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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa makes child welfare legal representation pilot project permanent
Last action · May 20, 2026: Fiscal note.
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What This Bill Does
Iowa law now permanently establishes the project to preserve families, allowing the state public defender to administer and maintain child welfare legal representation models in up to sixteen counties throughout the state.
Changes a temporary five-year child welfare legal representation pilot into a permanent statewide program, granting the state public defender ongoing authority to appoint attorneys prior to and adopt administrative rules.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
families involved in the child welfare system
Families receive ongoing access to innovative legal representation models and team approaches aimed at achieving positive outcomes.
indigent persons
Indigent persons may have an attorney appointed by the state public defender prior to the initiation of formal proceedings without a court order.
Key Facts
- The legislation establishes the project to preserve families as a permanent program administered by the state public defender.
- The state public defender may administer and maintain the project in up to sixteen counties throughout the state.
- The state public defender may appoint an attorney to represent an indigent person prior to the initiation of formal proceedings without a court order.
- The state public defender is authorized to coordinate with other agencies, seek grant funding, and measure the results of the project.
Show all 5 facts
- The state public defender may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer the section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main change made by this legislation?
Can an attorney be appointed before formal court proceedings begin?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
33 actions- May 20, 2026Iowa LegislatureFiscal note.
- Apr 9, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by Governor . H.J. 870 .
- Apr 9, 2026HouseReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 870 .
- Mar 24, 2026HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 727 .
- Mar 23, 2026SenateImmediate message. S.J. 620 .
- Mar 23, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 618 .
Show 27 earlier actions
- Mar 23, 2026SenateSubstituted for SF 2370 . S.J. 617 .
- Mar 23, 2026SenateWithdrawn. S.J. 618 .
- Mar 23, 2026SenateHF 2356 substituted. S.J. 617 .
- Mar 20, 2026Iowa LegislatureFiscal note .
- Mar 19, 2026SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 599 .
- Mar 19, 2026SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 599 .
- Mar 2, 2026SenateIntroducedRead first time, attached to SF 2370 . S.J. 422 .
- Mar 2, 2026HouseMessage from House. S.J. 422 .
- Mar 2, 2026SenateAttached to HF 2356 . S.J. 422 .
- Feb 26, 2026HouseImmediate message. H.J. 460 .
- Feb 26, 2026HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 90, nays 0. H.J. 453 .
- Feb 25, 2026Iowa LegislatureFiscal note.
- Feb 18, 2026SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 317 .
- Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 311 .
- Feb 17, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2370 .
- Feb 11, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 234 .
- Feb 9, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2356 .
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSubcommittee Meeting: 02/11/2026 12:00PM Senate Lounge.
- Jan 27, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee: Taylor, Quirmbach, and Shipley.
- Jan 27, 2026Iowa LegislatureIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Judiciary.
- Jan 26, 2026HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 19. Nays, 0. Excused, 2. H.J. 160 .
- Jan 26, 2026HouseCommittee report, recommending passage. H.J. 160 .
- Jan 22, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Jan 20, 2026HouseSubcommittee Meeting: 01/21/2026 8:45AM House Lounge.
- Jan 15, 2026HouseSubcommittee: Thomson, C., Watkins and Wessel-Kroeschell. H.J. 117 .
- Jan 15, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 115 .
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.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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