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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate File 437 Imposes Two-Year Lobbying and Contracting Restrictions on Former State Officials and Legislators
Last action · February 26, 2025: Subcommittee: Rozenboom, Schultz, and Townsend. S.J. 367 .Sponsors: Janice Weiner and 8 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Iowa Senate File 437 prohibits former state officials, legislators, and agency heads from becoming s, authorizing lobbying, or taking employment that leverages personal participation in prior official matters for two years after leaving service. The bill also bars state and local agencies from entering into contracts worth over $1,000 with businesses represented by former officials who left office within the past year if the contract resulted from their official acts. Knowingly violating these rules is classified as a .
The measure establishes a mandatory cooling-off period and financial thresholds that restrict former public officials from immediately engaging in lobbying or securing state contracts stemming from their prior official actions.
- Iowa Code chapter 68B governs ethics and campaign disclosure laws for public officials and state employees. context
- Senate File 437 was introduced during the 2025 legislative session in the Iowa Senate. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Former state officials and legislators
They face expanded two-year prohibitions on lobbying, authorizing lobbying, obtaining certain post-service employment, and holding interests in specific state contracts.
State and local government agencies
They are prohibited from entering into contracts valued over $1,000 with businesses represented by individuals who served as statewide officials or legislators within the preceding year.
Key Facts
- Former statewide elected officials, agency heads, deputy heads, and general assembly members are prohibited from becoming a lobbyist or directly authorizing lobbying within two years of leaving service.
- Former officials and employees are banned for two years from receiving compensation for services or obtaining employment related to any case, proceeding, or application in which they personally participated.
- State agencies and local governments are barred from entering into contracts or selecting businesses represented by former statewide officials, agency heads, or legislators who left office within the past year, if the contract exceeds $1,000 and is a direct result of their official acts.
- Knowingly and intentionally violating sections 68B.5A, 68B.7, or 68B.9 constitutes a serious misdemeanor.
Show all 5 facts
- A serious misdemeanor under Iowa law carries a penalty of confinement for up to one year and a fine ranging from $430 to $2,560.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after leaving office do the lobbying restrictions last?
What is the financial threshold for contracts affected by the one-year ban on former officials representing businesses?
What penalties apply if someone violates these post-service rules?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 26, 2025SenateSubcommittee: Rozenboom, Schultz, and Townsend. S.J. 367 .
- Feb 25, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to State Government. S.J. 354 .
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.
Sponsors
Show 4 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Post-Service Ethics Restrictions
The bill extends existing two-year lobbying prohibitions to include the direct authorization of lobbying and adds a one-year prohibition on state contracts involving recently departed officials.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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