HF288 • 2026

A bill for an act limiting campaign contributions, and making penalties applicable.

Crime Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: TUREK
Last action: 2025-02-10
Official status: Introduced, referred to State Government. H.J. 275 .
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about federal contribution limits or enforcement mechanisms.

Campaign Contribution Limits Act

This act sets limits on campaign contributions for candidates running for public office in Iowa and outlines penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

Sets contribution limits for candidates running for any public office in Iowa, based on federal regulations.
Defines 'election campaign cycle' as the period between elections for a particular office, including primary, general, and special elections.
Makes it illegal to accept contributions that would cause an individual's total donations to exceed set federal limits.

Who It Names or Affects

Candidates running for public office in Iowa
Individuals who contribute money to political campaigns

Terms To Know

Election Campaign Cycle: The time period between elections for a particular office, including primary, general, and special elections.
Serious Misdemeanor: A type of offense punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine ranging from $430 to $2,560.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact federal contribution limits that will be used.
It is unclear how strictly these rules will be enforced or what specific civil remedies might apply in different situations.

Bill History

2025-02-10 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, referred to State Government. H.J. 275 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act limiting campaign contributions, and making penalties applicable.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House

File

288

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

288

BY

TUREK

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

limiting

campaign

contributions,

and

making

penalties

1

applicable.

2

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

3

TLSB

2082YH

(1)

91

ss/ns

H.F.

288

Section

1.

NEW

SECTION

.

68A.507

Contribution

limits

for

1

candidates.

2

1.

For

the

purposes

of

this

section,

“election

campaign

3

cycle”

means

the

time

period

between

elections

for

a

particular

4

office.

Each

primary,

general,

and

special

election

is

a

5

separate

election

campaign

cycle.

Separate

contribution

limits

6

for

each

type

of

election

for

a

particular

office,

including

7

primary,

general,

and

special

elections,

apply

in

an

election

8

campaign

cycle.

9

2.

An

individual

shall

not

make,

and

a

candidate,

10

candidate’s

committee,

or

anyone

acting

on

behalf

of

any

11

candidate

or

candidate’s

committee

shall

not

accept,

any

12

contribution

which

will

cause

the

total

amount

of

the

13

individual’s

contributions

to

a

candidate

or

candidate’s

14

committee

to

exceed

the

amounts

set

forth

in

11

C.F.R.

pt.

110

15

in

an

election

campaign

cycle.

16

3.

This

section

applies

to

candidates

for

any

public

office

17

in

this

state.

18

EXPLANATION

19

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

20

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

21

This

bill

imposes

campaign

contribution

limits

on

candidates

22

for

public

office

that

are

identical

to

those

set

forth

in

23

federal

campaign

finance

regulations.

24

A

person

who

willfully

violates

the

bill

is,

pursuant

to

Code

25

section

68A.701,

guilty

of

a

serious

misdemeanor.

A

serious

26

misdemeanor

is

punishable

by

confinement

for

no

more

than

one

27

year

and

a

fine

of

at

least

$430

but

not

more

than

$2,560.

28

A

variety

of

civil

remedies

are

also

available

in

Code

29

section

68B.32D

for

a

violation

of

the

bill,

ranging

from

a

30

reprimand

to

a

civil

penalty

of

not

more

than

$2,000.

31

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