SF2198 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care. (Formerly SSB 3020 .) 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: 2026-04-09
Official status: Signed by Governor . S.J. 772 .
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 the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care. (Formerly SSB 3020 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care.

What This Bill Does

A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care.
(Formerly SSB 3020 .) 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

2026-04-09 Iowa Legislature
Signed by Governor . S.J. 772 .
2026-04-09 Iowa Legislature
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 771 .
2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Message from House. S.J. 546 .
2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. H.J. 630 .
2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Passed House , yeas 93, nays 0. H.J. 618 .
2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Substituted for HF 2570 . H.J. 618 .
2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature
Read first time, passed on file. H.J. 416 .
2026-02-24 Iowa Legislature
Message from Senate. H.J. 399 .
2026-02-24 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. S.J. 383 .
2026-02-24 Iowa Legislature
Passed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 382 .
2026-02-04 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 202 .
2026-02-04 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 197 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care. (Formerly SSB 3020 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
April 09, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2198, an Act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable
power of attorney for health care.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
merely
KiimReynolds^
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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Senate File 2198
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF AN ATTORNEY IN FACT UNDER A DURABLE
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OP THE STATE OF IOWA;
Section 1. Section 144B.6, subsection 2, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
2. In exercising the authority under the durable power
of attorney for health care, the attorney in fact has a duty
to act in accordance with the desires of the principal as
expressed in the durable power of attorney for health care^
a declaration executed by the principal pursuant to section
144A.3, or otherwise made known to the attorney in fact at
any time. A declaration oxocuted by the principal pursuant
to the life sustaining procedures Act^ chapter 144A, shall
not bo interpreted aa oxprcasing an intent to prohibit the
withdrawal of hydration or nutrition when required to be
provided paronterally or through intubation and ohall not
otherwioo restrict the The authority of the attorney in fact
shall not be restricted by the desires of the principal as
expressed verbally to a person other than the attorney in fact
or in any other document unless either the declaration or, in a
separate section of the durable power of attorney for health
care, the principal expressly provides otherwise states that
the durable power of attorney for health care is limited and
includes the limitations on the authority of the attorney in
fact. If the principal's desires are unknown, the attorney in
Senate File 2198/ p. 2
fact has a duty to act in the best interests of the principal/
taking into account the principal's overall medical condition
and prognosis.
AMY SINC^IR
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2198, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved 2026
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretary of the Senate
Governor