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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate reorganizes Health and Human Services into regional districts and establishes a volunteer subunit
Last action · May 2, 2026: Explanation of vote. H.J. 1158 .
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What This Bill Does
Senate File 2338 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to divide the state into health and human services districts, transitions aging and disability s to align with these districts, and creates a new subunit for volunteerism within the department. The legislation takes effect immediately upon enactment.
The measure restructures how regional health, aging, disability, and volunteer programs are organized across Iowa, directly changing administrative boundaries and state liability coverage for registered volunteers.
- The Department of Health and Human Services administers state programs related to public health, social services, aging, and disability support in Iowa. context
- Senate File 2338 originated as Senate Study Bill 3082 from the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services during the 91st General Assembly. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Health and Human Services
The department is required to divide the state into health and human services districts, review them every seven years, integrate aging and disability services, and establish a volunteer subunit.
Administrative services organizations
Administrative services organizations must establish ten-member district advisory councils and perform duties outlined in district behavioral health plans.
Registered state volunteers
Volunteers registered with programs under the new subunit are classified as state employees for tort claims purposes, while volunteer guardians and conservators retain specific existing legal duties and liabilities.
Key Facts
- The Department of Health and Human Services must divide the entirety of the state into designated health and human services districts for statewide program and service delivery.
- Initial health and human services districts shall be identical to the behavioral health districts that exist on the effective date of division I of the Act.
- The department must review designated health and human services districts at least once every seven consecutive fiscal years.
- Modifications to health and human services districts made by the department are not subject to judicial review.
Show all 10 facts
- Each administrative services organization must establish a district behavioral health advisory council consisting of ten members, including local elected officials, population representatives, behavioral health experts, and a law enforcement representative.
- Aging services under chapter 231 must be implemented and administered during a transition period with the shortest possible time between de-designating and re-designating planning and service areas.
- Contingent applicability requires the department to receive federal approval from the Administration for Community Living before amended planning and service areas take effect.
- A subunit for volunteerism is created within the department to establish volunteer programs and provide administrative support for nonpolicymaking duties of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.
- All volunteers registered with programs administered under the new volunteer subunit and in compliance with departmental rules are considered employees of the state for tort claims purposes under chapter 669.
- Volunteer guardians and conservators are not exempt from actions brought under sections 658.1A or 658.3, nor are they relieved of duties under chapter 633.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the initial boundaries for the new health and human services districts?
Are registered volunteers covered as state employees under this legislation?
What is required for the changes to aging planning and service areas to take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
36 actions- May 2, 2026HouseExplanation of vote. H.J. 1158 .
- Apr 30, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by Governor . H.J. 1067 .
- Apr 30, 2026HouseReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1067 .
- Apr 16, 2026HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 932 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateImmediate message. S.J. 824 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 32, nays 15. S.J. 820 .
Show 30 earlier actions
- Apr 16, 2026SenateSubstituted for SF 2338 . S.J. 819 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateIntroducedRead first time, attached to SF 2338 . S.J. 814 .
- Apr 16, 2026HouseMessage from House. S.J. 814 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateWithdrawn. S.J. 820 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateHF 2707 substituted. S.J. 819 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateFloorAmendment S-5139 adopted. S.J. 819 .
- Apr 16, 2026SenateAttached to HF 2707 . S.J. 814 .
- Apr 15, 2026HouseImmediate message. H.J. 917 .
- Apr 15, 2026HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 94, nays 1. H.J. 904 .
- Apr 15, 2026HouseFloorAmendment H-8266 adopted. H.J. 904 .
- Mar 30, 2026SenateAmendment S-5139 filed. S.J. 683 .
- Mar 26, 2026HouseAmendment H-8266 filed. H.J. 763 .
- Mar 19, 2026HousePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 691 .
- Mar 19, 2026SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 600 .
- Feb 23, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 382 .
- Feb 23, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2707 .
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 14. Nays, 7. H.J. 334 .
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 334 .
- Feb 16, 2026SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 297 .
- Feb 16, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 291 .
- Feb 12, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2338 .
- Feb 11, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends amendment and passage.
- Feb 9, 2026HouseSubcommittee Meeting: 02/11/2026 8:30AM House Lounge 2.
- Feb 4, 2026HouseSubcommittee Meeting: 02/05/2026 8:30AM House Lounge (Cancelled).
- Jan 29, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends amendment and passage.
- Jan 28, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 01/29/2026 12:30PM Room G15.
- Jan 28, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee: Warme, Costello, and Trone Garriott.
- Jan 27, 2026Iowa LegislatureIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Health and Human Services.
- Jan 26, 2026HouseSubcommittee: Bergan, Wilburn and Wilz, H. H.J. 154 .
- Jan 26, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Health and Human Services. H.J. 153 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Consolidation of Regional Service Delivery
The legislation unifies behavioral health districts and aging and disability planning and service areas under a single umbrella of health and human services districts.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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