Read the full stored bill text
STATE OF IOWA
K IM R EYNOLDS
G OVERNOR
June 6, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 706, an Act relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties,
and making penalties applicable.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sint- rely,
Ki , ' eynolds
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
i
411:1111111111111111111111
. d1111111111111111 P•'I II I Ill fil.
0
40
I J1, 1 1 b, I III III 3G[i; I IEIV kl:I Y I IYIII II II IIIIYI! I!4"1li CII I III ! Ih : u u 11r IIIIIIIIIIIII IREUMTV
X é i
sF,NF,IZ1-,I, 1'XISSFAT III , Z' IPliCVV'JEIVIBEEIII111111V41^.:IEII:Ill OIIIIIII Ili Ili IVIO^SI"I IVIVIIIIIIIIII1 Ill 11:12:19711VVIli IIII Ill 1I Ili IIIIIIIVVIV iLIVLI?Ii1 Ill IlIIlIIIVVII41!E';SE".IIR11111191118111Glkkli°I?IIIIIIIIIIIEt Ili klli6.:.".46
• mllm>:IE•.•• ,
IIIIIIIfiM1111{I
House File 706
AN ACT
RELATING TO OPEN MEETINGS AND OPEN RECORDS, PROVIDING
PENALTIES, AND MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 21.6, subsection 3, paragraphs a and d,
Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. Shall assess each member of the governmental body who
participated in its violation damages in the amount of not more
than two thousand five hundred dollars and not less than acre
five hundred dollars. However, if a member of a governmental
body knowingly participated in such a violation, damages
shall be in the amount of not more than ire twelve thousand
five hundred dollars and not less than erne five thousand
dollars. These damages shall be paid by the court imposing
it to the state of Iowa, if the body in question is a state
governmental body, or to the local government involved if the
body in question is a local governmental body. A member of a
governmental body found to have violated this chapter shall not
be assessed such damages if that member proves that the member
did any of the following:
( 1) Voted against the closed session.
( 2) Had good reason to believe and in good faith believed
facts which, if true, would have indicated compliance with all
the requirements of this chapter.
( 3) Reasonably relied upon a decision of a court, a formal
opinion of the Iowa public information board, the attorney
House File 706, p. 2
general, or the attorney for the governmental body, given in
writing, or as memorialized in the minutes of the meeting at
which a formal oral opinion was given, or an advisory opinion
of the Iowa public information board, the attorney general, or
the attorney for the governmental body, given in writing.
d. Shall issue an order removing a member of a governmental
body from office if that member has engaged in a prior
violation of this chapter fer whieh dafRagc3 wcrc a33csscd
against the ffiefaber during the ffieRiber's ter- M.
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 21.12 Member education course
required.
1. A newly elected or appointed public official who is
a member of a governmental body shall complete a course of
training of not less than one and not more than two hours
regarding the responsibilities of the governmental body and the
governmental bodys members under this chapter and chapter 22
not later than the ninetieth day after the date the member does
one of the following, as applicable:
a. Takes the initial oath of office.
b. Assumes responsibilities, if the member is not required
to take an oath of office.
c. Is elected to the office.
2. The Iowa public information board shall ensure that the
training is made available. The Iowa public information board
may provide the training and may also approve any acceptable
course of training offered by a governmental body or other
entity. The Iowa public information board shall ensure that at
least one course of training approved or provided by the Iowa
public information board is available at no cost.
3. The Iowa public information board or other entity
providing the training shall provide a certificate of course
completion to persons who complete the training required by
this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make
available for public inspection the record of the governmental
body's members' completion of the training.
a. Completing the required training as a member of
the governmental body satisfies the requirements of this
section with regard to the member's service on a committee or
subcommittee of the governmental body and the member's service
House File 706, p. 3
on any other governmental body.
b. The training required by this section may be used to
satisfy any corresponding training requirements concerning this
chapter and chapter 22 as required by law for the members of a
governmental body.
4. If one or more members of a governmental body fail to
complete the training required by this section, the failure
does not affect the validity of an action taken by the
governmental body. However, the member must complete training
within sixty days or may be assessed damages as described in
section 21.6, subsection 3.
5. This section does not apply to a member of a governmental
body if the member or governmental body is excluded from the
jurisdiction of the Iowa public information board under section
23.12.
Sec. 3. Section 22.7, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsections:
NEW SUBSECTION. 76. Information obtained from security
camera systems operated by the legislative branch monitoring
property owned or leased by the state.
NEW SUBSECTION. 77. Information obtained from state
employee identification card access systems for buildings and
rooms owned or leased by the state.
Sec. 4. Section 23.6, subsection 8, Code 2025, is amended
to read as follows:
8. After appropriate board proceedings, issue orders
with the force of law, determining whether there has been
a violation of chapter 21 or 22, requiring compliance with
specified provisions of those chapters, imposing civil
penalties equivalent to and to the same extent as those
provided for in section 21.6, 21.12, or 22.10, as applicable,
on a respondent who has been found in violation of chapter 21
or 22, and imposing any other appropriate remedies calculated
to declare, terminate, or remediate any violation of those
chapters.
Sec. 5. Section 23.10, subsection 3, paragraph b,
subparagraph ( 1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
( 1) Require the respondent to pay damages as provided for in
section 21.6, 21.12, or 22.10, whichever is applicable, to the
House File 706, p. 4
extent that provision would make such damages payable if the
complainant had sought to enforce a violation in court instead
of through the board.
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of fhe House
ufk=
AMY SINCMIR
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 706, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approve , 2025
MEGH/AN NELSON
Chief e lerk .Jk the House
KIM R
Governor