Summary — SF 644 (Ch. 154) — Justice System Appropriations (FY 2025–2026)
Status: Enacted (signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, June 11, 2025). Applies retroactively to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 (see Sec. 25). Senate passage: 33–13; House passage: 60–27. Several floor amendments were filed during consideration (S‑3155 adopted; H‑1341 and H‑1348 filed and later withdrawn).
Purpose
- Provides FY 2025–2026 appropriations and related policy direction for Iowa’s justice system, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Attorney General, Office of Consumer Advocate, Department of Corrections (DOC), judicial district correctional services, and related programs (indigent defense/representation, corrections reinvestment, federal receipts funds, victim services, and reporting requirements).
Key fiscal provisions (selected, from bill text)
- Attorney General — general office: $10,913,246 and 234.00 FTE for salaries, support, training, victim programs, drug policy prosecutor program, odometer fraud enforcement. Condition: DOJ must track estimated time representing other agencies.
- Victim assistance grants: $5,166,708 total; of which $150,000 is reserved for care providers serving human trafficking victims. Allows use of victim compensation fund balance for up to 24.00 FTEs and authorizes 7.00 additional FTEs contingent on federal funds. Unexpended funds in this item carry forward one year.
- Legal services for persons in poverty grants (sec. 13.34): $2,634,601.
- DOJ cybersecurity/technology: $202,060.
- Office of Consumer Advocate: $3,763,937 from the commerce revolving fund; 18.00 FTE. The office must set charges/revenues sufficient to cover this appropriation and assessed indirect costs.
- Department of Corrections — facilities: appropriations to operate correctional institutions (example item shown: Fort Madison correctional facility $46,561,722). The bill contains multiple DOC allocations (operations, medical care, etc.; full bill enumerates each facility).
- Establishes/authorizes use of corrections capital reinvestment fund and a corrections federal receipts fund (title and related provisions provided in full bill), and grants DOC limited reallocation authority within appropriated funds subject to notice requirements.
Policy and program provisions (selected)
- Reporting: DOJ to report reimbursement sources (non‑general fund) in FY2026 budget submission and to deliver a report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2026.
- Human trafficking training: DOJ to reimburse the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to employ one additional instructor for statewide human‑trafficking training, funded from designated victim/human‑trafficking funds.
- DOC program intent and operations: continues judicial district community‑based programs (intensive supervision, sex‑offender treatment, diversion for low‑risk offenders, job development, electronic monitoring rental contracts). DOC may reallocate appropriations within the Act with notice to LSA and Dept. of Management but may not eliminate programs through reallocation.
- Inmate labor: authorizes DOC to use inmate labor (in cooperation with local entities) for rural cemetery/historical landmark restoration, road and water source cleanup; DOC to report on private‑sector employment of offenders by Jan. 15, 2026.
- Pretrial risk tool: provision states the public safety assessment shall not be used in pretrial detention/release decisions until explicitly authorized by the General Assembly.
Impacted parties
- State executive agencies: DOJ (including AG’s office), Office of Consumer Advocate, DOC, Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Department of Public Safety.
- Local entities: judicial district departments of correctional services, counties, care providers serving crime victims, nonprofit partners using inmate labor.
- Service recipients: victims of violent crime and human trafficking, low‑income Iowans eligible for legal services, incarcerated persons (programs and employment), and law enforcement training recipients.
Timing / Effective provisions
- Appropriations cover FY 2025–2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
- Bill signed into law June 11, 2025.
- Retroactive applicability clause makes the division retroactive to the FY beginning July 1, 2023.
- Reporting deadlines noted (e.g., Jan. 15, 2026 submissions).
Notes on legislative action
- Major amendment S‑3155 replaced original text and was adopted. House amendments H‑1341 and H‑1348 were filed but later withdrawn prior to final enrollment. Explanations of votes recorded on May 20 and June 27, 2025. The enrolled bill was reported correctly and transmitted to the Governor (May 23, 2025).
For full appropriation line items, facility allocations, and statutory language (including corrections fund details and any omitted technical provisions), consult the enrolled/chaptered bill text (Chapter 154, SF 644).
