Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to judicial officers, including magistrate appointments in judicial election districts, senior magistrates, and judicial officer compensation, and including effective date provisions
Proposed by the Judicial Branch · all agency proposals
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 11, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 11, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 18, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 2401
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 2401 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2401 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa is changing how magistrates are appointed by moving from county-based groups to larger judicial election districts. The law also creates a new "senior magistrate" status for retired judges and increases pay for various judicial officers. These changes affect how magistrates are selected, how they serve after retirement, and how much they are paid.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to judicial officers, including magistrate appointments in judicial election districts, senior magistrates, and judicial officer compensation. MAGISTRATES APPOINTED IN JUDICIAL ELECTION DISTRICTS. The bill provides for the appointment and service of magistrates in judicial election districts rather than individual counties and makes conforming changes. The bill changes county judicial magistrate appointing commissions to judicial election district magistrate appointing commissions, provides for appointment to such commissions, and provides for commission appointee certification to and maintenance of appointee records by district court administrators rather than clerks of district court. _____ judge designated by the chief judge of the judicial district, one person from each county in the judicial election district appointed by the board of supervisors of the county, and a number of attorneys elected by the attorneys in the judicial election district and the counties contiguous with the judicial election district equal to one fewer than the number of persons appointed by the boards of supervisors. Under current law and the bill, boards of supervisors are prohibited from appointing an attorney or an active law enforcement officer to serve as a commissioner, and attorneys are prohibited from appointing a county attorney as a commissioner. Current law allows the chief judge of a judicial district, by order of substitution, to appoint a district associate judge in lieu of magistrates, subject to certain limitations. The bill eliminates the limitations that the county or counties to which the district associate judge is to be appointed must have an apportionment of three or more magistrates, and that the substitution must not result in the absence of a resident district associate judge or magistrate in one or more counties. The bill also eliminates requirements that district associate judges substituted for magistrates, or vice versa, be substituted at a ratio of three magistrates to one district associate judge. The bill strikes the requirement that 206 magistrates be apportioned among the counties and instead requires that the supreme court prescribe a formula to determine the number of magistrates who will serve in each judicial election district. The state court administrator must apply the prescribed formula when calculating and apportioning magistrates among judicial election districts. The bill strikes the requirement that each county be allotted at least one resident magistrate. Under current law, a county magistrate appointing commission may prescribe the contents of a magistrate application in addition to any application provided by the supreme court. _____ contents of a magistrate application. The bill strikes the requirement that public notice of a magistrate vacancy must be published in at least two publications in all official county newspapers in the county. If a magistrate vacancy cannot be filled, the bill authorizes the chief judge of the judicial district to assign a magistrate from a county within the judicial district to serve the remainder of the term in the county of the vacancy, in addition to the county where the magistrate is appointed, provided that the combined weighted workload does not exceed percent of a full-time position. This provision of the bill takes effect upon enactment and is repealed August 1, 2027. The bill requires magistrate appointing commission member reimbursements to be paid by the county where the member resides instead of the county where the member serves.6402, which allows the county magistrate appointing commission to appoint an additional magistrate to a county with only one magistrate. Except as otherwise provided, this division of the bill takes effect November 1, 2026. SENIOR MAGISTRATES. The bill provides that a magistrate who attains the age of and has less than percent of the magistrate’s current term remaining may elect to serve the remainder of the term but is not eligible for reappointment. The bill establishes requirements for senior magistrate status, appointment, and terms of service. A senior magistrate may be appointed at the discretion of the supreme court within six months of retirement after filing the appropriate form and meeting specified requirements, including retirement on or after July 1, 2026; agreement to be available for service not exceeding five weeks in each successive 12-month period; and submission of evidence that the magistrate does not suffer from a permanent physical or mental disability that would interfere with the performance of judicial duties. _____ when ruling on an application for senior magistrate status. The bill requires the clerk of the supreme court to maintain a roster of senior magistrates and authorizes the reappointment of senior magistrates to additional two-year terms, as well as two one-year terms upon attaining years of age, at the discretion of the supreme court. The bill provides for senior magistrate compensation and medical insurance coverage through the judicial branch. The bill requires a senior magistrate to retire upon completion of the 12-month period during which the magistrate attains or years of age, as applicable, and requires the clerk of the supreme court to record the retirement in the roster of senior magistrates. The bill also establishes procedures for voluntary relinquishment of senior magistrate status and removal for cause. JUDICIAL OFFICER SALARIES. The bill increases the salaries of judicial officers, other than judicial magistrates, in effect on July 1, 2026, by percent effective with the pay period beginning June 18, 2027. Salaries for judicial magistrates are increased to percent of the salary of a district associate judge. This division of the bill takes effect June 18, 2027.
Changed since by amendments S-5160, H-8278; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 11, 2026. On February 16, 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 12, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill changes how magistrates are appointed, creates a program for retired senior magistrates, and increases salaries for judicial officers. It is estimated to decrease annual costs for the state by between $2.0 million and $2.8 million beginning in fiscal year 2028 due to fewer magistrate positions. However, the bill is also estimated to cost the state approximately $2.5 million in fiscal year 2028 for salary increases, while the cost of the new senior magistrate program is unknown.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 2706 relates to judicial officers, including magistrate appointments, senior magistrates, and judicial officer compensation. The Bill has three divisions. Division I — Magistrate Appointment in Judicial Election Districts
Description
Division I transitions magistrate appointments from a county-based system to a judicial election district-based system and makes conforming changes to the Iowa Code. This Division does the following:
- Replaces the statutory requirement of 206 magistrates in Iowa Code section 602.6401 with a case-related workload formula established by the Iowa Supreme Court.
- Eliminates the requirement that each county has at least one resident magistrate.
- Modifies the composition and duties of magistrate appointing commissions in Iowa Code sections 602.6501, 602.6502, 602.6503, and 602.6504. Judicial election district magistrate appointing commissions would replace county commissions, reducing the 99 county appointing commissions to 14 judicial election district appointing commissions.
- Requires the judicial election district magistrate appointing commission to prioritize applicants who served or are serving as magistrates for the term immediately preceding August 1, 2027. If the number of vacancies equals or exceeds the number of prioritized applicants, all prioritized applicants shall be appointed. If the vacancies are fewer than prioritized applicants, only prioritized applicants shall be appointed. This requirement is repealed July 31, 2031.
- Allows temporary reassignment of magistrates across counties. This authority is repealed August 1, 2027.
- Repeals Iowa Code section 602.6402 permitting the appointment of additional magistrates in certain counties.
Under this Bill, judicial election district magistrate appointing commissions would be comprised of a district court judge who is designated by the chief judge of the judicial district; one appointee from each county in the judicial election district appointed by the board of supervisors; and attorney members, equal to one less than the number of county appointees, selected by attorneys residing in, or counties contiguous to, the election district. Authorization to temporarily reassign magistrates across counties is effective upon enactment, while all other provisions in Division I are effective November 1, 2026.
Background
Under Iowa Code section 602.6401, each county must have at least one resident magistrate for a total of up to 206 magistrates across the State. Magistrates are appointed by county-based appointing commissions comprised of the following members: a district court judge who is designated by the chief judge of the judicial district, up to three nonlawyer members appointed by the board of supervisors, and up to two lawyers elected by the attorneys in the county.
Assumptions
- Statutory requirements were in place prior to the availability of court resources like electronic search warrants and electronic court proceedings.
- Judicial election districts will replace county-level operations without requiring an increase in commission activity statewide.
- Commission members continue to be reimbursed by their resident county for actual and necessary expenses.
- Magistrates are currently paid approximately $66,000 in annual salary and benefits.
- The estimated annual information technology (IT) operational cost per magistrate is approximately $4,600, which includes the cost of a laptop, software, hardware, security, and IT support.
- There is an estimated 1.5% rate of vacancy for magistrate positions.
- There are currently 138 magistrates. The Judicial Branch estimates that, after full implementation of the workload-based magistrate allocation formula, the range will be between 81 and 90 active magistrates serving the districts.
Fiscal Impact
Division I is estimated to decrease annual costs between $2.0 million and $2.8 million beginning in FY 2028 by reducing magistrate positions. There may be a minimal fiscal impact on counties as each commission will cover a larger geographic area, and travel reimbursement costs may increase for commission members.
Division II — Senior Magistrates
Description
Division II establishes a senior magistrate program, allowing certain retired magistrates to serve on a limited basis. Under the Division, a magistrate who retires on or after the effective date of the legislation and meets age and service requirements may apply to become a senior magistrate. Appointments are made at the discretion of the Iowa Supreme Court. The Division amends 2025 Iowa Acts, chapter 158 (FY 2026 Judicial Branch Appropriations Act), to add the annual salary rate of each senior magistrate of $4,234.
Once appointed to a two-year term, with the possibility of reappointment, a senior magistrate serves part-time, up to five weeks per year, performing judicial duties as assigned. A senior magistrate may serve until reaching the mandatory retirement age. A senior magistrate may continue to practice law. Senior magistrates will be paid at the rate set by the General Assembly, are eligible for expense reimbursement, and may participate in the State-provided health insurance system at the rate of actively serving magistrates.
Background
Currently, the Iowa Code allows for senior judges but does not provide for senior magistrates.
Assumptions
- Only a portion of retired magistrates eligible for appointments will become senior magistrates.
- The number of senior magistrates that will be hired is unknown.
Fiscal Impact
The cost of Division II is unknown and depends on the number of senior magistrates receiving compensation, expense reimbursement, and health insurance coverage. Total costs will be based on the number of senior magistrates, but compensation costs will be significantly lower than an active magistrate salary.
Division III — Judicial Officer Salaries
Description
Division III increases judicial officer salaries by 5.0%, excluding magistrates, based on salary rates for judicial officers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The Division also increases the salary rate for magistrates to 40.0% of the salary of a district associate judge based on salary rates for judicial officers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. Division III takes effect on June 18, 2027 (FY 2028).
Background
Judicial salaries are determined by the General Assembly under Iowa Code section 602.1501 and funded annually by a General Fund appropriation. In FY 2026, the Judicial Branch received an additional $1.7 million for operations that included a 2.5% increase in salary for all judges and magistrates. The FY 2026 current salary for a magistrate is $46,621, with approximately $19,000 in benefits, for a total cost of approximately $66,000 annually. The estimated FY 2026 salary for a district associate judge is $151,000.
Assumptions
- Salary increases are based on the most recent salaries established in the FY 2026 Judicial Branch Appropriations Act.
- The number of filled positions used to estimate future costs is based on currently filled positions.
- The estimated annual salary and benefits for FY 2028 for one magistrate is $83,000.
Fiscal Impact
Division III of the Bill is estimated to cost approximately $2.5 million in FY 2028, based on the current salary rates for judicial officers in FY 2026. The actual cost will be impacted by salary levels in effect in FY 2027 and the potential change in magistrate allocations within the districts.
Sources
- Judicial Branch
- Legislative Services Agency calculations
- Final Fiscal Note — Magistrates and Judicial Officer Compensation · June 2, 2026
- Magistrates and Judicial Officer Compensation · April 6, 2026
- Magistrates and Judicial Officer Compensation · April 6, 2026
- Magistrates and Judicial Officer Compensation · April 1, 2026
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§602.9301§602.9302§602.9303§602.9304§602.9305§602.9306§602.9307
Amends§331.321§331.502§331.653§556F.14§602.1101§602.1214§602.1303§602.1501§602.1610§602.2301§602.6302§602.6303§602.6401§602.6403§602.6404§602.6501§602.6502§602.6503§602.6504§602.8102§806.2
Repeals§602.6402
Lobbying
6 for · 2 against · 3 undecided · Who →
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91st General Assembly