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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
April 30, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2706, an Act relating to judicial officers, including magistrate appointments in
judicial election districts, senior magistrates, and judicial officer compensation, and
including effective date provisions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
incf-ely.
Kin^Reynolds
Govemor 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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House File 2706
AN ACT
RELATING TO JUDICIAL OFFICERS, INCLUDING MAGISTRATE
APPOINTMENTS IN JUDICIAL ELECTION DISTRICTS, SENIOR
MAGISTRATES, AND JUDICIAL OFFICER COMPENSATION, AND
INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
DIVISION I
MAGISTRATE APPOINTMENTS IN JUDICIAL ELECTION DISTRICTS
Section 1. Section 331.321, subsection 1, paragraph v. Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
V, Members A member of the county judicial election district
magistrate appointing commission in accordance with section
602.6503.
Sec. 2. Section 331.502, subsection 30, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
30. Certify to the clerk of the district court administrator
the namooy addressea name, address, and expiration date of
the terms term of office of persons the person appointed to
the county judicial election district magistrate appointing
commission as provided in section 602.6503.
Sec. 3. Section 331.653, subsection 4, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
4. Provide bailiff and other law enforcement service to
the district judges, district associate judges, and- associate
juvenile judges, and judicial magistrates e# ^ the county upon
request.
House File 2706, p. 2
Sec. 4. Section 556F.14, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
556F.14 Costs, charges^ and care — assessment.
The owner shall also be required to pay the finder all
such costs and charges as may have been paid by the finder
for services rendered as aforesaid, including the cost of
publication, together with reasonable charges for keeping and
taking care of such property, which last mentioned charge, in
case the finder and the owner cannot agree, shall be assessed
by two disinterested householders of the neighborhood, to be
appointed by some magistrate judge of- ^ the proper county,
whose decision, when made, shall be binding and conclusive on
all parties.
Sec. 5. Section 602.1214, Code 2026, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 7. The district court administrator shall
maintain a record of the name, address, and term of office
of each member of the judicial election district magistrate
appointing commission as provided in section 602.6501,
and certify to the state court administrator the names and
addresses of the magistrates appointed by the commission as
provided in section 602.6403.
Sec. 6. Section 602.1303, subsection 2, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
2. A county The counties comprising the judicial election
district shall pay the expenses of the members of the county
judicial election district magistrate appointing commission
based on the county of residence of the member, as provided in
section 602.6501.
Sec. 7. Section 602.1501, subsection 6, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
6. Magistrates shall receive the salary set by the general
assembly, subject to acction 602.6402.
Sec. 8. Section 602.2301, subsection 3, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
3. Notwithstanding section 602.6403, subsection 3, if a
magistrate position is vacant due to a death, resignation,
retirement, an- increase in the number of positions authorized,
or to the removal of a magistrate, the chief justice may order
House File 2706, p. 3
any county judicial election district magistrate appointing
commission to delay, for budgetary reasons, the appointment of
a magistrate to serve the remainder of an unexpired term.
Sec. 9. Section 602.6302, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
602.6302 Appointment of district associate judge in lieu of
magistrates.
1. The chief judge of the judicial district may designate
by order of substitution that a district associate judge be
appointed pursuant to this section in lieu of magistrates
appointed under section 602.6403, subject to the following
limitations:
a. The county in vyhich the district asoociato judge
is to be appointed, or the countica in which the district
associate judge is to bo appointed in combination, must have an
apportionment of three or more magistrates.
b-,—The substitution must not reoult in a lack of a resident
district associate judge or magistrate in one or more of the
counties.
€-r The substitution must be approved by the supreme court.
^ A majority of district judges in that judicial
election district, or in the case of an appointment involving
more than one judicial election district in the same judicial
district, a majority of the district judges in each judicial
election district, must vote in favor of the substitution
and find that the substitution will provide more timely and
efficient performance of judicial business within that judicial
election district.
2. An order of substitution shall not take effect unless a
copy of the order is received by the chairperson of the county
judicial election district magistrate appointing commission or
commissions and the governor no later than May 31 of the year
in which the substitution is to take effect. A copy of the
order shall also be sent to the state court administrator.
3. For a county judicial election district in which a
substitution order is in effect, the number of magistrates
actually appointed pursuant to section 602.6403 shall be
reduced by throe for each district associate judge substituted
under this section. However,—if the substitution order is for
House File 2706, p. 4
a district asaociatc judge appointed to more than one county,
the reduction of throo magiatratoa shall be aa provided in the
order of the chief judge of tho judicial district*—Upon a
subsequent reduction in the apportionment of magistrates teo the
county or counties,—the magistrate appointing commission ohall
further—reduce the number of magistrates appointed.
•4-s—St Except as provided in oubocctions 1 through 3, a
oubatitution shall not increase or decrease the number of
magistrates authorized by this article.
—A substitution shall not bo made where the apportionment
of magiatratea to a county ia insufficient to permit the
full reduction in appointments of magiatratoa as required by
subsection 3»
■5-r If an apportionment by the otate court administrator
pursuant to aeotion 602.6401 reduces the number of magistrates
in the county or counties to leaa than the number required
to be apportioned to allow a substitution order pursuant to
subsection 1,—or if a majority of the district judges in the
judicial election district or districts determines that a
substitution is no longer desirable, then the substituted
office shall be terminated. However, a reversion pursuant
to this subsection, irrespective of cause, shall not take
effect until the substitute district associate judge fails
to be retained in office at a judicial election or otherwise
leaves office, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, upon
the termination of office of that district associate judge,
appointments shall be made pursuant to section 602.6403 as
necessary to reestablish terms of office as provided in section
602.6403, subsection 4.
Sec. 10. Section 602.6303, subsection 1, unnumbered
paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows;
The chief judge of the judicial district may designate
by order of substitution that three magistrates be appointed
pursuant to this section in lieu of the appointment of a
district associate judge under section 602.6304, subject to the
following limitations:
Sec. 11. Section 602.6303, subsections 2, 4, and 5, Code
2026, are amended to read as follows:
2. An order of substitution shall not take effect unless a
House File 2706r p< 5
copy of the order is received by the chairperson of the county
judicial election district magistrate appointing commission
or commissions and the governor no later than May 31 of the
year in which the substitution is to take effect. The order
shall designate the county of appointment for each magistrate.
A copy of the order shall also be sent to the state court
administrator.
4. Except as provided in subsections 1 through 3 and 2,
a substitution shall not increase or decrease the number of
district associate judges authorized by this article.
5. If a majority of the district judges in a judicial
election district determines that a substitution is no longer
desirable, then all throe the associated substituted magistrate
positions shall be terminated. However, a reversion pursuant
to this subsection shall not take effect until the terms of
the three magistrates expire. Upon the termination of the
magistrate positions created under this section, an appointment
shall be made to reestablish the term of office for a district
associate judge as provided in sections 602.6304 and 602.6305.
Sec. 12. Section 602.6303, subsection 3, Code 2026, is
amended by striking the subsection.
Sec. 13. Section 602.6401, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
602.6401 Number and apportionment.
1. Two hundred six magistrates shall be apportioned
among the counties as provided in this section.—Magiotratoa
appointed pursuant to section 602.6303 or 602.6402 shall not
be counted for purposes of this section The supreme court
shall prescribe a formula for the state court administrator
to determine the number of magistrates who will serve in each
judicial election district, pursuant to subsection 2. The
formula must be based on a model that measures and applies an
estimated case-related workload formula of magistrates, and
must account for travel time and other judicial duties not
related to a specific case.
2. By February of each year in which magistrates' terms
expire, the state court administrator shall apportion
magistrate offices among the countica in accordancG with the
following criteria;
House File 2706r p. 6
&-i—Tho existence of oithcr pGrmancnt,—temporary, or aoaoonal
populations not included in the current census figures.
—The geographical area to bo served.
—Any inordinate number of cases over which magistrates
have jurisdiction that were ponding at the end of the preceding
year.
—The number and types of juvenile proceedings handled by
district associate judges apply the formula prescribed pursuant
to subsection 1 to calculate the number of magistrates and
apportion magistrates among the judicial districts.
3-i—Notwithstanding subsection 2,—each county shall be
allotted at least one resident magistrate.
•4-r By March ^ of each year in which magistrates' terms
expire, the state court administrator shall give notice to the
clerks of the district court, district court administrators,
and to the chief judges of the judicial districts of the
number of magistrates to which each county judicial election
district is entitled. If the state court administrator does
not give the notice as required in this subsection by March
31 of each year in which magistrates' terms expire, the
existing magistrate apportionment in effect shall remain in
effect through the succeeding magistrates' terms, and any
apportionment performed pursuant to subsection 2 is void until
such succeeding terms expire.
Sec. 14. Section 602.6403, subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, and
9, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
1. By June 1 of each year in which magistrates' terms
expire, the county judicial election district magistrate
appointing commission shall appoint, except as otherwise
provided in section 602.6302, the number of magistrates
apportioned to the county judicial election district by the
state court administrator under section 602.6401- and the
number of magistrates required pursuant to substitution orders
in effect under section 602.6303, and may appoint an additional
magistrate v^hcn allowed by section 602.6402.—The commission
shall not appoint more magistratea than arc authoriged for the
county by this article.
2. The magistrate appointing commission for each county
supreme court shall prescribe the contents of an applicationr
House File 2706, p. 7
in addition to any application form provided by the oupromo
court, for an appointment pursuant to this section.
commission shall publicise notice of any vacancy to be filled
in Qt least two publications in all official county newspapers
in the county. The commission shall accept applications for
a minimum of fifteen days prior to making an appointment, and
shall make available during that period of time any printed
application forms the commission proscribes provides based on
the supreme courfs prescribed application contents.
3. Within thirty days following receipt of notification
of a vacancy in the office of magistrate, the commission
shall appoint a person to the office to serve the remainder
of the unexpired term. For purposes of this section, vacancy
'^vacancy" means a death, resignation, retirement, or removal
of a magistrate, or an increase in the number of positions
authorized.
4. The term of office of a magistrate is four years,
commencing August 1, 1Q80 2027. However, the terms of all
magistrates in a county judicial election district are deemed
to expire if a substitution under section 602.6302 or the
allocation under section 602.6401 results in a reduction in the
number of magistrates in a county judicial election district
where the magistrates hold office.
5. The commission shall promptly certify the names and
addresses of appointees to the dork of the district court
administrator and to the chief judge of the judicial district.
The clerk of the district court administrator shall certify to
the state court administrator the names and addresses of these
appointees.
7. Before the commencement of the term of a magistrate,
the members of the judicial election district magistrate
appointing commission may reconsider the appointment. Written
notification of the reasons for reconsideration and time and
place for the meeting must be sent to the magistrate appointee
and the clerk of the district court administrator. The
commission may reconvene and decertify the magistrate appointee
for good cause. Notice of the decertification and a statement
of the reasons justifying the decertification shall be promptly
sent to the clerk of the district court administrator, the
House File 2706r p. 8
chief judge of the judicial district, and the state court
administrator.
9. A magistrate who seeks to resign from the office of
magistrate shall notify in writing the chief judge of the
judicial district as to the magistrate's intention to resign
and the effective date of the resignation. The chief judge of
the judicial district, upon receipt of the notice, shall notify
the county judicial election district magistrate appointing
commission and the state court administrator of the vacancy in
the office of magistrate due to resignation.
Sec. 15. Section 602.6403, Code 2026, is amended by adding
the following new subsections:
NEW SUBSECTION. 10. a. Notwithstanding section 602.6401,
subsection 3, if a vacancy occurs as described in subsection 3
of this section, that cannot be filled, the chief judge of the
judicial district may assign one or more magistrates serving
in the judicial district to serve the remainder of the term
in the county with the vacancy. A magistrate shall serve the
county with the vacancy to which the magistrate is assigned in
addition to the county to which the magistrate is appointed if
the combined weighted workload does not exceed thirty-three
percent of one full-time position.
b. This subsection is repealed August 1, 2027.
NEW SUBSECTION. 11. a. For the magistrate term commencing
August 1, 2027, the judicial election district magistrate
appointing commission shall give priority to an applicant who
served or is serving as a magistrate for the term immediately
preceding August 1, 2027.
(1) If the number of vacancies in the judicial election
district equals or exceeds the number of prioritized
applicants, the commission shall appoint all prioritized
applicants.
(2) If the number of vacancies in the judicial election
district is less than the number of prioritized applicants, the
commission shall appoint only prioritized applicants.
b. This subsection is repealed July 31, 2031.
Sec. 16. Section 602.6404, subsection 2, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
2. A person is not qualified for appointment as a magistrate
House Pile 2706, p. 9
unless the person files a certified application form, to
be provided by the supreme court, with the chairperson of
the county judicial election district magistrate appointing
commission. A person is not qualified for appointment as a
magistrate if at the time of appointment the person has reached
age seventy-eight.
Sec. 17. Section 602.6501, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
602.6501 Composition of county judicial election district
magistrate appointing commissions.
1. A magistrate appointing commission is established in
each county judicial election district. The commission shall
be composed of the following members:
a, A district judge designated by the chief judge of the
judicial district to serve until a successor is designated.
b, Three mombcra appointed by the board of supervisors,—
the iGsoer number provided in section 602.6503,—oubsGCtion 1
One person from each county in the judicial election district,
appointed by the board of supervisors of the county.
c, Tw© A number of attorneys elected by the attorneys
in the county^ or the loooor number provided in ooction
602.6504,—subsection 1 judicial election district and the
counties contiguous with the judicial election district equal
to one fewer than the number of persons appointed pursuant to
paragraph If there are an insufficient number of attorneys
to serve on the commission, the number of persons appointed
pursuant to paragraph shall not be increased or decreased.
2. The cleric of the district court administrator or the
administrator's designee shall maintain a permanent record of
the name, address, and term of office of each commissioner.
3. A member of a magistrate appointing commission shall
be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses reasonably
incurred in the performance of official duties. Reimbursements
are payable by the county in which the member oerves resides,
upon certification of the expenses to the county auditor by
the clerk of the district court. The district judges of each
judicial district may prescribe rules for the administration
of this subsection.
Sec. 18. Section 602.6502, Code 2026, is amended to read as
House Pile 2706, p. 10
follows;
602,6502 Prohibitions to appointment.
A member of a county judicial election district magistrate
appointing commission shall not be appointed to the office of
magistrate. A member of the commission shall not be eligible
to vote for the appointment or nomination of a family member,
current law partner, or current business partner. For purposes
of this section, ^family member" means a spouse, son, daughter,
brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece,
father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
brother-in-law, sister-in-law, father, mother, stepfather,
stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister,
half brother, or half sister.
Sec. 19. Section 602.6503, subsections 1 and 3, Code 2026,
are amended to read as follows:
1. The board of supervisors of each county in the judicial
election district shall appoint three electors one person from
the county to the magistrate appointing commission for the
county judicial election district for six-year terms beginning
January 1, 1070 2027, and each sixth year thereafter. Ilov/evcr,
if there is only one attorney elected pursuant to section
602.6504/—the county board of supervisors ohall only appoint
two commisaioners^ and if no attorney is elected,—the board of
supervisors shall only appoint one commissioner.
3. The county auditor shall certify to the clerk of the
district court administrator the name, address, and expiration
date of term for all appointees of the person appointed to the
commission by the board of supervisors.
Sec. 20. Section 602.6504, subsections 1, 3, 4, and 5, Code
2026, are amended to read as follows:
1. The resident attorneys of each county judicial election
district and the counties contiguous with the judicial election
district shall elect two resident attorneys of the county a
number of attorneys equal to one fewer than the number of
persons appointed pursuant to section 602.6501, subsection 1,
paragraph to the magistrate appointing commission for
six-year terms beginning on January 1, 1070 2027, and each
sixth year thereafter. An election shall be held in December
preceding the commencement of new terms. The attorneys in a
House File 2706, p. 11
county may elect only one commissioner if If there is only one
are an insufficient number of attorneys who -ts- are qualified
and willing to serve and if there are no rooidont attorneys
in a county or none is willing to servo as a commissioner,
none shall be elected, the attorneys of each judicial election
district and the counties contiguous with the judicial election
district may elect a number of attorneys that is less than the
maximum number authorized in this subsection.
3. An attorney is eligible to vote in elections of
magistrate appointing commissioners within a county judicial
election district or the counties contiguous with the judicial
election district if eligible to vote under sections 46.7
and 46.8, and if a resident of the county judicial election
district or a county contiguous with the judicial election
district.
4. In order to be placed on the ballot for county a judicial
election district magistrate appointing commission, an eligible
attorney elector shall file a nomination petition in the office
of a clerk of court in the district on or before November
30 of the year in which the election for attorney positions is
to occur. This subsection does not preclude write-in votes at
the time of the election.
5. When an election of magistrate appointing commissioners
is to be held, the clerk of the district court for each county
in the judicial election district and a county contiguous with
the judicial election district shall cause to be mailed to
each eligible attorney a ballot that is in substantially the
following form;
BALLOT
County Judicial Election District Magistrate Appointing
Commission
To be cast by the resident members of the bar of judicial
election district county or a county contiguous with
the judicial election district.
Vote for (state number) for county judicial election
district magistrate appointing commissioner(s) for term
commencing
House File 2706, p. 12
To be counted, this ballot must be completed and mailed or
delivered to a clerk of the district court in the judicial
election district, or a county contiguous with the
judicial election district, no later than December 31, ...
(year) (or the appropriate date in case of an election to fill
a vacancy).
Sec. 21. Section 602,8102, subsections 88 and 89, Code 2026,
are amended by striking the subsections.
Sec. 22, Section 602.8102, subsection 90, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
90. Furnish an individual or centralized docket for the
magistrates of the judicial election district serving in the
county as provided in section 602.6604.
Sec. 23. Section 806.2, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
806.2 Procedure following arrest.
If an arrest is made in this state by an officer of another
state in accordance with the provisions of section 806.1,
the officer shall without unnecessary delay take the person
arrested before a magistrate e# ^ the county in which the
arrest was made, who shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of
determining the lawfulness of the arrest. If the magistrate
determines that the arrest was lawful_£_ the magistrate shall
commit the person arrested to await for a reasonable time
the issuance of an extradition warrant by the governor of
this state or admit the person to bail for such purpose. If
the magistrate determines that the arrest was unlawful_j_ the
magistrate shall discharge the person arrested.
Sec. 24. REPEAL, Section 602.6402, Code 2026, is repealed.
Sec. 25. EFFECTIVE DATE.
1. Except as provided in subsection 2, this division of this
Act takes effect November 1, 2026.
2. The portion of the section of this Act enacting section
602.6403, subsection 10, being deemed of immediate importance,
takes effect upon enactment.
DIVISION II
SENIOR MAGISTRATES
Sec. 26. Section 602.1101, Code 2026, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
House File 2706, p. 13
NEW SUBSECTION. lOA. "^Senior magistrate" means a person who
qualifies as a senior magistrate under section 602.9302.
Sec. 27. Section 602.1610, subsection 1, Code 2026, is
amended by adding the following new paragraph;
NEW PARAGRAPH, c. Notwithstanding paragraph a judicial
magistrate who attains the age of seventy-eight years and has
less than fifty percent of the magistrate's current term of
appointment left to serve shall have the right to elect to
serve the remainder of the magistrate's current term but shall
not be eligible for reappointment.
Sec. 28. NEW SECTION, 602.9301 Definitions.
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "^Retired magistrate" means a magistrate that has retired
as a magistrate after serving not less than eight years and has
attained the age of sixty-two, or a magistrate who has served
at least twenty years prior to the effective date of this
division of this Act. '^Retired magistrate" does not include
magistrates who are seeking reappointment.
2. "^Roster of senior magistrates" means a roster maintained
by the clerk of the supreme court under section 602.9302,
subsection 5.
3. '^Senior magistrate" means a magistrate who meets the
requirements of section 602.9302 and who has not been retired
or removed from the roster of senior magistrates under section
602.9305 or 602.9306.
4. ^Senior magistrate retirement age" means eighty-four
years of age, or if the senior magistrate is reappointed as
a senior magistrate for an additional one-year term upon
attaining eighty-four years of age, and then to a succeeding
one-year term, pursuant to section 602.9302, eighty-six years
of age.
5. ^Twelve-month period" means each successive one-year
period commencing on the date a retired magistrate becomes a
senior magistrate and while the magistrate continues to be a
senior magistrate.
Sec, 29. NEW SECTION, 602.9302 Senior magistrate
requirements — appointment and term.
1. A magistrate who qualifies under subsection 2 may become
a senior magistrate by filing with the clerk of the supreme
House File 2706, p. 14
court a written election in the form specified by the supreme
court. The election shall be filed within six months of the
date of retirement.
2. A magistrate referred to in subsection 1 may be
appointed, at the discretion of the supreme court, for a
two-year term as senior magistrate if the magistrate meets all
of the following requirements:
a» Retires from office on or after the effective date of
this division of this Act, regardless of whether the magistrate
is of mandatory retirement age.
b. Agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the supreme
court to be available as long as the magistrate is a senior
magistrate to perform judicial duties as assigned by the
supreme court or chief judge of the senior magistrate's
judicial district for service not to exceed an aggregate period
of five weeks out of each successive twelve-month period.
c. Submits evidence to the satisfaction of the supreme court
that, as of the date of retirement, the magistrate does not
suffer from a permanent physical or mental disability which
would substantially interfere with the performance of duties
agreed to under paragraph
3. Prior to submitting an application to become a senior
magistrate, the magistrate, the chief judge of the judicial
district, the district court administrator, and the state court
administrator may meet and discuss the magistrate's potential
assignment together with the scope and parameters of the senior
magistrate's service. If the magistrate decides to apply for
senior magistrate, the magistrate can request the supreme court
to give a preliminary determination as to whether the supreme
court will approve the magistrate's application.
4. The supreme court, in ruling on an application for senior
magistrate, including reappointment of an applicant to an
additional term, may consider any of the following factors:
a, A demonstration of the applicant's willingness and
ability to undertake and complete all assigned work during the
applicant's service as a senior magistrate.
b. A recommendation of the chief judge and court
administrator made in consultation with other judges from
the judicial election district where the applicant served as
House File 2706, p. 15
magistrate.
c. The Iowa state bar association's most recent judicial
performance review for the applicant.
d. The applicant's monthly reports submitted pursuant to
Iowa court rule 22.10.
e. The applicant's agreement to perform duties as scheduled
and assigned by the chief judge of the judicial district or by
the state court administrator.
£, The applicant's plans, if any, to regularly spend time
or reside out of state.
g. The applicant's work or plans to work as an attorney,
or as a mediator, arbitrator, or provider of other alternative
dispute resolution services.
5. The clerk of the supreme court shall maintain a book
entitled ^Roster of Senior Magistrates", and shall enter
in the book the name of each magistrate who files a timely
election under subsection 1, qualifies under subsection 2,
and is appointed by the supreme court. A person shall be a
senior magistrate upon entry of the person's name in the roster
of senior magistrates and until the person becomes a retired
senior magistrate as provided in section 602.9305, or until the
person's name is stricken from the roster of senior magistrates
as provided in section 602.9306, or until the person dies.
6. a, A senior magistrate may be reappointed to additional
two-year terms, at the discretion of the supreme court, if the
judicial officer meets the requirements of subsection 2.
b, A senior magistrate may be reappointed to a one-year term
upon attaining eighty-four years of age and to a succeeding
one-year term, at the discretion of the supreme court, if the
judicial officer meets the requirements of subsection 2.
Sec. 30. NEW SECTION. 602.9303 Senior magistrate salaries.
1. A magistrate who retires on or after the effective date
of this division of this Act, and who is appointed a senior
magistrate under section 602.9302, shall be paid a salary as
determined by the general assembly.
2. The senior magistrate shall be reimbursed for costs for
which actively serving magistrates are reimbursed at the same
rate.
3. The state shall provide and pay for medical insurance
House File 2706, p. 16
for senior magistrates at the same rate as is applicable to
actively serving magistrates. A senior magistrate who elects
to participate in medical insurance through the judicial branch
shall make appropriate arrangements for the payment of the
senior magistrate's share of medical insurance costs.
Sec. 31. NEW SECTION. 602.9304 Practice of law.
A senior magistrate may practice law as provided under the
Iowa code of judicial conduct.
Sec. 32. NEW SECTION. 602.9305 Retirement of senior
magistrate.
A senior magistrate shall cease to be a senior magistrate
upon completion of the twelve-month period during which the
magistrate attains senior magistrate retirement age. The clerk
of the supreme court shall make a notation of the retirement
of a senior magistrate in the roster of senior magistrates, at
which time the senior magistrate shall become a retired senior
magistrate.
Sec. 33. NEW SECTION. 602.9306 Relinquishment of status as
senior magistrate — removal for cause.
1. A senior magistrate, at any time prior to the end of
the twelve-month period during which the magistrate attains
senior magistrate retirement age, may submit to the clerk of
the supreme court a written request that the magistrate's name
be stricken from the roster of senior magistrates. Upon the
receipt of the request, the clerk shall strike the name of the
person from the roster of senior magistrates, at which time the
person shall cease to be a senior magistrate.
2. A senior magistrate is subject to removal under article
2, part 1, for the causes specified in section 602.2106,
subsection 3, paragraph When a person is removed as a
senior magistrate as provided in this subsection, the clerk of
the supreme court shall strike the name of the person from the
roster of senior magistrates, at which time the person shall
cease to be a senior magistrate.
Sec. 34. NEW SECTION. 602.9307 Rules.
The supreme court shall prescribe rules to implement this
part.
Sec. 35. 2025 Iowa Acts, chapter 158, section 6, subsection
2, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
House File 2706, p. 17
NEW PARAGRAPH. 1. Each senior magistrate:
$ 4,234
DIVISION III
JUDICIAL OFFICER SALARIES
Sec. 36. SALARIES — STATE COURT JUSTICES, JUDGES, AND
MAGISTRATES.
1. The salary rates for judicial officers, other than
judicial magistrates, in effect on July 1, 2026, as specified
in 2025 Iowa Acts, chapter 158, section 6, or a subsequent Act
of the general assembly specifying salary rates for judicial
officers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, shall
be increased by five percent effective with the pay period
beginning June 18, 2027.
2. Effective with the pay period beginning June 18, 2027,
the salary rate for judicial magistrates shall be forty percent
of the salary rate of a district associate judge as adjusted
pursuant to subsection 1.
3. Salary rate increases required by this section shall be
paid from moneys appropriated to the judicial branch.
Sec. 37. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes
effect June 18, 2027.
PAT GRASSLgX AMY SINCg^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 2706, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved 3^^'^2026
MEGHAN* NELSON
CFriefif Clerk/ofl the House
KIM l^YNOLDS
Governor