HF 237 (LSB 2339YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 237

BY  THOMSON, ANDREWS, HAYES, THOMPSON, HENDERSON, SHIPLEY, DIEKEN, GOLDING, FISHER, GERHOLD, JENEARY, CISNEROS, FETT, HOLT, WHEELER, GEARHART, SMITH, WENGRYN, and LAWLER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to sanctions on intervenors in contested cases before the Iowa utilities commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 474.3, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   474.3  Proceedings.
   1.  The utilities commission may in all cases conduct its proceedings, when not otherwise prescribed by law, in such manner as will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and the attainment of justice.
   2.  The utilities commission shall not threaten or impose sanctions against any intervenor unless the utilities commission determines the intervenor engaged in conduct that satisfies all the following conditions:
   a.  The intervenor was knowingly dishonest or in violation of a criminal statute.
   b.  The intervenor caused actual injury to the utilities commission, which injury is quantifiable and exceeds five hundred dollars.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to sanctions on intervenors in contested cases before the Iowa utilities commission. The bill prohibits the commission from threatening or imposing sanctions on an intervenor unless the commission determines the intervenor was knowingly dishonest or in violation of a criminal statute and caused actual, quantifiable injury to the commission in excess of $500.