Relating to local civil rights commissions and local civil rights agencies

Topics:Civil rights Cities & counties

Same legislation: SF 579

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 25, 2025
Done: Senate committeeMarch 6, 2025
Done: Passes the SenateMarch 26, 202543–4
Done: House committeeApril 1, 2025
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 5, 202660–26
Done: To the GovernorMarch 10, 2026
Done: Signed into lawMarch 10, 2026

Became SF 579 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 579 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

_____ the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to local civil rights commissions or local civil rights agencies. The bill provides that any complaint that is filed with a local commission or local agency where a party is a political subdivision shall be referred to the Iowa office of civil rights for processing. The bill provides that a local agency or local commission complaint, upon request by any party, shall be transferred to the Iowa office of civil rights for processing if the complaint alleges a violation of the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 and has not been resolved within months of the filing date of the complaint.

Read the full explanation

The bill requires the local agency or local commission to within 300 days of the filing date of the complaint: (1) send notice to all parties of the party’s right to direct transfer to the Iowa office of civil rights after months by verified mail, or electronic notice, and (2) cross file a complaint with the Iowa office of civil rights if the local agency or local commission complaint arises from an alleged violation of a state law, rule, or regulation under the jurisdiction of the Iowa office of civil rights. The bill does not prohibit a local agency or local commission from cross filing a complaint with any other federal or state agency, commission, or entity, if the local agency or local commission complaint arises from an alleged violation of a state or federal law, rule, or regulation of a state or federal agency, commission, or entity. The bill provides that the term of a commissioner of a local agency or local commission is two years.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-8157; see Amendments. Full bill text · What changed before it passed

Senate subcommittee

Named February 25, 2025. On March 3, 2025 it recommended passage.

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

Fiscal note

0 FTE positions. It is unknown what portion of this cost would be funded by the General Fund or through federal funding. Source Iowa Office of Civil Rights /s/ Jennifer Acton March 13, 2026 Doc ID 1602356 The Fiscal Note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code.

Final Fiscal Note — Local Civil Rights Commission · March 13, 2026
Local Civil Rights Commission · March 2, 2026

Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§216.19

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

4 for · 13 against · 10 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

SF 2329Cleared committee90th GA

Study bill

SSB 1184Renumbered

91st General Assembly

SF 579Became lawfrom SSB 1184

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 2329 Relating to local civil rights commissions
90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · very similar
Cleared 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.