Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HF 1003 — A bill for an act relating to child placements.

Last action — Signed by Governor.

  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 April 10, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican) on May 15, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • 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.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill modifies court processes for child placements.

House File 1003 updates regulations regarding child placements, requiring courts to justify decisions against placement with relatives. It aims to ensure that decisions reflect the child's best interests.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

30 added · 50 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to House File 1003 clarify the conditions under which a court can place a child with a foster family instead of an adult relative. Specifically, the updated bill requires the court to prove that not placing with a relative is in the child's best interests, along with providing reasons for that decision. This change emphasizes the importance of considering family connections in determining the child's welfare, reinforcing the idea that keeping children with relatives should be a primary option unless there are compelling reasons against it.

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S T A T E O F I O W A K I M R E Y N O L D S G O V E R N O R May 15,2026 Hie Honorable Paul Fate SecretaryofStateofIowa StateCapitol Des Moines,Iowa50319 DearMr.Secretary, Iherebytransmit:
House File 1003 - Enrolled House File 1003 AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PLACEMENTS.
HouseFile1003,anActrelatingtochildplacements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
TheaboveHouseFileisherebyapprovedonthisdate.
Sincerfiy, Kii^^ynolds Govemor ofIowa cc:
SecretaryoftheSenate Clerk oftheHouse STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES,IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV £2S!*N!ES!CSTjG^ WlLLMAlNTA) iraiiSISS^ (n HTL^ i:
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y iHiiKniiiHiiiiiHifliiiHiiiUHiiiiiiitiiiiiDKiHtiBniiuiiitiiiiiiiiuntiRnmnmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiRninDiniiiiotiiiBtmiHnniuniiBHiniiiiiiNiiRiiiHiiiBiinHiiiiiiiiiiiian H o u s e P i l e 1 0 0 3 A NA C T R E L A T T OC H I P L A C E M E N T S .
B EIT E N A C T E T H E G E N EA S S E MO F T H E S T A T E O F I O W A :
(1) A court shall not order placement of a child in a category identified in paragraph subparagraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) without a specific finding that placement with an adult relative is not in the child's best interests and providing reasons for the court's finding.
(1) A court shall not order placement of a child in a category identified in paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) without a specific finding that placement with an adult relative is not in the child’s best interests and providing reasons for the court’s finding.
( 2 )Notwithstanding any provision under this subsection to the contrary, if the court finds, during the dispositional hearing, that the child has been placed with an individual licensed under chapter 237 to provide foster care for at least nine months immediately preceding the dispositional hearing, the court shall not order placement of a child in a category identified in paragraph subparagraph (1), (2), or (3), House File 1003, p.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision under this subsection to the contrary, if the court finds, during the dispositional hearing, that the child has been placed with an individual licensed under chapter 237 to provide foster care for at least nine months immediately preceding the dispositional hearing, the court shall not order placement of a child in a category identified in paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), (2), or (3), House File 1003, p.
2 without a specific finding that such placement is in the child's best interests and providing reasons for the court's findings» PTGRASLE^ AYSINpIR Speaker o^the House President of the Senate I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 1003, Ninety-first General Assembly.
2 without a specific finding that such placement is in the child’s best interests and providing reasons for the court’s findings.
meghAn nelson C h C l e t H o u s e Approved I j"* , 2026 K I M \ E Y N O L D S G o v e r n o r
______________________________ ______________________________ 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 1003, Ninety-first General Assembly.
______________________________ MEGHAN NELSON Chief Clerk of the House Approved _______________, 2026 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor.

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

  3. Message from House.

  4. Immediate message.

  5. Explanation of vote.

  6. Passed House, yeas 85, nays 0.

  7. Amendment H-8459, yeas 57, nays 28, adopted.

  8. NOBA: Senate Floor

  9. Senate amendment H-8459 filed.

  10. Message from Senate.

  11. Immediate message.

  12. Explanation of vote.

  13. Passed Senate, yeas 43, nays 0.

  14. Amendment S-5004 adopted.

  15. Placed on calendar under unfinished business.

  16. Placed on calendar.

  17. Amendment S-5004 filed.

  18. Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.

  19. Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.

  20. Subcommittee Meeting: 01/26/2026 11:30AM Room 217 Conference Room.

  21. Subcommittee: Guth, Costello, and Zimmer.

  22. Read first time, referred to Health and Human Services.

  23. Message from House.

  24. NOBA: House Floor

  25. Immediate message.

  26. Passed House, yeas 92, nays 0.

  27. NOBA: House Full Approps

  28. Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.

Sponsors

  • COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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

Sponsors (1)

  • COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

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 43 Yea · 0 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 29004
Democrat 15003
Total 44007
% of votes cast 86%0%0%14%
How each member voted (51)
Member Party Vote
Art Staed Democrat Yea
Catelin Drey 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 Not Voting
Renee Hardman Democrat Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Adrian Dickey Republican Yea
Amy Sinclair Republican Yea
Annette Sweeney Republican Yea
Carrie Koelker Republican Yea
Charlie McClintock Republican Not Voting
Cherielynn Westrich Republican Yea
Dan Dawson Republican Yea
Dan Zumbach Republican Yea
Dave Sires Republican Yea
David D. Rowley Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Jesse Green Republican Yea
Julian B. Garrett Republican Not Voting
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 92 Yea · 0 Nay · 8 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 31001
Unaffiliated 2002
Republican 61005
Total 94008
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (102)
Member Party Vote
Jr. — Yea
Kniff — Yea
Open — Not Voting
Sexton — Not Voting
Adam Zabner Democrat Yea
Aime Wichtendahl Democrat Yea
Amy Nielsen Democrat Yea
Austin Baeth Democrat Yea
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell Democrat Yea
Bob Kressig Democrat Yea
Brian Meyer Democrat Yea
Daniel Gosa Democrat Not Voting
David Jacoby Democrat Yea
Dr. Megan L. Srinivas Democrat Yea
Elinor A. Levin Democrat Yea
Elizabeth Wilson Democrat Yea
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 Yea
Ken Croken Democrat Yea
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 Yea
Barb Kniff McCulla Republican Yea
Bill Gustoff Republican Yea
Blaine C. Watkins 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 Yea
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 Not Voting
Dean Fisher Republican Yea
Derek Wulf Republican Yea
Devon Wood Republican Yea
Dr. Steven P. Bradley Republican Yea
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 Yea
Jason Gearhart Republican Yea
Jennifer J. Smith Republican Yea
John H. Wills Republican Yea
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
Skyler Wheeler Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HF 1003?
HF 1003 is sponsored by COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
What is the current status of HF 1003?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 10, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HF 1003?
Track HF 1003 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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