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Bill > SF2054


IA SF2054

IA SF2054
A bill for an act related to bankruptcy and personal property exemption amounts and including effective date provisions.


summary

Introduced
01/14/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill relates to bankruptcy and personal property exemption amounts. The bill expands eligibility for the homestead exemption from judicial sale to include any debtor to whom the law of the state applies on the date a petition in bankruptcy is filed. The bill similarly expands eligibility for personal property exemptions for a debtor to include a debtor to whom the law of this state applies on the date a petition in bankruptcy is filed. The bill adjusts the personal property exemption limits for wedding or engagement rings, jewelry, private libraries, family bibles, portraits, pictures, paintings, apparel, household goods, life insurance policies, policies of life, accident, health, or disability insurance, motor vehicles, state and federal tax refunds, proper implements, professional books, tools of the trade, cash, bank deposits, credit union share drafts, implements and equipment of normal farming operation, livestock and livestock feed, residential rental deposits, residential utility deposits, and prepaid rent. Under current law, if a deficiency judgment is issued against a debtor engaged in farming, and if the debtor does not delay the enforcement of the deficiency judgment or general execution under which the exemption is claimed, the disposable earnings of the debtor are exempt from garnishment. The bill strikes the requirement that the debtor does not delay the enforcement of the deficiency judgment or general execution to qualify for the exemption. Under current law, if a debtor is engaged in farming and does not delay enforcement of a deficiency judgment or general execution under which the exemption is claimed, the debtor may exempt certain farming operation property. The bill strikes the requirement that the debtor does not delay the enforcement of the deficiency judgment or general execution to qualify for the exemption. Beginning April 1, 2028, and every three years thereafter, each exemption amount provided in Code section 627.6 must be adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the most recent three-year period and rounded to the nearest $25. Beginning March 1, 2028, and every three years thereafter, the department of revenue shall publish the adjusted exemption amounts and adopt rules to implement the exemption adjustment process. Current law exempts moneys received by a resident as a pension from the United States government from execution, regardless of whether the pensioner is a head of the family. The bill expands eligibility for the exemption to include a debtor to whom the law of this state applies on the date a petition in bankruptcy is filed, and removes the language clarifying whether the pensioner is the head of a family or not. The bill also strikes the clarifying language “whether the pensioner is a head of a family or not” from the provision exempting a homestead purchased with pension money. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

AI Summary

This bill expands eligibility for certain bankruptcy exemptions, allowing debtors to whom the state's law applies on the date they file for bankruptcy to claim exemptions for their homestead and personal property. It also significantly increases the dollar limits for various personal property exemptions, including wedding and engagement rings, jewelry, household goods, life insurance policies, motor vehicles, professional tools, and cash or bank deposits. For farmers facing deficiency judgments (a judgment for the remaining debt after a foreclosure sale), the bill removes the requirement that they not delay enforcement to qualify for exemptions on their disposable earnings and farming equipment. Furthermore, starting in 2028 and every three years thereafter, the exemption amounts will be automatically adjusted based on changes in the consumer price index, with the Department of Revenue responsible for publishing these updated amounts. Finally, the bill clarifies that federal government pension money received by a debtor to whom the state's law applies is exempt from execution, removing previous language about whether the pensioner was the head of a family.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Subcommittee recommends passage. (on 01/21/2026)

bill text


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