Sign in

Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 2055Withdrawn · HF 2571 became law instead · March 30, 2026

Relating to the Iowa rules of criminal procedure including commitment hearings following an acquittal based on insanity

Sponsored by Sen. Amy Sinclair (R)

Topics:Crime & correctionsHealth care

Same legislation: HSB 632, HF 2571

Write your legislators about it

Also covers HSB 632 and HF 2571.

What changed before it passed
Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2026
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2026
  3. Done: Senate committeeFebruary 18, 2026
  4. Done: Passes the SenateMarch 30, 202645–0
  5. Skipped: House committeeSkipped
  6. Done: Passes the HouseMarch 24, 202696–0
  7. Done: To the GovernorApril 9, 2026
  8. Done: Signed into lawApril 9, 2026

HF 2571 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 2571, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 2571 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary When a person is found not guilty because of insanity, a court must use a specific list of factors to decide if they should stay in a mental health facility. Judges will look at things like the person's past behavior, mental health history, and expert reports to see if they are still dangerous. The law says a judge cannot decide someone is safe just because they haven't acted out recently.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the Iowa rules of criminal procedure including commitment hearings following an acquittal based on insanity. The bill provides a list of factors a court must consider in determining whether a defendant continues to be mentally ill and dangerous to the defendant’s self or others. The bill states that the absence of recent overt acts of dangerousness shall not, by itself, be the sole determining factor in assessing whether the defendant poses a risk to the defendant’s self or others. The factors include the original offense, behavioral history, psychiatric history and current mental status, substance use disorder history, institutional behavior and independent functioning, environmental influences, and expert testimony and risk assessment reports. The revised rules of criminal procedure shall be submitted for legislative council review no later than October 14, 2026.

Changed since by amendments S-5138, H-8252; see Amendments.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed2

Senate subcommittee

Named January 15, 2026. On February 10, 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

Lobbying

4 for · 0 against · 13 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Study bill

HSB 632Renumbered

91st General Assembly

SF 2055Didn’t advanceSenate companionHF 2571Became lawfrom HSB 632