Bill

Bill > SF149


IA SF149

IA SF149
A bill for an act relating to the place of trial for certain criminal offenses.(Formerly SSB 1001.)


summary

Introduced
01/29/2025
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill relates to the place of trial for certain criminal offenses. The bill provides that if the county in which an offense was committed cannot be readily determined, trial of the offense shall be held in the county of residence of the victim. If there is no victim, the victim is not a resident of this state, or the residence of the victim cannot be established, trial shall be held in the county of residence of the person charged with the offense. If the victim is not a natural person, venue for trial of the offense is proper in any county where the victim has a physical presence. If there is more than one victim, trial may be held in any county in which a victim resides with the county of residence of a natural person taking priority over the county of residence of other victims.

AI Summary

This bill modifies existing Iowa law regarding the venue (location) for criminal trials when the specific county of an offense cannot be easily determined. The bill establishes a clear hierarchy for determining where a criminal trial should take place: first, in the county where the victim resides; if the victim's residence cannot be established or the victim is not an Iowa resident, then the trial will be held in the county where the person charged with the offense resides. For cases involving non-human victims (such as corporations or organizations), the trial can occur in any county where that victim has a physical presence. In situations with multiple victims, the bill allows the trial to be held in any county where a victim resides, with preference given to the county of residence of a natural person victim. This legislation aims to provide a structured approach to determining trial venue when the precise location of an offense is unclear, ensuring that criminal proceedings can move forward efficiently and fairly.

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Judiciary (Senate)

Last Action

Withdrawn. S.J. 722. (on 04/08/2025)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...