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Bill > SF2079
IA SF2079
IA SF2079A bill for an act relating to parole eligibility for a person under the age of twenty-one convicted of a class "A" felony and making penalties applicable.
summary
Introduced
01/21/2026
01/21/2026
In Committee
01/21/2026
01/21/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to parole eligibility for a person under the age of 21 convicted of a class “A” felony. Current law provides that a person under the age of 18 convicted of first degree murder, a class “A” felony, shall receive one of the following sentences: commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with no possibility of parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years; commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court; or commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole. The bill increases the age limit from 18 years to 21 years. Current law provides that a defendant convicted of a class “A” felony, other than murder in the first degree, and who was under the age of 18 at the time the offense was committed shall receive one of the following sentences: commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court; or commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole. The bill increases the age limit from 18 years to 21 years.
AI Summary
This bill amends existing Iowa law to expand the age eligibility for certain parole considerations for individuals convicted of serious felonies. Specifically, it raises the age from under 18 to under 21 for defendants convicted of first-degree murder, a Class "A" felony, and also for those convicted of any other Class "A" felony, allowing them to be considered for parole after serving a minimum term determined by the court or to be eligible for parole. This change provides a broader window for younger offenders to potentially be considered for release from the department of corrections, which is the state agency responsible for managing prisons and inmates.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Bousselot. S.J. 148. (on 01/27/2026)
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=SF2079 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF2079.html |
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