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Chapter 2

Bills & amendments

What all the letters and numbers mean, how bills change along the way, and how Iowans amend their Constitution.

Kinds of legislation

HF / SFHouse File / Senate File. A bill, named for the chamber it started in. Needs both chambers and the Governor.
HSB / SSBHouse or Senate Study Bill: a committee’s draft. If the committee approves it, it’s reintroduced with a new HF or SF number.
HJR / SJRJoint resolution. Mostly used to propose amendments to the Iowa Constitution. Doesn’t go to the Governor.
HCR / SCRConcurrent resolution: both chambers agree on something, like a joint rule or a statement. No force of law.
HR / SRSimple resolution: one chamber only, often honoring someone or setting that chamber’s rules.
LSB 1234A drafting number from the Legislative Services Agency, assigned before a bill is introduced.

One idea, several numbers

Study bills get renumbered

When a committee approves a study bill, it comes back as a regular bill with a new number. Funnel follows it automatically: the old number shows “Became HF 2801”.

Companion bills

The same bill is often filed in both chambers at once. When one passes, the other chamber can substitute it for its own and keep going. Funnel treats companions as one, so following either covers both.

Successor bills

A committee can replace a bill with a new version under a new number, the successor. History lines say “successor to…”.

Amendments

An amendment is a proposed change to a bill, numbered by chamber: H-8001 is a House amendment, S-5212 a Senate one. It reads like editing instructions: “Page 2, line 10, after ‘funds.’ by inserting…”.

  • Strike everything: an amendment that replaces the whole bill after the enacting clause. It often carries a deal worked out behind the scenes, and is the change to watch.
  • Amendment to an amendment: changes a proposed change before it’s voted on.
  • Adopted, lost, withdrawn: what happened to it. An amendment can also be ruled out of order or not germane (off topic).
  • Committee amendments come from a committee rather than one member.

Funnel lists every amendment on a bill’s page with its sponsor and outcome. See recent amendments.

Documents that come with a bill

ExplanationA plain summary at the end of every bill, written by nonpartisan staff. It describes the bill as introduced, not later amendments.
Fiscal noteNonpartisan estimate of what a bill would cost or save the state.
Correctional impactEstimate of how a criminal-law bill would change prison populations and costs.
Minority impactEstimate of a criminal-law bill’s effect on minority Iowans, required since 2008.
Enrolled billThe final text both chambers passed, signed by the Speaker and Senate President and sent to the Governor.
Iowa Acts / CodeSigned laws are published as chapters of the Iowa Acts, then folded into the Code of Iowa, the full set of state laws.

Amending the Iowa Constitution

  1. 1

    Two General Assemblies in a row

    A joint resolution (HJR/SJR) must pass both chambers, word for word, in two consecutive General Assemblies, with an election in between.

  2. 2

    Then the voters

    It goes on the ballot, usually at the next general election. If a majority votes yes, the Constitution changes. The Governor has no role.

  3. 3

    Or a convention

    Every ten years voters are asked whether to call a constitutional convention. The next time is 2030.

Track proposed constitutional amendments →

What Funnel’s statuses mean

In committeeAssigned to a committee that hasn’t acted on it.
Passed House / SenatePassed one chamber; waiting on the other.
Waiting on the GovernorPassed both chambers; the Governor hasn’t signed or vetoed it.
Signed / VetoedThe Governor acted. “Signed with item vetoes” means part of a spending bill was struck.
Became HF 2801A study bill renumbered after committee; follow the new number.
Carried overStill alive after the first session; can move again next year.
Died at end of sessionDidn’t pass before the General Assembly ended. It would have to be filed again.

Next chapter

On the floor →

Votes, calendars, motions and the end-of-session scramble.