0 against · 6 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 2220 Relating to noneconomic, punitive, and exemplary damage awards against health care provide…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.