IA HF1048

Bill

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch, including judicial officer salaries and interpreter or translator fees, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 340.)

Introduced
05/12/2025

In Committee

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill relates to and makes appropriations to the judicial branch. FY 2025-2026 APPROPRIATIONS. The bill appropriates moneys from the general fund of the state for FY 2025-2026 to the judicial branch for salaries, receipt and disbursement of child support payments, reimbursement of the auditor of state, maintenance, equipment, miscellaneous purposes, deposit in the revolving fund created pursuant to Code section 602.1302(3) for certain purposes, payment of court-ordered juvenile services, and juvenile delinquent graduated sanctions services. The bill provides that a civil trial including a jury trial may take place in a county contiguous to the county with proper jurisdiction, even if the contiguous county is located in an adjacent judicial district or judicial election district, if all the parties in a case agree. If a trial is moved to another county that is located in another judicial district or judicial election district, the judicial officers serving the judicial district or judicial election district receiving the case shall preside over the case. The bill permits a judicial officer to waive travel reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s county of residence to conduct official business. The bill allows a judicial officer to be placed on unpaid leave on any day a court employee is required to furlough. The bill provides that if a judicial officer is placed on unpaid leave, the salary of the judicial officer shall be reduced accordingly for the pay period in which the unpaid leave occurred. The bill provides that the judicial branch may use an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the salary reductions due to judicial officer unpaid leave for any purpose other than judicial salaries. The bill states legislative intent that the judicial branch utilize the Iowa communications network or other secure electronic communications in lieu of traveling. The bill sets forth salaries for justices, judges, and magistrates. This provision takes effect June 20, 2025. INTERPRETER OR TRANSLATOR FEES. The bill provides that the judicial branch shall deposit any reimbursements to the state for interpreter or translator fees in the revolving fund under Code section 602.1302. The bill prohibits the department of revenue court debt collection fee from including interpreter or translator fees. The bill also prohibits the county attorney from collecting court debt from interpreter or translator fees.

AI Summary

This bill appropriates funds to the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, totaling over $218 million. * **Judicial Branch Operations:** $202,691,378 from the General Fund for salaries of justices, judges, magistrates, and staff, as well as for child support payments, auditor reimbursements, maintenance, equipment, and miscellaneous purposes. * **Revolving Fund for Court Costs:** $3,600,000 from the General Fund to a revolving fund for jury and witness fees, summoning jurors, interpreter and translator fees, and reimbursement of public defender attorney fees. * **Court-Ordered Juvenile Services:** $3,290,000 from the General Fund for services provided to juveniles under the supervision of juvenile court services. Unspent funds from this appropriation will not revert and will remain available until June 30, 2028. * **Juvenile Delinquent Graduated Sanctions:** $12,253,000 from the General Fund for juvenile delinquent graduated sanctions services. Unspent funds from this appropriation will not revert and will remain available until June 30, 2028. The bill also allows civil trials, including jury trials, to be held in contiguous counties if all parties agree, permits judicial officers to waive travel reimbursement for out-of-county travel, and allows judicial officers to be placed on unpaid leave during employee furloughs, with the saved salary amounts usable for other non-salary purposes. Additionally, it sets specific salary rates for various judicial positions, effective June 20, 2025. The bill also clarifies that interpreter and translator fees cannot be included in court debt collection by the Department of Revenue or county attorneys.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Appropriations (House)

Last Action

Withdrawn. H.J. 1183. (on 05/14/2025)

Official Document

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF1048

(3 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF1048
Fiscal Note/Analysis - NOBA: House Full Approps	https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1527416.pdf
BillText	https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF1048.html

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
HSB340	A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch, including juror compensation and judicial officer salaries, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 1048.)	Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 1048.	Related
SF648	A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch including judicial officer salaries and interpreter or translator fees, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1233.) Effective date: 06/20/2025, 07/01/2025.	Explanations of votes. H.J. 1224.	Similar To
SSB1233	A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch.(See SF 648.)	Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 648.	Related

Bill > HF1048

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Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (0)

Other Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Official Document

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