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House passes bill to overhaul magistrate appointments, set pay increases
Summary
The House passed HF 2706 to shift magistrate appointments to judicial election districts, authorize Supreme Court allocation by workload, establish senior magistrate rules and raise judicial salaries; amendment H8278 giving current magistrates a right of first refusal passed earlier in debate.
The Iowa House passed House File 2706 after debate and an amendment that changes how magistrates are appointed and paid. Representative from Crawford, the bill's floor manager, said the bill "shifts magistrate appointments from individual counties to judicial election districts" and removes the statutory number of 206 magistrates so the Supreme Court can allocate magistrates by workload. He said the measure also "establishes the role of senior magistrate" and raises judicial officer salaries by 5% in June 2027 while setting magistrate compensation at 40% of district associate judge pay.
An amendment (H8278) discussed by the floor acknowledged concerns about attrition and continuity: as Representative Wilburn said in support, the amendment "helps address some of the attrition rate and make sure that there's experienced judges" and creates a limited right of first refusal for current magistrates for terms starting 08/01/2027 (to be repealed on 07/31/2031). The amendment passed and, following a recorded roll call, the House passed HF 2706 as amended (recorded vote: 84 ayes, 8 no, 8 absent/not voting).
