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Bill > HSB666
IA HSB666
IA HSB666A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties.(See HF 2542.)
summary
Introduced
02/04/2026
02/04/2026
In Committee
02/04/2026
02/04/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/03/2026
05/03/2026
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to habitual offenders. The bill strikes the current law regarding habitual offenders and provides that a habitual offender is a person who has been convicted, in a court of this state or any other state, or of the United States, of any combination of level one or level two offenses resulting in the accumulation of three or more points. The bill defines “level one offense” as all class “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” felonies, and all aggravated misdemeanors that involve sexual abuse under Code chapter 709, domestic abuse assault under Code section 708.2A, assault with the intent to inflict a serious injury or while using or displaying a dangerous weapon under Code section 708.2(1) and (3), organized retail theft under Code section 714.2B(3)(c), theft, and possession of a controlled substance. Each conviction of a level one offense is worth one point. The bill defines “level two offense” as all aggravated misdemeanors that are not classified as a level one offense, and serious misdemeanors that involve assault causing bodily injury or mental illness under Code section 708.2(2), domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury or mental illness under Code section 708.2A(2)(b), harassment under Code section 708.7(3), unlawful possession of a controlled substance under Code section 124.401(3) and (5), theft in the fourth degree under Code section 714.2, and criminal mischief in the third H.F. _____ degree under Code section 716.4. Each conviction of a level two offense is worth one-half point. The bill provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person sentenced as a habitual offender shall not be eligible for parole or work release until the person has served a minimum term of commitment of 20 years unless the current level one offense the person is convicted of carries a higher minimum sentence, which shall be considered the minimum sentence under the bill.
AI Summary
This Study Bill redefines who qualifies as a "habitual offender" and modifies the penalties associated with that designation. Previously, the law on habitual offenders is being replaced with a new system where a person is considered a habitual offender if they have accumulated three or more "points" from convictions of either "level one offenses" or "level two offenses." Level one offenses, each worth one point, include serious crimes like all felonies (classes A, B, C, and D), aggravated misdemeanors involving sexual abuse, domestic abuse assault, certain assaults with intent to injure or using a weapon, organized retail theft, theft, and possession of controlled substances. Level two offenses, each worth half a point, are less severe aggravated misdemeanors not classified as level one, and serious misdemeanors related to assault causing injury or mental illness, domestic abuse assault causing injury or mental illness, harassment, unlawful possession of controlled substances, fourth-degree theft, and third-degree criminal mischief. Crucially, if someone is sentenced as a habitual offender under this new law, they will not be eligible for parole or work release until they have served at least 20 years, unless the most recent level one offense they were convicted of carries a longer mandatory minimum sentence, in which case that longer sentence will apply. This bill also amends existing law to ensure that habitual offenders are sentenced according to these new provisions, rather than the previous fifteen-year maximum confinement.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Judiciary (House)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2542. (on 02/16/2026)
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=HSB666 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HSB666.html |
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