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Bill > SF580
IA SF580
IA SF580A bill for an act relating to monetary donations that may be received and gifted by local officials and local employees to offset medical or health care expenses, and making penalties applicable.(Formerly SF 261; See SF 2145.)
summary
Introduced
03/10/2025
03/10/2025
In Committee
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Generally under current law, a public official, public employee, or candidate, or that person’s immediate family member is prohibited from accepting or receiving any gift or series of gifts from a restricted donor. Certain monetary gifts are authorized under Code section 68B.22(4). This bill authorizes local officials and local employees to receive moneys in the form of donations made by other local officials or local employees to offset medical or health care expenses as a result of a diagnosed condition. Such donations are authorized if they are made and received through the use of an online crowdfunding or fundraising platform. An authorized donation from a donor to a recipient under the bill cannot exceed $100 per calendar year. When used in Code chapter 68B (government ethics and lobbying), including in the bill, “local employee” means a person employed by a political subdivision but does not include an independent contractor; and “local official” means an officeholder of a political subdivision. By operation of law, a person who knowingly and intentionally violates Code section 68B.22, as amended by the bill, commits a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
AI Summary
This bill modifies existing Iowa law to allow local officials and local employees to receive monetary donations from other local officials or employees specifically to help cover medical or healthcare expenses resulting from a diagnosed condition. The donations must be made through an online crowdfunding or fundraising platform and are limited to $100 per calendar year per donor. For the purposes of this law, "local employee" means a person employed by a political subdivision (excluding independent contractors), and "local official" refers to an officeholder of a political subdivision. Currently, public officials and employees are generally prohibited from accepting gifts, but this bill creates a specific exception for these medical donation circumstances. If someone violates this provision, they could be charged with a serious misdemeanor, which carries potential penalties including up to one year of confinement, a fine between $430 and $2,560, and potential professional consequences such as reprimand, suspension, or dismissal from their position.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Local Government (Senate)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2145. S.J. 174. (on 01/29/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF580 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF580.html |
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