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

SSB 1203: Creating a specialty business court, providing fees, and including effective date and applicability provisions

Became SF 570 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

This bill creates the business court of Iowa. The bill provides that the business court has jurisdiction in all counties in the state and the business court has the same powers granted to a district court. _____ certain commercial transactions of $10 million or more, and controversies involving the leadership or operation of a business entity. The bill provides that business court judges are granted the same powers, duties, immunities, and privileges of a district court judge. The bill provides that a person appointed to serve as a business court judge must be (1) at least years of age, (2) a United States citizen, (3) an Iowa resident for a least two years prior to appointment, and (4) a licensed attorney in Iowa that has or more years of experience in practicing civil business litigation, practicing business transactions law, teaching classes in civil business litigation or business transaction law at an accredited Iowa law school, serving as an Iowa judge with civil jurisdiction, or any combination thereof.

Sponsors

Not listed

Cost

See the fiscal note

The total annual cost of Senate File 639 shown in Figure 1 is estimated to be approximately $441,000 in FY 2027 and approximately $529,000 in subsequent fiscal years. This cost estimate accounts for the hiring of one dedicated court reporter and the appointmen…

Senate subcommittee · named March 4, 2025

  • Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) · mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Izaah Knox (D) · izaah.knox@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Scott Webster (R) · scott.webster@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 5 for, 4 against

For: Casey's General Stores; Governor's Office; Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI); Iowa Bankers Association; Iowa Business Council

Against: Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers; Iowa Insurance Associates; Iowa Judicial Branch - Supreme Court; Iowa State Bar Association

In plain words

  1. March 4, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Commerce committee
  2. March 4, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Bousselot, Knox and Webster
  3. March 5, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
  4. March 6, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 570

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/SSB1203