SSB 3158: Creating the uniform family law arbitration Act

What it does

This bill creates the Iowa uniform family law arbitration Act. The bill provides definitions, including the terms “arbitrator”, “child custody dispute”, “child support dispute”, and “family law dispute”. The bill governs the arbitration in a family dispute but does not allow an arbitrator to grant a legal separation, a divorce, a dissolution of marriage, or an annulment; to terminate parental rights, to grant an adoption or a guardianship of a child or protected person; or to determine the status of dependency of a child or the support of a child.

Senate subcommittee · named February 11, 2026

• Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Matt Blake (D) · matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Jeff Reichman (R) · jeff.reichman@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI); Iowa Cable and Telecommunications Association; Iowa Commission on Uniform State Laws c/o David S. Walker, Chair; Iowa State Bar Association

In plain words

1. February 11, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
2. February 11, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Blake and Reichman
3. February 12, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes
4. February 17, 2026Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 2371