SF512 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to statutes of limitations in civil actions. (Formerly SSB 1179 .) 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: 2026-06-02
Official status: Signed by Governor . S.J. 1029 .
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how this bill will affect current practices or specify particular types of civil actions.

A Bill About Time Limits for Civil Cases

This bill maintains existing laws about when certain types of lawsuits can be filed in Iowa.

What This Bill Does

Keeps existing laws that say when a lawsuit can be filed after something bad happens.

Who It Names or Affects

People who might want to file a lawsuit in Iowa
Courts and legal professionals dealing with civil cases

Terms To Know

statutes of limitations: Rules that set time limits for when someone can start a lawsuit.
discovery rule: A legal principle that allows people to file lawsuits later if they didn't know about the problem right away.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which specific types of civil actions are affected.
It is unclear how this will change current practices in Iowa courts.

Bill History

2026-06-02 Iowa Legislature
Signed by Governor . S.J. 1029 .
2026-05-05 Iowa Legislature
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 1028 .
2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature
Explanation of vote. H.J. 1158 .
2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature
Message from Senate. H.J. 901 .
2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. S.J. 801 .
2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature
Passed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 801 .
2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature
Senate concurred with S-5179 . S.J. 801 .
2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature
Amendment S-5182 filed, ruled out of order. S.J. 800 .
2026-04-15 Iowa Legislature
Message from House, with amendment S-5179 . S.J. 790 .
2026-04-14 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. H.J. 898 .
2026-04-14 Iowa Legislature
Passed House , yeas 93, nays 0. H.J. 892 .
2026-04-14 Iowa Legislature
Amendment H-8356 filed, adopted. H.J. 891 .
2026-03-26 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 760 .
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar. H.J. 706 .
2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature
Committee vote: Yeas, 20. Nays, 1. H.J. 706 .
2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 706 .
2026-03-18 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
2026-03-17 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/18/2026 8:30AM RM 304.
2026-03-17 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Holt, Lawler and Olson. H.J. 683 .
2025-12-31 Iowa Legislature
* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
2025-05-15 Iowa Legislature
Rereferred to Judiciary. H.J. 1222 .
2025-04-10 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 928 .
2025-03-20 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar. H.J. 769 .
2025-03-20 Iowa Legislature
Committee vote: Yeas, 19. Nays, 0. Excused, 2. H.J. 769 .
2025-03-20 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 769 .
2025-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
2025-03-18 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/19/2025 12:00PM RM 102.
2025-03-13 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Holt, Lawler and Olson. H.J. 657 .
2025-03-12 Iowa Legislature
Read first time, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 616 .
2025-03-11 Iowa Legislature
Message from Senate. H.J. 592 .
2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. S.J. 456 .
2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Passed Senate , yeas 33, nays 14. S.J. 455 .
2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Point of order raised on S-3020 , ruled out of order. S.J. 455 .
2025-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Amendment S-3020 filed. S.J. 455 .
2025-03-05 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 424 .
2025-03-05 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 416 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to statutes of limitations in civil actions. (Formerly SSB 1179 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Kim Reynolds
governor
Office of the Governor Chris Cournoyer
LT GOVERNOR
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 5 12, an Act relating to statutes of limitations in civil actions.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinceijly,
Kim ^ynolds C
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
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Senate File 512
AN ACT
RELATING TO STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS IN CIVIL ACTIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 614.1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the
law governing when a cause of action accrues, including the
discovery rule and related doctrines, as recognized by statute
or common law. Actions may be brought within the times limited
as follows, respectively, after their causes accrue, and not
Senate File 512, p. 2
afterwards, except when otherwise specially declared , provided
that such time limitations may only be altered by an Act of the
general assembly : >
AMY SINCLAIR 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 512, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretaj^ of Senate
Approved
KIM REIMOLDS
Governor