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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
April 18, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
. State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 314, an Act authorizing the waiver of preplacement investigations and reports
in certain adoption proceedings.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sin , - rely,
Ki iT nolds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 FAX 515.725.3527 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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House File 314
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE WAIVER OF PREPLACEMENT INVESTIGATIONS AND
REPORTS IN CERTAIN ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 600.8, subsection 2, paragraph a,
subparagraph ( 2), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
( 2) A report of a preplacement investigation that has
approved a prospective adoption petitioner for a placement
shall not authorize placement of a minor person with that
petitioner after two years from the date of the report's
issuance. However, if the prospective adoption petitioner
is
described by subsection 12, paragraph ' a - , subparagraph ( 1) or
( 2), and has assumed custody of a minor person to be adopted,
a preplacement investigation of this petitioner and a report
of the investigation may be completed at a time established by
the juvenile court or court or may be waived as provided in
subsection 12.
Sec. 2. Section 600.8, subsections 7 and 12, Code 2025, are
amended to read as follows:
7. a, Any An investigation or report shall not be required
under this section ohall not apply whcn the in any of the
following circumstances:
House File 314, p. 2
( 1) The person to be adopted is an adult or when the.
( 2) The prospective adoption petitioner or adoption
petitioner is a stepparent of the person to be adopted.
However, in the case of a stepparent adoption, the juvenile
court or court, upon the request of an interested person or
on its own motion stating the reasons therefor of record, may
order an investigation or report pursuant to this section.
Additionally, if
b. If an adoption petitioner discloses a criminal conviction
or deferred judgment for an offense, other than a simple
misdemeanor, or founded child abuse report pursuant to section
600.5, the petitioner shall notify the court of the inclusion
of this information in the petition prior to the final adoption
hearing, and the court shall make a specific ruling regarding
whether to waive any investigation or report required under
subsection 1.
12. a. Any investigation and report required under
oubocction 1 may be waived by the A juvenile court or court
if the may waive an investigation and report required under
subsection 1 in any of the following circumstances:
( 1) The adoption petitioner is related within the fourth
degree of consanguinity to the person to be adopted. However,
3€
( 2) The adoption petitioner meets all of the following
requirements:
( a) The adoption petitioner is the current legal guardian
for the person to be adopted.
( b) The adoption petitioner has been the legal guardian for
the person to be adopted for the thirty-six consecutive months
immediately preceding the date the adoption petition is filed.
( c) The adoption petitioner has complied with section
232D.402 for the thirty-six consecutive months immediately
preceding the date the adoption petition is filed.
b. Notwithstanding paragraph " a - , if an adoption petitioner
discloses a criminal conviction or deferred judgment for an
offense, other than a simple misdemeanor, or founded child
abuse report pursuant to section 600.5, the petitioner shall
notify the court of the inclusion of this information in the
petition prior to the final adoption hearing—, and the court
PAT GRASSLEY
House File 314, p. 3
shall make a specific ruling regarding whether to waive any
investigation or report required under subsection 1.
•xz
Speaker of the House
:ec/ 19 iA
AMY SI JOLAIR
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 314, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved , 2025
•V, 4zz•
MEQUAN NELSON
CH - le f erk o he House
KIM • E
Governor