A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. (Formerly SSB 3134 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Last action: 2026-05-15
Official status: Signed by Governor .
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide specific details on enforcement actions or penalties for violations.

Rules for Flying Flags at Half-Staff on Public Buildings

This law sets rules for when flags must be flown at half-staff on public buildings in Iowa.

What This Bill Does

Defines a 'public building' as any vertical improvement used by the state or local government for public purposes.
Requires that custodians of public buildings raise and lower the U.S. flag and Iowa state flag daily, weather permitting.
States that flags must be flown at half-staff when ordered by the governor's proclamation.
Allows people to report violations to the attorney general.

Who It Names or Affects

Governors who issue proclamations for flying flags at half-staff.
Custodians of public buildings responsible for raising and lowering flags.
The Attorney General, who can take legal action if rules are not followed.

Terms To Know

public building: A vertical improvement used by the state or local government for public purposes.
half-staff: The position of a flag when it is lowered to show respect, usually halfway up the pole.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if flags are not flown at half-staff as ordered.
Does not explain how often or under what circumstances the governor will issue proclamations for half-staff flags.

Bill History

2026-05-15 Iowa Legislature
Signed by Governor .
2026-05-05 Iowa Legislature
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.
2026-05-01 Iowa Legislature
Explanation of vote. H.J. 1082 .
2026-04-27 Iowa Legislature
Message from House. S.J. 880 .
2026-04-23 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. H.J. 996 .
2026-04-23 Iowa Legislature
Passed House , yeas 82, nays 5. H.J. 989 .
2026-04-23 Iowa Legislature
Substituted for HF 2517 . H.J. 989 .
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 691 .
2026-02-26 Iowa Legislature
Read first time, passed on file. H.J. 438 .
2026-02-26 Iowa Legislature
Message from Senate. H.J. 437 .
2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. S.J. 411 .
2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature
Passed Senate , yeas 38, nays 9. S.J. 410 .
2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 368 .
2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 356 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings. (Formerly SSB 3134 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 15, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2430, an Act relating to the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim ^ey^ olds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
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Senate File 2430
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE DISPLAY OF FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF ON PUBLIC
BUILDINGS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section IB. 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows :
IB. 3 Flags on public buildings.
1. As used in this section, "public building" means a
vertical improvement, as defined in section 15J.2, used for a
public purpose by the state or a political subdivision of the
state .
2 . It shall b e the duty of any A board of public officers
charged with providing supplies for a public building in the
state te shall provide a suitable state flag^ and E t- shall b e
the duty of the custodian of that public building -fee shall
raise the flags of the United States of America and the state
of Iowa— upon each secular day when weather conditions are
favorable .
3. The custodian and the board of public officers of a
public building in the state shall have the flags of the United
States of America and the state of Iowa flown at half-staff
when so directed by a proclamation issued by the governor.
4. A person may report an alleged violation of subsection 3
to the attorney general. The attorney general may initiate an
action in the name of the state, including but not limited
Senate File 2430, p. 2
to an action for injunctive relief
subsection 3.
_ ( _
AMY SINCLAIR
to obtain compliance with
PAT GRASSLEY
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2430, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Approved
Secretary of Senate
Z\ KIM T^YNOLDSZ^ V
Governor