State money
Settlements and claims
When someone says the state hurt them or owes them money, the claim goes to the State Appeal Board: the Treasurer, the Auditor and the director of the Department of Management. It approves or denies claims and settlements, and most are paid from the state’s General Fund. Names of the people who filed claims aren’t shown here.
Paid from the Appeal Board’s fund each year
What the General Fund’s “Appeal Board Claims” appropriation paid each fiscal year: claims, settlements and court judgments, and related legal costs1. The newest year is still under way.
| Fiscal year | Claims and settlements | Refund claims |
|---|---|---|
| FY27 | $998K | $740 |
| FY26 | $11.5M | $89K |
| FY25 | $17.1M | $7.6M |
| FY24 | $20.1M | $192K |
| FY23 | $19.4M | $-1.6M |
| FY22 | $22.2M | $-715K |
| FY21 | $12.0M | $163K |
| FY20 | $11.3M | $5.4M |
| FY19 | $8.6M | $239K |
| FY18 | $7.4M | $134K |
| FY17 | $4.7M | $18K |
| FY16 | $5.9M | $1.2M |
| FY15 | $20.9M | $-102K |
| FY14 | $4.4M | $25K |
| FY13 | $7.0M | $-127K |
| FY12 | $16.2M | $1.0M |
| FY11 | $5.5M | $993K |
| FY10 | $8.6M | $116K |
| FY09 | $5.9M | $-228K |
| FY08 | $21.4M | $4.0M |
| FY07 | $5.9M | $3.7M |
| FY06 | $6.8M | $4.3M |
| FY05 | $8.9M | $2.7M |
| FY04 | $11.0M | $13.2M |
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Claims and settlements | Refund claims |
|---|---|---|
| FY27 | $998K | $740 |
| FY26 | $11.5M | $89K |
| FY25 | $17.1M | $7.6M |
| FY24 | $20.1M | $192K |
| FY23 | $19.4M | $-1.6M |
| FY22 | $22.2M | $-715K |
| FY21 | $12.0M | $163K |
| FY20 | $11.3M | $5.4M |
| FY19 | $8.6M | $239K |
| FY18 | $7.4M | $134K |
| FY17 | $4.7M | $18K |
| FY16 | $5.9M | $1.2M |
| FY15 | $20.9M | $-102K |
| FY14 | $4.4M | $25K |
| FY13 | $7.0M | $-127K |
| FY12 | $16.2M | $1.0M |
| FY11 | $5.5M | $993K |
| FY10 | $8.6M | $116K |
| FY09 | $5.9M | $-228K |
| FY08 | $21.4M | $4.0M |
| FY07 | $5.9M | $3.7M |
| FY06 | $6.8M | $4.3M |
| FY05 | $8.9M | $2.7M |
| FY04 | $11.0M | $13.2M |
Over the last ten full years: $134.3M.
What the Board decided
Totals of what the Board approved and denied at its meetings, by fiscal year2.
| Fiscal year | Meetings | Settlements and judgments | Tort claims approved | Tort claims denied | General claims approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY27 | 3 | $2.94B (6) | $472K | $672.1M | $263K |
| FY26 | 1 | $3.4M (5) | $177K | $242.4M | $277K |
Settlements and judgments by agency
11 settlements and judgments approved since FY26, $2.95B in all, by the agency the claim was against.
| Agency | Settlements and judgments | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Other or not stated | 1 | $2.94B |
| University of Iowa Health Care | 5 | $3.1M |
| Public Safety (State Patrol, DCI) | 1 | $3.0M |
| Iowa State University | 3 | $363K |
| Corrections | 1 | $358K |
Show the numbers
| Agency | Settlements and judgments | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Other or not stated | 1 | $2.94B |
| University of Iowa Health Care | 5 | $3.1M |
| Public Safety (State Patrol, DCI) | 1 | $3.0M |
| Iowa State University | 3 | $363K |
| Corrections | 1 | $358K |
What the claims alleged
Grouped by what each article says the claim alleged3. An approved settlement isn’t an admission that the state was at fault.
| Alleged | Settlements and judgments | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Other or not stated | 5 | $2.94B |
| Vehicle crash | 1 | $3.0M |
| Wrongful death, other | 1 | $2.0M |
| Workplace: discrimination, harassment or firing | 2 | $636K |
| Unsafe property or conditions | 2 | $85K |
Show the numbers
| Alleged | Settlements and judgments | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Other or not stated | 5 | $2.94B |
| Vehicle crash | 1 | $3.0M |
| Wrongful death, other | 1 | $2.0M |
| Workplace: discrimination, harassment or firing | 2 | $636K |
| Unsafe property or conditions | 2 | $85K |
Meeting by meeting
Show every meeting (4)
| Met | General claims approved | Tort claims approved | Tort claims denied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 8, 2026 | $14K | $73K | – |
| Sept. 2, 2026 | $225K | $256K | – |
| Aug. 12, 2026 | $24K | $143K | $672.1M |
| June 26, 2026 | $277K | $177K | $242.4M |
See also Iowa’s courts and the state checkbook.