Iowa legislation · 91st General Assembly
Iowa SF2157: A BILL FOR An Act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties
Status: Passed one chamber, February 24, 2026
An Act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties.
What the bill says
A bill FOR An Act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties.
From the introduced text, January 29, 2026:
A BILL FOR An Act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 5621XS (3) lh/jh S.F. 2157 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 611.24 Malicious prosecution ---- civil actions between private parties. 1. As used in this section: a. "Malice" means the initiation of a civil action for a primary purpose other than securing a proper adjudication of the claim. b. "Probable cause" means the existence of reasonably known facts and law that would lead a reasonable person to believe, in good faith, that the civil action was legally and factually justified at the time the civil action was initiated. 2. A person may bring a civil action for malicious prosecution against a private party who initiated or caused to be initiated a civil action against the person. 3. To prevail in an action brought under this section, the plaintiff must prove all of the following: a. The underlying civil action was brought by the defendant and was decided or dismissed in the plaintiff's favor. b. The defendant lacked probable cause to bring the underlying civil action. c. The defendant acted with malice. d. The plaintiff suffered actual damages proximately caused by the malicious prosecution. 4. A plaintiff is not required to plead or prove …
Sponsors
- Adrian Dickey (R, 44) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Subcommittee recommends passage.
- : Subcommittee Meeting: 03/04/2026 8:15AM House Lounge.
- : Subcommittee: Lawler, Olson and Watkins. H.J. 525 .
- : Read first time, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 416 .
- : Message from Senate. H.J. 399 .
- : Immediate message. S.J. 381 .
- : Passed Senate , yeas 29, nays 17. S.J. 381 .
- : Placed on calendar.
- : Committee report, recommending passage. S.J. 335 .
- : Subcommittee recommends passage.
Votes
- Passed Senate , yeas 29, nays 17. S.J. 381 . (February 24, 2026): 29 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Committee report, recommending passage. S.J. 335 . (February 19, 2026): 10 yea, 6 nay, passed
Subjects: defendants, civil procedure, tort law, malicious prosecution
Common questions
- What is SF2157?
- SF2157 is a bill in the Iowa Legislature (91st General Assembly): A BILL FOR An Act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties.
- What does SF2157 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR An Act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties.
- What is the status of SF2157?
- Passed one chamber as of February 24, 2026. Latest action: Subcommittee recommends passage. (March 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored SF2157?
- Adrian Dickey (R, 44).
- Where is the official record for SF2157?
- On the Iowa Legislature website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF+2157&ga=91
Source: official Iowa record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.