Senate approves $222.3 million judicial branch appropriation, adds business court funding

The Iowa Senate approved House File 27 69 on May 2, 2026, a judicial branch appropriation that the sponsor said totals $222,300,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 and includes a $500,000 increase contingent on enactment of Senate File 639 to establish the specialty business court.

Senator Kreinbrink, who opened the bill, said the appropriation conforms the Senate file to the House file and described several line items and policy provisions. He noted intent language requiring that Judicial Council meetings in which the judicial retirement system is discussed shall not be held as a closed session under section 21.5 and said the state court administrator must advise the Judicial Council on determinations concerning the judicial retirement system.

During floor discussion, Senator Weiner said that aside from the business court appropriation the budget is effectively flat from last year and raised concerns that current funding levels and applicant pools may be insufficient to sustain a robust judicial system, including recruitment and retention of judges.

The Senate adopted the conforming amendment and moved the bill for final reading. The roll call recorded 29 ayes and 17 nays; the presiding officer declared HF 27 69 passed by a constitutional majority and the title was agreed to. Senator Kreinbrink then asked unanimous consent to withdraw the related Senate File 24 86; hearing no objections the request was granted and HF 27 69 was ordered messaged to the House.

The bill also contains an attorney loan repayment program provision discussed on the floor that would fund an initial cohort of 25 attorneys at up to $10,000 each and scale up in subsequent years, subject to statutory caps and limits noted by the sponsor.