A bill creating a new crime of “looting” could soon become Iowa law, outlining new criminal and civil punishments for group theft.
House File 2598, passed by Senate lawmakers on Monday, would define looting as two or more people entering a home, place of business or vehicle and stealing or damaging property.
Looting would be a Class C felony — punishable by up to 10 years in prison — if the combined value of stolen property is more than $10,000, the person has previously been convicted of looting, or the looting is done with a dangerous weapon.
Looting property valued between $1,000 and $10,000 would carry a prison sentence between one and a half years and five years. If the property is between $300 and $1,000, the looting would be an aggravated misdemeanor and carry a prison sentence of up to two years.
The bill would also allow somebody whose business or property is directly or indirectly damaged by an act of looting to bring a civil action against a person who engaged in the looting.
The bill passed the Senate 42-6. The bill is now eligible to be signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican.
Sen. Tony Bisignano, one of the six Democrats to vote against the bill, said he was concerned about the broad language allowing someone who is “indirectly” injured by looting to sue the offender.
Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, the bill’s floor manager, said that although looting is rare in Iowa, lawmakers should be “proactive” and prepare to respond to organized theft.
“This is going to help our small business, our small retail, mom-and-pop, grandma and grandpa stores, to make sure that those particular cases have an avenue besides just shoplifting or retail theft,” Webster said.
The penalties for trespassing while hunting would be increased under legislation approved by the Iowa Senate.
The various fines for trespassing while hunting would be increased from $260 to $500 for a first violation, from $645 to $1,000 for a second violation, and from $1,285 to $1,500 for all other violations.
When, during floor debate in the Senate, a Democratic senator questioned the need for the legislation, Sen. Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway, said trespassing is a serious issue in his district, and that current fines do not appear to be a sufficient deterrent.
With its passage out of the Senate on a 39-9 vote, House File 2310 — having previously passed the House — heads to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her consideration.
Counties and townships would be allowed to devote money to religious organizations for public services under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate.
The bill would allow church-managed organizations to receive public money if it is for a project “that benefits the public and does not require any religious or secular services, educational programs, or participation requirements.” The bill’s supporters have said such services could include food pantries, homeless shelters and child care.
The bill, House File 2264, passed the Senate on a 38-10 vote, with four Democrats joining Republicans in support. The bill previously passed the House with even stronger bipartisan support, 93-2. It must return to that chamber for second approval because it was amended Monday by the Senate. From there, it would move to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her consideration.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a multistate coalition that weighed in support of a lawsuit seeking to overturn Illinois’s assault weapons ban.
The lawsuit was brought by a national gun rights group seeking to overturn gun restrictions Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in 2023. The law bans the sale of AR-15s and other assault weapons as well as large magazines and other attachments.
A federal appeals court upheld Illinois’s law last year, arguing the assault weapons banned by the law are “militaristic” and more closely aligned with machine guns, allowing them to be regulated under the Second Amendment. The appeals court determined that “Arms” in the Second Amendment does not include weapons used primarily for military purposes.
The National Association for Gun Rights is appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a court brief joined by Bird, the 27 Republican-led states argue that the appeals court decision was mistaken and lacks historical precedent. They argue that the Supreme Court’s past decisions show the law is unconstitutional.
“Illinois’s gun ban is an outright assault on Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” Bird said in a statement. “Every American has a fundamental right to protect themselves and their loved ones. My office is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to do the right thing and protect Americans’ constitutional rights.”
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House File 2598, passed by Senate lawmakers on Monday, would define looting as two or more people entering a home, place of business or vehicle and stealing or damaging property.
Looting would be a Class C felony — punishable by up to 10 years in prison — if the combined value of stolen property is more than $10,000, the person has previously been convicted of looting, or the looting is done with a dangerous weapon.
Looting property valued between $1,000 and $10,000 would carry a prison sentence between one and a half years and five years. If the property is between $300 and $1,000, the looting would be an aggravated misdemeanor and carry a prison sentence of up to two years.
The bill would also allow somebody whose business or property is directly or indirectly damaged by an act of looting to bring a civil action against a person who engaged in the looting.
The bill passed the Senate 42-6. The bill is now eligible to be signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican.
Sen. Tony Bisignano, one of the six Democrats to vote against the bill, said he was concerned about the broad language allowing someone who is “indirectly” injured by looting to sue the offender.
Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, the bill’s floor manager, said that although looting is rare in Iowa, lawmakers should be “proactive” and prepare to respond to organized theft.
“This is going to help our small business, our small retail, mom-and-pop, grandma and grandpa stores, to make sure that those particular cases have an avenue besides just shoplifting or retail theft,” Webster said.
Bill would increase trespassing penalties
The penalties for trespassing while hunting would be increased under legislation approved by the Iowa Senate.
The various fines for trespassing while hunting would be increased from $260 to $500 for a first violation, from $645 to $1,000 for a second violation, and from $1,285 to $1,500 for all other violations.
When, during floor debate in the Senate, a Democratic senator questioned the need for the legislation, Sen. Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway, said trespassing is a serious issue in his district, and that current fines do not appear to be a sufficient deterrent.
With its passage out of the Senate on a 39-9 vote, House File 2310 — having previously passed the House — heads to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her consideration.
Public funding for church-managed programs
Counties and townships would be allowed to devote money to religious organizations for public services under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate.
The bill would allow church-managed organizations to receive public money if it is for a project “that benefits the public and does not require any religious or secular services, educational programs, or participation requirements.” The bill’s supporters have said such services could include food pantries, homeless shelters and child care.
The bill, House File 2264, passed the Senate on a 38-10 vote, with four Democrats joining Republicans in support. The bill previously passed the House with even stronger bipartisan support, 93-2. It must return to that chamber for second approval because it was amended Monday by the Senate. From there, it would move to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her consideration.
Iowa AG joins brief in case seeking to overturn gun law
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a multistate coalition that weighed in support of a lawsuit seeking to overturn Illinois’s assault weapons ban.
The lawsuit was brought by a national gun rights group seeking to overturn gun restrictions Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in 2023. The law bans the sale of AR-15s and other assault weapons as well as large magazines and other attachments.
A federal appeals court upheld Illinois’s law last year, arguing the assault weapons banned by the law are “militaristic” and more closely aligned with machine guns, allowing them to be regulated under the Second Amendment. The appeals court determined that “Arms” in the Second Amendment does not include weapons used primarily for military purposes.
The National Association for Gun Rights is appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a court brief joined by Bird, the 27 Republican-led states argue that the appeals court decision was mistaken and lacks historical precedent. They argue that the Supreme Court’s past decisions show the law is unconstitutional.
“Illinois’s gun ban is an outright assault on Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” Bird said in a statement. “Every American has a fundamental right to protect themselves and their loved ones. My office is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to do the right thing and protect Americans’ constitutional rights.”
Capitol Notebook: New state crime of looting would be created by bill
Also, another bill would increase penalties for trespassing while hunting
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