Iowa legislation · 91st General Assembly
Iowa HF2356: A BILL FOR An Act establishing the state public defenderâs pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families
Status: Signed into law, April 9, 2026
An Act establishing the state public defenderâs pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 27, 2026:
House File 2356 - Enrolled House File 2356 ESTABLISHING THE STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S PILOT PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE MODELS OF CHILD WELFARE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AS THE PROJECT TO PRESERVE FAMILIES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: Section 1. Section 13B.13, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 13B.13 State public defender pilot project ---- child welfare legal representation project to preserve families. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, for each fiscal year for the period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2025, the state public defender may establish a pilot shall administer and maintain the project to implement innovative models of legal representation in order preserve families to assist families involved in the child welfare system. The state public defender shall have sole discretion to establish and implement the pilot project. 2. The state public defender may implement administer and maintain the new pilot project in up to sixteen counties to preserve families throughout the state. 3. The purpose of the pilot project is to preserve families shall implement, administer, and study innovative ways models of legal representation, through a team approach or through other methods, to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities. …
Sponsors
- Judiciary (I) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Fiscal note .
- : Signed by Governor . H.J. 870 .
- : Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 870 .
- : Message from Senate. H.J. 727 .
- : Immediate message. S.J. 620 .
- : Passed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 618 .
- : Substituted for SF 2370 . S.J. 617 .
- : Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 599 .
- : Read first time, attached to SF 2370 . S.J. 422 .
- : Message from House. S.J. 422 .
Votes
- Passed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 618 . (March 23, 2026): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed House , yeas 90, nays 0. H.J. 453 . (February 26, 2026): 90 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: pilot programs, juvenile justice, state public defender, families
Common questions
- What is HF2356?
- HF2356 is a bill in the Iowa Legislature (91st General Assembly): A BILL FOR An Act establishing the state public defenderâs pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families.
- What does HF2356 do?
- An Act establishing the state public defenderâs pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families.
- What is the status of HF2356?
- Signed into law as of April 9, 2026. Latest action: Fiscal note . (May 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored HF2356?
- Judiciary (I).
- Where is the official record for HF2356?
- On the Iowa Legislature website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF+2356&ga=91
Source: official Iowa record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.