Establishing the state public defender’s pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families

Proposed by the Public Defender, State · all agency proposals

Topics:Courts & civil law Families & human services

Same legislation: HSB 566, HF 2356, SF 2370

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2026
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 27, 2026
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 17, 2026
Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 2370
Next: House committee
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Became SF 2370 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2370 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary The state public defender can now run a permanent program called the Project to Preserve Families to help families in the child welfare system. Instead of being a temporary test project, this program will be available in counties across the state. The state public defender will also have the power to create rules for how the program is managed.¹

Read the official explanation

_____ the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. Under current law, the state public defender (SPD) may establish a pilot project to implement innovative models of legal representation to assist families involved in the child welfare system by implementing and studying ways to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities. The SPD may implement the pilot project in up to counties throughout the state, and the pilot project expires on June 30, 2025. This bill changes the pilot project into a permanent program known as the project to preserve families (PPF) and allows the SPD to administer and maintain the PPF throughout the state. The SPD may adopt rules to administer the PPF.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed²

Senate subcommittee

Named January 27, 2026. On February 11, 2026 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

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 11, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill makes the State Public Defender's child welfare legal representation pilot project a permanent program called the Project to Preserve Families. Once fully implemented, the program is estimated to result in approximate cost savings of $1.5 million annually to the Indigent Defense Fund compared to fiscal year 2027. The Juvenile Justice Improvement Fund is estimated to have an annual cost of $471,000, which is funded by federal moneys.³

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 2356 changes the State Public Defender (SPD) pilot project, Child Welfare Legal Representation, to a permanent program to be known as the Project to Preserve Families (PPF). The Bill allows the SPD to administer and maintain the PPF throughout the State. The SPD may adopt administrative rules to administer the PPF.

Background

2020 Iowa Acts, chapter 1040 (State Public Defender Pilot Project — Child Welfare Legal Representation Act), established a pilot project under Iowa Code section 13B.13 to implement models of legal representation to assist families involved in the child welfare system by implementing and studying ways to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities. The pilot project was originally implemented in up to six counties in Iowa. However, 2023 Iowa Acts, chapter 10 (Child Welfare Legal Representation — State Public Defender Pilot Project Extension and Expansion Act), expanded it to 16 counties. The pilot project ended on June 30, 2025. The pilot project has received a total of 403 referrals since 2020. Of the 403 referrals, 19 or 4.7% of the total referrals became child in need of assistance (CINA) cases.

Assumptions

The average cost of a CINA case is $7,800 when representation is provided to indigent clients. This cost is paid from the Indigent Defense Fund.
In FY 2025, the cost of the average pilot project referral was approximately $2,500. This cost is paid from the Juvenile Justice Improvement Fund, which is funded with federal Title IV-E dollars.
When the PPF is fully implemented, it will receive approximately 200 referrals annually across the State.
It is assumed that 19 referrals, or 4.7%, will become CINA cases annually.
The SPD currently assigns 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) position to the pilot project. It is assumed 1.0 FTE position will be assigned to the PPF program.
The annual cost of referrals under the PPF program is estimated to be $471,000.
The Juvenile Justice Improvement Fund will continue to receive Title IV-E funds.

Fiscal Impact

House File 2356 is estimated to result in approximate cost savings of $1.5 million annually to the Indigent Defense Fund once the PPF is fully implemented across the State. However, that estimate is compared to current law for FY 2027, in which the pilot program would be expired. The pilot program has been in operation since 2020, and therefore a portion of the cost savings under the Bill may be a status quo savings compared to previous fiscal years. It is unknown when the full cost savings will be realized. The cost to the Juvenile Justice Fund is estimated to be $471,000 annually, which is funded by federal moneys through Title IV-E reimbursement.