Statewide, Iowa – House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans in the Iowa House will seek longer prison sentences for people who’ve previously been convicted of violent crimes.
Grassley points to the man accused of stabbing a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee to death on a train in North Carolina this past August. The man had over a dozen prior arrests and had served five years in prison for armed robbery.
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.
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.
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.
Holt says legislation should be ready for debate early in the 2026 legislative session, which begins Monday, January 12th.
