Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 2608Died when the session ended · February 19, 2026

Relating to qualifications for certain rights and privileges prescribed by the state, including state employment, professional licensure, voter registration, and bail, and making penalties applicable

Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee

Same legislation: HSB 663

Also covers HSB 663.

Progress

  1. Introduced
    February 4, 2026
  2. Subcommittee
    February 10, 2026
  3. Committee
    February 17, 2026
  4. Passed House
    —
  5. Passed Senate
    —
  6. Signed
    —

Became HF 2608 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2608 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to qualifications for certain rights and privileges prescribed by this state, including state employment, professional licensure, voter registration, and bail. DIVISION I —— IMMIGRATION STATUS —— STATE EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSURE. citizenship and immigration services to confirm the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. citizenship and immigration services (SAVE program), the United States citizenship and immigration status of individuals who have applied for a professional license in this state.

Read the full explanation

citizenship and immigration status of an individual who has applied for a professional license from the board and to decline to issue or renew a license if the licensing board is unable to verify that the person is lawfully present in the United States. The bill requires the denial of an application for a professional license due to the results of the SAVE program clearinghouse check to be appealed to the director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, and the decision of the director shall constitute a final agency action. The bill also requires a licensing board established after January 1, 1978, to adopt rules for the revocation or suspension of a license that the licensing board deems to be a professional license if the licensee is unlawfully present in the United States, as determined by using the SAVE program clearinghouse. DIVISION II —— VOTER REGISTRATION —— UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS. The bill disqualifies persons who are unauthorized aliens, defined in the bill as persons who are unlawfully present in the United States under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, from registering to vote and from voting. The bill requires a person submitting a voter registration form to swear an oath to protect and defend the constitutions of the United States and of Iowa, that the person is qualified to register to vote, and that the person has not submitted false information in the voter registration form. A person falsely swearing this oath is guilty of election misconduct in the first degree, a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. The bill provides that an information or indictment for election misconduct in the first degree shall be found within five years after the commission of the offense. Under current law, an information or indictment for election misconduct in the first degree must be found within three years after its commission. DIVISION III —— PRETRIAL DETENTION. The bill provides that a charge for a forcible felony creates a rebuttable presumption that the person is dangerous and that there is not a sufficient surety or condition of release that will reasonably assure the personal safety of another person or persons. If a court determines that there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed a forcible felony, then the defendant shall be detained without bail. The prosecuting attorney, or the court on its own motion, must move for pretrial detention. The defendant may rebut the presumption by demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, that adequate conditions of release will reasonably assure the personal safety of another person or persons. The bill also provides that it shall be presumed that there are not sufficient sureties or conditions of release that will secure the appearance at trial of an unauthorized alien for an indictable offense. If a court determines that there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed an indictable offense and the court further determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is an unauthorized alien, the prosecuting attorney, or the court on its own motion, shall move for pretrial detention. The defendant may rebut the presumption by demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, that adequate conditions of release will secure the appearance of the defendant at trial.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

History

2026 session · second year of the 91st General Assembly
March 19, 2026
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 691. Journal
March 3, 2026
Fiscal note.
March 3, 2026
Amendments H-8119 and H-8129 filed. H.J. 526. Journal
February 19, 2026
Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 345. Journal
February 19, 2026
As HSB 663: Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2608.
February 17, 2026
As HSB 663: Committee vote: Yeas, 15. Nays, 5. Excused, 1. H.J. 323. Journal
February 17, 2026
As HSB 663: Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 322. Journal
February 10, 2026
As HSB 663: Subcommittee recommends passage.
February 4, 2026
As HSB 663: Subcommittee Meeting: 02/10/2026 12:30PM RM 103.
February 4, 2026
As HSB 663: Subcommittee: Thomson, C., Fett and Ramirez. H.J. 206. Journal
February 4, 2026
As HSB 663: Introduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 203. Journal

Meetings

Votes

Committee · February 17, 202615–5

Select a floor vote to see how each legislator voted.

Lobbyist declarations

For · 6Against · 13Undecided · 17

Grouped by organization. Lobbying overview →