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HF 297

A bill for an act relating to certain emergency services provided by a city.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Creates a dedicated fund for major police, fire, and EMS equipment, deposits settlements to that fund, and allows year-end balances to be used for equipment replacement.

Signed by Governor.
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Bill Summary · HF 297

Summary — HF 297 (Chapter 90, 2025)

Title: An act relating to certain emergency services provided by a city
Status: Enacted (signed by Governor May 19, 2025)
Introduced: February 10, 2025

Purpose / Intent

HF 297 makes targeted changes to Iowa city law to (1) clarify compensation and conflict-of-interest treatment for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers who hold city offices, (2) modify rules about city council members serving as volunteer fire chiefs, and (3) create a specific mechanism for cities to hold and use funds for major police, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services equipment.

Key provisions (by statutory section)

  • Section 362.5(3)(a) (conflict-of-interest / compensation)

    • Confirms that existing rules prohibiting city officers/employees from contracting with the city do not prevent payment of lawful compensation to:
    • city officers,
    • volunteer firefighters (as defined in Iowa Code §85.61),
    • emergency medical care providers (as defined in §147A.1),
    • or employees holding multiple compatible city positions.
    • Explicitly allows nominal stipends, incentives, or benefits for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

  • Section 372.13(10) (council members serving in fire department roles)

    • Continues to permit a city council member, during their elected term, to serve as chief of the volunteer fire department or in other volunteer fire department roles.
    • Adds that a currently serving council member may become chief upon a majority vote of the council, but the council member must abstain from voting on their own appointment.

  • Section 384.3 (municipal funds for major equipment)

    • Permits a city to establish an additional fund or reserve savings account to pay costs associated with acquiring, possessing, and maintaining major equipment for police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services.
    • Requires that payments, awards, judgments, or insurance settlements received for damaged equipment/vehicles be deposited into the relevant fund/account (not the general fund), except that if the general fund previously paid repair/replacement costs, the city may deposit into the general fund an amount equal to what was used from it; remaining funds must go to the equipment fund/account.
    • Allows year-end transfer of remaining fund balances into a reserve savings account; monies in the reserve must be used to maintain or acquire major equipment, including vehicles.

Who is affected

  • Cities and municipal finance officers (new optional fund/account authority; deposit rules for settlements)
  • Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers (clarified compensation and ability to hold compatible city offices)
  • City council members (clarified process for serving as volunteer fire chief)
  • Insurers and entities making payments, awards, or settlements to cities for damaged emergency services equipment

Legislative / procedural timeline

  • Introduced: Feb 10, 2025
  • Passed House: Mar 10, 2025 (yeas 88, nays 0)
  • Passed Senate (as substitute): Apr 29, 2025 (yeas 48, nays 0)
  • Enrolled & sent to Governor: May 19, 2025
  • Signed by Governor (effective as enacted): May 19, 2025

Practical effect

HF 297 removes potential ambiguity about volunteer compensation and city officeholding, clarifies council member participation in volunteer fire leadership with an abstention requirement, and provides cities with a dedicated mechanism to track and preserve funds for major emergency-services equipment—helping protect insurance recoveries for equipment and allowing responsible long‑term planning for vehicle and equipment replacement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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