This bill amends Section 648.22 of the Iowa Code to establish new procedures for sealing court records related to residential forcible entry and detainer actions, commonly known as eviction actions. It mandates that court records be sealed within three days if the defendant is found not guilty, the case is dismissed, or the plaintiff fails to appear for the hearing. Additionally, if the court determines there is no genuine issue of material fact, it must also seal the records. The bill outlines specific conditions under which a defendant found guilty of nonpayment of rent can apply to have their records sealed, including the passage of time since the judgment and the payment of all court-related financial obligations.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a sealing application is jointly filed by both the plaintiff and defendant in cases of nonpayment of rent, the court must seal the records if the defendant has met all financial obligations. Once sealed, the records and associated documents will be removed from public access, with limited exceptions for requests by the defendant or their attorney, or for scholarly, educational, journalistic, or governmental purposes. The bill also clarifies that certain provisions do not apply to money judgments awarded in eviction actions and that the sealing process does not create an independent cause of action for tenants. The effective date for this legislation is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 648.22