Current Status
Senator Joe Bolkcom, Senate District 43, introduced the Iowa Our Care, Our Choice Act, SF 212, on February 2, 2021. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Human Resources. Follow progress on our Legislative Tracker.
Resources
Iowa State Legislature website
Death with Dignity Legislative Tracker
Polling
A February 2016 Des Moines Register poll has found that 59 percent of Iowans are in favor of right to die, with greater support among people 35 and younger (64 percent support, versus 51 percent for those 65 and older).
History
2020
Companion death with dignity bills, SF 2156 and HF 2302, both named “Our Care, Our Options Act,” were under consideration in both chambers of the Iowa State Legislature.
2019
SF 175, Iowa End of Life Options Act
HF 374, Iowa End of Life Options Act
Neither bill advanced.
2017
SF 215, Iowa End-of-Life Option Act
HF 299, Iowa End of Life Options Act
Neither bill advanced.
2016
Iowa State Senators Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City), Rich Taylor (D-Mount Pleasant), Dick Dearden (D-Des Moines), and Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) sponsored SF 2051, Iowa Death with Dignity Act. A hearing was held on February 10, where no vote took place. The bill failed to meet a committee deadline and did not advance.
2015
Iowa State Representatives Brian Meyer (D-Des Moines), Dennis Cohoon (D-Burlington), Sally Stutsman (D-Riverside), Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City), Timi Brown-Powers (D-Waterloo), Mary Wolfe (D-Clinton), Marti Anderson (D-Des Moines), and Beth Wessel Kroeschell (D-Ames) sponsored HF 65, Iowa Death with Dignity Act. The bill failed to meet a committee deadline.
Pre-2015
The Iowa legislature had previously considered an assisted dying bill in 2006, HB 2425, Death with Dignity Act.
