THE 2026 IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH.
HOUSE SPEAKER PAT GRASSLEY SAYS REPUBLICANS WILL SEEK LONGER PRISON SENTENCES FOR PEOPLE WHO’VE PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES.
CRIMEBILL1 OC….RAISE A KID.” :10
GRASSLEY POINTS TO A MAN ACCUSED OF STABBING A 23-YEAR-OLD UKRAINIAN REFUGEE TO DEATH ON A TRAIN IN NORTH CAROLINA IN AUGUST.
THE MAN HAD OVER A DOZEN PRIOR ARRESTS AND HAD SERVED FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ARMED ROBBERY.
CRIMEBILL2 OC…..TYPES OF THINGS.” :07
GRASSLEY SAYS VIOLENT OFFENDERS WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF PAST CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SHOULD FACE LONGER PRISON SENTENCES — WITH NO LEEWAY FOR JUDGES OR PAROLE BOARDS TO REDUCE THE PRISON TERM.
CRIMEBILL3 OC…..CONSEQUENCE FOR THAT.” :17
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN HOLT OF DENISON IS WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF AN ANTI-CRIME PACKAGE, WHICH HE SAYS WILL BE FOCUSED ON HABITUAL VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
CRIMEBILL4 OC…….PRISON SENTENCE.” :10
UNDER CURRENT IOWA LAW, SOMEONE PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF TWO SERIOUS FELONIES MAY BE CHARGED AS A HABITUAL OFFENDER, WHICH BRINGS A LONGER PRISON SENTENCE AND THE PERSON ISN’T ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE UNTIL THEY’VE SPENT AT LEAST THREE YEARS IN PRISON.
HOLT SAYS THE LEGISLATION UNDER DEVELOPMENT MAY ADDRESS THOSE CONSIDERED A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY WHO’VE COMMITTED LESSER CRIMES.
CRIMEBILL5 OC……..JUSTICE IS SERVED.” ;21
HOLT SAYS THE LEGISLATION SHOULD BE READY FOR DEBATE EARLY IN THE 2026 SESSION.
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