Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to state tort claims, including qualified immunity for state employees, and including retroactive applicability provisions
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2026
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary State employees are currently protected from paying money in certain lawsuits if the law wasn't clear about their actions. This bill expands those protections to include rights found in the Iowa Constitution, state laws, and common law. These changes apply to legal claims filed on or after June 17, 2021.1
Read the official explanation
Under current law, an employee of the state that is subject to a claim brought under Code chapter 669 (state tort claims) is not liable for monetary damages if the right, privilege, or immunity secured by law was not clearly established at the time of the alleged deprivation or at the time of the alleged deprivation the law was not sufficiently clear that every employee would have known the conduct violated the law, or a court issued a final decision holding that the conduct alleged to be unlawful conduct was consistent with the law. This bill provides that rights, privileges, or immunities secured by law include the rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution of the State of Iowa, statutes, and common law. The bill is a response to the supreme court of Iowa’s decisions in Montague v. 24-1745 (Iowa 2026) and Estate of Kahn v.3d 252 (Iowa 2025).14A does not apply to common law tort claims.14A.
House subcommittee
Named February 17, 2026. Meeting: Wednesday, February 18 · 12:45 PM · RM 305.
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 18, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site