Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HF 2542 — A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties.

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 February 16, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican) on June 02, 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 1 recorded vote 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 addresses penalties for habitual offenders.

This bill establishes specific penalties for individuals identified as habitual offenders. It aims to create a framework for addressing repeated offenses through structured consequences.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

46 added · 62 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments made to House File 2542 change how habitual offenders are classified and sentenced. The new version introduces a point system that assigns values to different types of felonies and misdemeanors, impacting how prior convictions contribute to a person's habitual offender status. For instance, instead of simply counting previous felony convictions, this system categorizes certain serious offenses as "level one" or "level two," which can affect sentencing length and eligibility for parole. These changes matter because they aim to create a more structured approach to dealing with repeat offenders, potentially leading to more consistent sentencing outcomes.

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KimReynolds OFFICE O F T H E G O V E R N O R ChrisCournoyer G O V E R N O R LT G O V E R N O R June02,2026 The Honorable Paul Pate SecretaryofStateofIowa StateCapitol Des Moines,Iowa50319 DearMr.Secretary, Iherebytransmit:
House File 2542 - Enrolled House File 2542 AN ACT RELATING TO HABITUAL OFFENDERS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES.
HouseFile2542,anActrelatingtohabitualoffenders,andprovidingpenalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
The aboveHouseFileisherebyapprovedonthisdate.
Sincerely, KiinRe ynold/ \ Governor ofIowa cc:
SecretaryoftheSenate Clerk of the House STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, I O W A 50319 515.281.WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV w i i M w n i H f f W H f n w n m w ! iniuHinnHtiiraBiiiimimimiiiiiimmiiimiiimiiiniiiMmaiiiHiBiinniniiiuimiiinmmiiraBimiiimimiiitiiHiiiHiinimmiiiimiiiiiflaiiMiiiimtiimiHEitteui H o u s e F 2 5 4 2 A N A C T R E L A T T O H A B I TO F F E N D E R S , A N D P R O V I D I N G P E N A L T I E S .
B EI TE N A C TB YT H EG E N E A S S E M O FT H ES T A O FI O W A :
Section 902.8, Code 2026, is amended to read as f o l l o w s :
Section 902.8, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
0 2 .
902.8 Minimum sentence —— habitual offender.
Minimum sentence — habitual offender.
An A habitual offender is any person convicted of a class “C” or a class “D” felony, who has twice before been convicted of any felony in a court of this or any other state, or of the United States.
Aft A habitual offender is any person convicted of a class ^C" or a class ^D" felony, who has twice before been convicted of any felony in a court of this or any other state, or of the United States.
An offense is a felony if, by the law under which the person is convicted, it is so classified at the time of the person’s conviction.
An offense is a felony if, by the law under which the person is convicted, it is so classified at the time of the person's conviction, A person convicted of a third qualifying felony shall be sentenced as a habitual offender and shall serve a minimum of seven years of the sentence imposed by law.
A person convicted of a third qualifying felony shall be sentenced as a habitual offender and shall serve a minimum of seven years of the sentence imposed by law.
A person sentenced as aft a habitual offender shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served the minimum sentence of confinement of three seven years.
A person sentenced as an a habitual offender shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served the minimum sentence of confinement of three seven years.
Section 902.9, subsection 1, paragraph c.
Section 902.9, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
Code 2026, i s a m e n t o read a s f o l l o w s :
Aft A habitual offender shall be confined for no more than fifteen twenty years.
An A habitual offender shall be confined for no more than fifteen twenty years.
2 NEW SUBSECTION, 3.
2 NEW SUBSECTION .
3.
Section 907.3, subsection 2, paragraph a.
Section 907.3, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH, (10) An offense qualifying the defendant as a habitual offender under section 902.8.
(10) An offense qualifying the defendant as a habitual offender under section 902.8.
NEW PARAGRAPH, i, A sentence imposed pursuant to section 0 2 .
NEW PARAGRAPH .
8 .
i.
PAT GRASSLEV AMY SINg^AIR Speaker of'the House President of the Senate I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 2542, Ninety-first General Assembly.
A sentence imposed pursuant to section 902.8.
N E L S O N C l e o f t h H o u s e Approved i 2026 K I R 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 2542, Ninety-first General Assembly.
______________________________ MEGHAN NELSON Chief Clerk of the House Approved _______________, 2026 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor
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Amendments

7 amendments

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

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor.

  2. Fiscal note.

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

  4. Message from House.

  5. Immediate message.

  6. Explanation of vote.

  7. Passed House, yeas 66, nays 20.

  8. Explanation of vote.

  9. Amendment H-8470, yeas 68, nays 18, adopted.

  10. Senate amendment H-8470 filed.

  11. Message from Senate.

  12. Immediate message.

  13. Passed Senate, yeas 39, nays 6.

  14. Amendment S-5126 out of order.

  15. Amendment S-5252 filed, adopted.

  16. Placed on calendar under unfinished business.

  17. Placed on calendar.

  18. Amendment S-5126 filed.

  19. Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.

  20. Fiscal note.

  21. Subcommittee recommends passage.

  22. Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2026 12:30PM Room 315.

  23. Subcommittee: Bousselot, Dawson, and Knox.

  24. Read first time, referred to Judiciary.

  25. Message from House.

  26. Immediate message.

  27. Passed House, yeas 68, nays 23.

  28. Motion to defer, yeas 30, nays 63, lost.

  29. Amendment H-8120, yeas 31, nays 63, lost.

  30. Amendment H-8116 adopted.

  31. Motion to suspend rules failed.

  32. Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8124, yeas 33, nays 62.

  33. Point of order raised on amendment H-8124, ruled not germane.

  34. Motion to suspend rules failed.

  35. Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8121, yeas 31, nays 64.

  36. Point of order raised on amendment H-8121, ruled not germane.

  37. Fiscal note.

  38. Amendments H-8120, H-8121 and H-8124 filed.

  39. Amendment H-8116 filed.

  40. Introduced, placed on calendar.

Sponsors

  • COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

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 39 Yea · 6 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 30102
Democrat 9504
Total 39606
% of votes cast 76%12%0%12%
How each member voted (51)
Member Party Vote
Art Staed Democrat Yea
Catelin Drey Democrat Yea
Cindy Winckler Democrat Yea
Herman C. Quirmbach Democrat Nay
Izaah Knox Democrat Yea
Janet Petersen Democrat Nay
Janice Weiner Democrat Nay
Liz Bennett Democrat Nay
Matt Blake Democrat Yea
Mike Zimmer Democrat Yea
Molly Donahue Democrat Not Voting
Renee Hardman Democrat Yea
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Not Voting
Sarah Trone Garriott Democrat Not Voting
Thomas Townsend Democrat Yea
Tony Bisignano Democrat Yea
William A. Dotzler Jr. Democrat Nay
Zach Wahls Democrat Not Voting
Adrian Dickey Republican Yea
Amy Sinclair Republican Yea
Annette Sweeney Republican Yea
Carrie Koelker Republican Yea
Charlie McClintock Republican Yea
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 Nay
Jack Whitver Republican Yea
Jason Schultz Republican Yea
Jeff Reichman Republican Yea
Jeff Taylor Republican Yea
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 →

Subjects

public-safety
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 2542?
HF 2542 is sponsored by COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY.
What is the current status of HF 2542?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HF 2542?
Track HF 2542 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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