Sign in

Back to the bill

91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

SJR 9: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of an accused to confront children and other witnesses

Passed both chambers · A constitutional amendment must pass two General Assemblies in a row, then be approved by voters.

What it does

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of an accused to confront children and other witnesses. The resolution provides that in order to protect children under the age of and any witness with a mental illness, intellectual disability, or other developmental disability, the right of an accused to confront such witnesses may be limited by law. The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly (92nd) for adoption, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.

Sponsors

Not listed

Cost

No fiscal note

Senate subcommittee · named January 28, 2025

  • Sen. Dan Dawson (R) · dan.dawson@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Lynn Evans (R) · lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Janet Petersen (D) · janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 22 for, 2 against

For: Blank Childrens Hospital; Exceptional Persons, Inc.; Imagine the Possibilities; Iowa Association of Community Providers; Iowa Attorney General Dept. of Justice; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics; Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Iowa County Attorneys Association; Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association; and 10 more

Against: Iowa Association for Justice; Kurtis Bower

In plain words

  1. January 28, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee · as SSB 1057
  2. January 28, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Dawson, Evans and Petersen · as SSB 1057
  3. February 13, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as SSB 1057
  4. February 26, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SJR 9 · as SSB 1057
  5. February 27, 2025Filed in the Senate
  6. February 27, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
  7. March 19, 2025Passed the Senate, 47–0
  8. April 17, 2025Took the place of HJR 9 on the House floor (the same legislation)
  9. April 17, 2025Passed the House, 87–6

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/SJR9