Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HF 297 — A bill for an act relating to certain emergency services provided by a city.

Last action — Signed by Governor.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 10, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican) on May 19, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

17 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to House File 297 primarily involve the removal of detailed explanations and background information that were present in the original bill version. The focus has shifted to a more streamlined version, concentrating on the core issue relating to emergency services provided by cities. This change matters because it simplifies the bill, making it easier for legislators and the public to understand the essential changes being proposed without getting bogged down by unnecessary details.

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House File 297 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 297 BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 98) A BILL FOR An Act relating to certain emergency services provided by a city.
House File 297 - Enrolled House File 297 AN ACT RELATING TO CERTAIN EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDED BY A CITY.
TLSB 2105HV (1) 91 ll/js H.F.
Section 1.
297 Section 1.
A council member who is a candidate for the position of chief of the volunteer fire department or an appointed officer position shall abstain from voting upon the council member’s own appointment to the position.
A council House File 297, p.
2 member who is a candidate for the position of chief of the volunteer fire department or an appointed officer position shall abstain from voting upon the council member’s own appointment to the position.
All moneys received for city government purposes from taxes and other sources must be credited to the general fund of the city, except that moneys received for the purposes of the debt service fund, the trust and agency funds, the capital improvements reserve fund, the emergency fund, and other LSB 2105HV (1) 91 -1- ll/js 1/4 H.F.
All moneys received for city government purposes from taxes and other sources must be credited to the general fund of the city, except that moneys received for the purposes of the debt service fund, the trust and agency funds, the capital improvements reserve fund, the emergency fund, and other funds established by state law must be deposited as otherwise required or authorized by state law.
297 funds established by state law must be deposited as otherwise required or authorized by state law.
If a city has established an additional fund under paragraph “a”, moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year may be deposited into a reserve savings account.
If a city has established an additional fund under House File 297, p.
3 paragraph “a”, moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year may be deposited into a reserve savings account.
EXPLANATION The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
______________________________ ______________________________ PAT GRASSLEY AMY SINCLAIR Speaker of the House President of the Senate I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 297, Ninety-first General Assembly.
LSB 2105HV (1) 91 -2- ll/js 2/4 H.F.
______________________________ MEGHAN NELSON Chief Clerk of the House Approved _______________, 2025 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor
297 This bill relates to certain emergency services provided by a city.
Current law generally voids a contract entered into by a city officer or employee if the officer or employee has an interest, direct or indirect, in the contract or job of work or material or the profits thereof or services to be furnished or performed for the officer’s or employee’s city.
The bill provides that this provision does not prohibit the lawful compensation, including nominal stipends, incentives, and benefits, for a volunteer fire fighter or emergency medical care provider holding one or more city offices or positions if holding the office or position is not incompatible with another public office or is not prohibited by law.
Current law allows a city council member, during the term for which the member is elected, to serve as the chief of a volunteer fire department or serve a volunteer fire department in any other capacity.
A person holding the office of chief of such a volunteer fire department at the time of the person’s election to the city council may continue to hold the office of chief of the volunteer fire department during the city council term for which that person was elected.
The bill allows a currently serving city council member to serve as chief of the volunteer fire department upon a majority vote of the council, but such member must abstain from the vote.
The bill provides that a city may establish a fund or reserve savings account to pay for major equipment for police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services.
If a city has established such a fund or account and has received a payment, award, judgment, or insurance settlement for damaged police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services equipment or vehicles, the city shall deposit the moneys into the relevant fund or account rather than into the general fund of the city.
However, if a city uses moneys from its general fund to cover costs to repair or replace such equipment or vehicles, the city may deposit into its general fund an amount received from LSB 2105HV (1) 91 -3- ll/js 3/4 H.F.
297 the payment, award, judgment, or insurance settlement that is equal to the amount used from the general fund.
The city shall deposit any remaining amount received into the relevant fund or account.
Moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year may be deposited into a reserve savings account.
Moneys in a reserve savings account shall be used for the purpose of maintaining or acquiring major equipment including vehicles.
LSB 2105HV (1) 91 -4- ll/js 4/4
View plain text versions (4)

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill updates regulations for city officers, specifically regarding compensation for volunteer fire fighters and emergency medical care providers, and allows cities to establish funds for emergency services equipment.

  • Section 362.5

    volunteer fire fighter as defined in section 85.61, emergency medical care provider as defined in section 147A.1 → volunteer fire fighter as defined in section 85.61, emergency medical care provider as defined in section 147A.1, or employee holding more than one city office or position

    Clarifies that lawful compensation can include city officers, volunteer fire fighters, emergency medical care providers, and employees with multiple positions.

  • Section 372.13

    is not precluded from holding the office of chief of the volunteer fire department or from serving the volunteer fire department in any other position or capacity. → is not precluded from holding the office of chief of the volunteer fire department or from serving the volunteer fire department in any other position or capacity.

    Ensures that council members can serve as chiefs of volunteer fire departments or in other roles.

  • Section 384.3

    A city may establish an additional fund or a reserve savings account to pay costs associated with the acquisition, possession, and maintenance of major equipment for police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services.

    Allows cities to create funds for emergency services equipment acquisition and maintenance.

  • Section 384.3

    However, if a city uses moneys from its general fund to cover costs to repair or replace damaged police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services equipment or vehicles, → However, if a city uses moneys from its general fund to cover costs to repair or replace damaged police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services equipment or vehicles, the city may deposit into its general fund an amount received from the payment, award, judgment, or insurance settlement that is equal to the amount used from the general fund.

    Allows cities to retain some insurance settlement funds after using general fund money for equipment repairs.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor.

  2. Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.

  3. Message from Senate.

  4. Immediate message.

  5. Passed Senate, yeas 48, nays 0.

  6. Substituted for SF 499.

  7. Placed on calendar under unfinished business.

  8. Explanation of vote.

  9. Read first time, attached to SF 499.

  10. Message from House.

  11. Immediate message.

  12. Passed House, yeas 88, nays 0.

  13. Introduced, placed on calendar.

Sponsors

  • COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Shall the bill pass?

Passed 48 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 30002
Democrat 16000
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 48002
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (50)
Member Party Vote
Celsi — Yea
De Witt — Yea
Art Staed Democrat Yea
Cindy Winckler Democrat Yea
Herman C. Quirmbach Democrat Yea
Izaah Knox Democrat Yea
Janet Petersen Democrat Yea
Janice Weiner Democrat Yea
Liz Bennett Democrat Yea
Matt Blake Democrat Yea
Mike Zimmer Democrat Yea
Molly Donahue Democrat Yea
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Yea
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Yea
Thomas Townsend Democrat Yea
Tony Bisignano Democrat Yea
William A. Dotzler Jr. Democrat Yea
Zach Wahls Democrat Yea
Adrian Dickey Republican Yea
Amy Sinclair Republican Yea
Annette Sweeney Republican Not Voting
Carrie Koelker Republican Yea
Charlie McClintock Republican Yea
Cherielynn Westrich Republican Yea
Dan Zumbach Republican Not Voting
Dave Sires Republican Yea
David D. Rowley Republican Yea
Dawn Driscoll Republican Yea
Dennis Guth Republican Yea
Doug Campbell Republican Yea
Jack Whitver Republican Yea
Jason Schultz Republican Yea
Jeff Reichman Republican Yea
Jeff Taylor Republican Yea
Jesse Green Republican Yea
Julian B. Garrett Republican Yea
Kara Warme Republican Yea
Ken Rozenboom Republican Yea
Kerry Gruenhagen Republican Yea
Kevin Alons Republican Yea
Lynn Evans Republican Yea
Mark Costello Republican Yea
Mark S. Lofgren Republican Yea
Mike Bousselot Republican Yea
Mike Klimesh Republican Yea
Mike Pike Republican Yea
Sandy Salmon Republican Yea
Scott Webster Republican Yea
Tim Kraayenbrink Republican Yea
Tom Shipley Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Shall the bill pass?

Passed 88 Yea · 0 Nay · 12 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 28004
Unaffiliated 5001
Republican 58007
Total 910012
% of votes cast 88%0%0%12%
How each member voted (103)
Member Party Vote
Jr. — Yea
Kniff — Yea
Scheetz — Yea
Sexton — Yea
Speaker — Yea
Open — Not Voting
Adam Zabner Democrat Yea
Aime Wichtendahl Democrat Not Voting
Amy Nielsen Democrat Yea
Austin Baeth Democrat Yea
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell Democrat Yea
Bob Kressig Democrat Yea
Brian Meyer Democrat Yea
Daniel Gosa Democrat Yea
David Jacoby Democrat Yea
Dr. Megan L. Srinivas Democrat Yea
Elinor A. Levin Democrat Yea
Elizabeth Wilson Democrat Not Voting
Eric J. Gjerde Democrat Yea
Heather Matson Democrat Yea
J.D. Scholten Democrat Yea
Jeff Cooling Democrat Yea
Jennifer Konfrst Democrat Yea
Jerome Amos Jr. Democrat Yea
Josh Turek Democrat Not Voting
Ken Croken Democrat Not Voting
Kenan Judge Democrat Yea
Larry McBurney Democrat Yea
Lindsay James Democrat Yea
Mary Lee Madison Democrat Yea
Monica Kurth Democrat Yea
Rick L. Olson Democrat Yea
Rob Johnson Democrat Yea
Ross Wilburn Democrat Yea
Ruth Ann Gaines Democrat Yea
Sean Bagniewski Democrat Yea
Timi M. Brown-Powers Democrat Yea
Tracy A. Ehlert Democrat Yea
Ann Meyer Republican Yea
Austin Harris Republican Not Voting
Barb Kniff McCulla Republican Yea
Bill Gustoff Republican Yea
Bob Henderson Republican Yea
Bobby Kaufmann Republican Yea
Brent Siegrist Republican Not Voting
Brett Barker Republican Yea
Brian K. Lohse Republican Yea
Brooke Boden Republican Yea
Carter F. Nordman Republican Not Voting
Chad Behn Republican Yea
Chad Ingels Republican Yea
Charley Thomson Republican Yea
Christian A. Hermanson Republican Yea
Cindy Golding Republican Yea
Craig P. Johnson Republican Yea
Craig Steven Williams Republican Yea
Dan Gehlbach Republican Yea
David E. Young Republican Yea
David L. Blom Republican Yea
David Sieck Republican Yea
Dean Fisher Republican Yea
Derek Wulf Republican Yea
Devon Wood Republican Yea
Dr. Steven P. Bradley Republican Not Voting
Eddie Andrews Republican Yea
Gary M. Mohr Republican Yea
Hans C. Wilz Republican Yea
Heather Hora Republican Yea
Helena Hayes Republican Yea
Henry Stone Republican Yea
Jacob Bossman Republican Yea
Jane Bloomingdale Republican Not Voting
Jason Gearhart Republican Yea
Jennifer J. Smith Republican Yea
John H. Wills Republican Not Voting
Jon Dunwell Republican Yea
Joshua Meggers Republican Yea
Judd Lawler Republican Yea
Mark Cisneros Republican Yea
Mark I. Thompson Republican Yea
Matt W. Windschitl Republican Yea
Matthew Rinker Republican Yea
Megan Jones Republican Yea
Michael R. Bergan Republican Yea
Mike Vondran Republican Yea
Norlin G. Mommsen Republican Yea
Pat Grassley Republican Yea
Ray Sorensen Republican Yea
Ryan Weldon Republican Yea
Sam Wengryn Republican Yea
Samantha Fett Republican Yea
Shannon Latham Republican Yea
Shannon Lundgren Republican Not Voting
Skyler Wheeler Republican Yea
Steven C. Holt Republican Yea
Taylor R. Collins Republican Yea
Thomas Gerhold Republican Yea
Thomas Jay Moore Republican Yea
Thomas M. Jeneary Republican Yea
Tom Determann Republican Yea
Tom Shipley Republican Yea
Travis M. Sitzmann Republican Yea
Zach Dieken Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HF 297?
HF 297 is sponsored by COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
What is the current status of HF 297?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 10, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HF 297?
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