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HF2542 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties. (Formerly HSB 666 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties. (Formerly HSB 666 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Last action
2026-06-02
Official status
Signed by Governor . H.J. 1167 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties. (Formerly HSB 666 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

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

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties.
  • (Formerly HSB 666 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-02 Iowa Legislature

    Signed by Governor . H.J. 1167 .

  2. 2026-05-20 Iowa Legislature

    Fiscal note .

  3. 2026-05-13 Iowa Legislature

    Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1164 .

  4. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House. S.J. 991 .

  5. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 1127 .

  6. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Explanation of vote. H.J. 1159 .

  7. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 66, nays 20. H.J. 1124 .

  8. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Explanation of vote. H.J. 1159 .

  9. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8470 , yeas 68, nays 18, adopted. H.J. 1123 .

  10. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Senate amendment H-8470 filed. H.J. 1123 .

  11. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 1112 .

  12. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 973 .

  13. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 39, nays 6. S.J. 973 .

  14. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment S-5126 out of order. S.J. 973 .

  15. 2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment S-5252 filed, adopted. S.J. 972 .

  16. 2026-03-26 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 659 .

  17. 2026-03-24 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar.

  18. 2026-03-24 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment S-5126 filed. S.J. 640 .

  19. 2026-03-24 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, recommending amendment and passage. S.J. 640 .

  20. 2026-03-16 Iowa Legislature

    Fiscal note .

  21. 2026-03-12 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends passage.

  22. 2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature

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

  23. 2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Bousselot, Dawson, and Knox. S.J. 550 .

  24. 2026-03-05 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, referred to Judiciary. S.J. 480 .

  25. 2026-03-05 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House. S.J. 480 .

  26. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 569 .

  27. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 68, nays 23. H.J. 557 .

  28. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Motion to defer, yeas 30, nays 63, lost. H.J. 556 .

  29. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8120 , yeas 31, nays 63, lost. H.J. 556 .

  30. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8116 adopted. H.J. 555 .

  31. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Motion to suspend rules failed. H.J. 555 .

  32. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8124 , yeas 33, nays 62. H.J. 555 .

  33. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Point of order raised on amendment H-8124 , ruled not germane. H.J. 554 .

  34. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Motion to suspend rules failed. H.J. 554 .

  35. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-8121 , yeas 31, nays 64. H.J. 553 .

  36. 2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature

    Point of order raised on amendment H-8121 , ruled not germane. H.J. 553 .

  37. 2026-03-03 Iowa Legislature

    Fiscal note .

  38. 2026-03-03 Iowa Legislature

    Amendments H-8120 , H-8121 and H-8124 filed. H.J. 526 .

  39. 2026-03-03 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8116 filed. H.J. 525 .

  40. 2026-02-16 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 305 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties. (Formerly HSB 666 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Kim Reynolds OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Chris Cournoyer
GOVERNOR LT GOVERNOR
June 02,2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2542, an Act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kiin Reynold/ \
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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iniuHinnHtiiraBiiiimimimiiiiiimmiiimiiimiiiniiiMmaiiiHiBiinniniiiuimiiinmmiiraBimiiimimiiitiiHiiiHiinimmiiiimiiiiiflaiiMiiiimtiimiHEitteui
House File 2542
AN ACT
RELATING TO HABITUAL OFFENDERS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 902.8, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
902.8 Minimum sentence — habitual offender.
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, 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. Earned time
accrued pursuant to chapter 903A shall not reduce the minimum
sentence of confinement of seven years.
Sec. 2. Section 902.9, subsection 1, paragraph c. Code 2026,
is amended to read as follows:
c. Aft A habitual offender shall be confined for no more than
fifteen twenty years.
Sec. 3. Section 907.2, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
House File 2542, p. 2
NEW SUBSECTION, 3. Probation officers shall report
probation violations to the proper authorities.
Sec. 4. Section 907.3, subsection 2, paragraph a. Code 2026,
is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH, (10) An offense qualifying the defendant
as a habitual offender under section 902.8.
Sec. 5. Section 907.3, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended
by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH, i, A sentence imposed pursuant to section
902.8.
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.
Approved i 2026
NELSON
Clerk of the House
KIM REYNOLDS
Governor