Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SSB1167

Introduced
2/20/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the recovery of benefits inappropriately obtained from the department of homeland security and emergency management.

Impact

The implications of SSB1167 are significant in terms of ensuring accountability in public benefit programs. By allowing for the filing of liens against properties of beneficiaries who have committed fraud, the legislation enhances the state’s ability to recoup misallocated taxpayer resources. The bill also affects how local records of such debts are maintained, mandating that county recorders keep an organized index of these liens to facilitate transparency and recovery efforts.

Summary

Senate Study Bill 1167 aims to bolster the recovery of benefits that have been inappropriately obtained from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). The bill amends existing laws to classify such improperly obtained funds as debts owed to the state, thereby enabling the imposition of liens on the properties of individuals who fail or refuse to repay these benefits. The bill expands the powers of the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to include collection efforts for debts involving HSEM, creating a framework for efficient recovery practices.

Contention

Despite its proposed benefits, SSB1167 has sparked discussions about the balance between necessary state oversight and the rights of individuals receiving public assistance. Some advocates argue that while recovering inappropriately disbursed funds is vital, there is a risk of penalizing individuals who may have unintentionally provided misleading information rather than committing fraud outright. Policymakers will need to carefully consider the definitions and thresholds for what constitutes appropriately obtained versus fraudulently obtained benefits in the execution of these measures.

Companion Bills

IA HF249

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to the recovery of benefits inappropriately obtained from the department of homeland security and emergency management. (Formerly HSB 23.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

IA HSB23

Related A bill for an act relating to the recovery of benefits inappropriately obtained from the department of homeland security and emergency management.(See HF 249.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF2440

A bill for an act requiring the department of public safety, in collaboration with the department of education and the department of homeland security and emergency management, to convene a task force to study and make recommendations related to the safety and security standards of schools and school infrastructure.

IA SF2248

A bill for an act providing for the establishment of a nonprofit security grant program, and making appropriations.

IA HSB561

A bill for an act relating to emergency management services and emergency medical services and including applicability provisions.

IA HSB692

A bill for an act relating to school security, including by modifying provisions related to the issuance of school bonds, requiring schools to conduct school safety reviews and have access to the statewide interoperable communications system, establishing the school emergency radio access grant program and the firearm detection software grant program within the department of homeland security and emergency management, requiring the department of public safety to convene a task force related to the safety and security standards of schools and school infrastructure, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 2652.)

IA HF2696

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for state government administration and regulation, including the department of administrative services, auditor of state, ethics and campaign disclosure board, offices of governor and lieutenant governor, department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, department of insurance and financial services, department of management, Iowa public employees' retirement system, public information board, department of revenue, secretary of state, treasurer of state, and utilities board.

IA HF711

A bill for an act relating to levee and drainage districts, by providing for the repair or reconstruction of levees, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 244.) Effective date: 06/01/2023.

IA SSB3191

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system.

IA HF525

A bill for an act relating to the Medicaid program including third-party recovery and taxation of Medicaid managed care organization premiums.(Formerly HSB 177; See HF 685.)

IA HF705

A bill for an act relating to budgets of local emergency management agencies and including applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 546, HF 126.)

IA HSB244

A bill for an act relating to levee and drainage districts, by providing for the repair or reconstruction of levees, requesting the establishment of a legislative interim committee to consider levee and drainage district laws, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 711.)

Similar Bills

CA AB2777

Sexual assault: statute of limitations.

CA AB3322

Alcohol and drug programs.

IA HF249

A bill for an act relating to the recovery of benefits inappropriately obtained from the department of homeland security and emergency management. (Formerly HSB 23.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

AL SB56

Relating to public K-12 schools; to add Section 16-39-13 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to require local boards of education to install, maintain, and operate video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms providing special education services, if the funding to do so is available; and to provide protections for the use of video recordings.

CA AB2995

Public health: alcohol and drug programs.

IA HSB23

A bill for an act relating to the recovery of benefits inappropriately obtained from the department of homeland security and emergency management.(See HF 249.)

NH SB33

Relative to the regulation of public school materials.

CA AB2223

State Department of Health Care Services: duties.