Iowa Code chapter 68B: the Government Ethics and Lobbying Act

Government Ethics and Lobbying Act

Iowa Code Chapter 68B

The governmental ethics and lobbying laws in Chapter 68B  govern the conduct of government officials, employees, and lobbyists. The Board administers the chapter as it applies to executive branch officials, employees, candidates for statewide office, and executive branch lobbyists. The Board gives advice to local governmental personnel, but enforcement is conducted by the county attorney. The Board may enter into an agreement with a political subdivision to enforce the subdivision's adopted code of ethics. The Iowa Senate and Iowa House of Representatives Ethics Committees have jurisdiction over ethics and lobbying issues involving the legislative branch.

Local Government Ethics

This page provides information pertaining to the government ethics laws in Iowa Code chapter 68B. This information is for all governmental personnel at the political subdivision level. The Board provides guidance and advice to local governmental personnel concerning Iowa Code chapter 68B, but does not investigate complaints or impose sanctions for violations. Board advice, if followed, constitutes a defense to a complaint. The Board may enter into an agreement with a political subdivision to enforce the subdivision's adopted code of ethics. County attorneys are otherwise responsible for enforcing government ethics laws at the local level.

Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 351

Administrative rules adopted by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board are found in Iowa Administrative Code chapter 351. 

Government Positions Banned from Political Activity

This information is being provided as a service only. This is not intended to be an inclusive list. Refer to the Code of Iowa for all official information. Except for rule 351—1.4 of the Iowa Administrative Code, these laws are not under the Ethics Board's jurisdiction and are not enforced by the Ethics Board.

Iowa Admin. Code Rule 351-1.4 Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board

The members and staff of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board are prohibited from the following activities:

• Making monetary and in-kind contributions to the committees of candidates for Iowa public office
• Serving as an officer or member of a candidate's committee of a candidate for Iowa public office is prohibited, whether the service is volunteer or paid.
• Making monetary or in-kind contributions to a political committee (PAC)
• Running for or holding elected public office 
• Publicly endorsing a candidate for Iowa public office or publicly taking a position in support of or opposition to a ballot issue 
• Serving as a delegate to a county or state political party convention

Iowa Code § 2A.1(4) Legislative Service Agency

The director and all other employees of the legislative services agency shall not participate in partisan political activities and shall not be identified as advocates or opponents of issues subject to legislative debate except as otherwise provided by law or by the legislative council.

Iowa Code § 8A.102(2) Department of Administrative Services

The director shall not be a member of any local, state, or national committee of a political party, an officer or member of a committee in any partisan political club or organization, or hold or be a candidate for a paid elective public office.  The director is subject to the restrictions on political activity as provided in section 8A.416.

Iowa Code § 16.6(1) Iowa Finance Authority

The executive director shall not directly or indirectly exert influence to induce any other officers or employees of the state to adopt a political view, or to favor a political candidate for office.

Iowa Code § 20.5(1)(a) Public Employment Relations Board

.…[N]o member shall engage in any political activity while holding office….

Iowa Code § 80.2 Department of Public Safety

The commissioner shall not engage in any other trade, business, or profession, nor engage in any partisan or political activity.  

Iowa Code § 80E.1(1) Drug Policy Coordinator

The coordinator shall not engage in political activity while holding the office.

Iowa Code § 86.4 Division of Workers’ Compensation 

It shall be unlawful for the commissioner or a chief deputy workers’ compensation commissioner to espouse the election or appointment of any candidate to any political office….

Iowa Code § 97B.3 IPERS

The chief executive officer shall not be a member of a political committee, participate in a political campaign, or be a candidate for a partisan elective office, and shall not contribute to a political campaign fund, except that the chief executive officer may designate on the checkoff portion of the federal tax return a party or parties to which a contribution is made pursuant to the checkoff.

Iowa Code § 99G.2(3) Iowa Lottery Authority

The lottery games shall be operated and managed in a manner that provides continuing entertainment to the public, maximizes revenues, and ensures that the lottery is operated with integrity and dignity and free from political influence.

Iowa Code § 123.13(1) Alcoholic Beverage Control

Commission members, officers, and employees of the division shall not, while holding such office or position . . . directly or indirectly, use their office or employment to influence, persuade, or induce any other officer, employee, or person to adopt their political views or to favor any particular candidate for an elective or appointive public office; nor, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept, in any manner or way, any money or other thing of value for any person seeking an elective or appointive public office, or to any political party or any group of persons seeking to become a political party.

Iowa Code § 217.5 Department of Human Services

The director shall not engage in political activity while holding this position.

Iowa Code § 307.11 Department of Transportation

The director shall not…serve on or under a committee of a political party, or contribute to the campaign fund of any person or political party.

Iowa Code § 421.1A Property Assessment Appeal Board

General counsel shall not be a member of a political committee, contribute to a political campaign, participate in a political campaign, or be a candidate for partisan political office.

Iowa Code § 421.3 Department of Revenue

The director…shall not serve on or under any committee of any political party or contribute to the campaign fund of any person or political party.

Iowa Code § 474.10 Utilities Board

During employment the general counsel shall not be a member of a political committee, contribute to a political campaign fund…, participate in a political campaign, or be a candidate for a political office.

Iowa Code § 475A.1(4) Consumer Advocate

The advocate shall not be a member of a political committee or contribute to a political campaign fund…or take part in political campaigns or be a candidate for a political office.

Iowa Code § 904.107 Department of Corrections

The director shall not be a member of a political committee, participate in a political campaign, be a candidate for a partisan elective office, and shall not contribute to a political campaign fund …..

Iowa Admin. Code Rule 481-15.4 Code of Administrative Judicial Conduct

An administrative law judge shall not engage in political or campaign activity that is inconsistent with the independence, integrity, or impartiality of the administrative judiciary.
Except as permitted by law, an administrative law judge shall not:

• Act as a leader in, or hold an office in, a political organization;
• Make speeches on behalf of a political organization;
• Publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for any public office;
• Solicit funds for, pay an assessment to, or make a contribution to a political organization, a candidate for judicial retention, or a candidate for public office;
• Attend or purchase tickets for dinners or other events sponsored by a political organization or a candidate for public office; 
• Participate in a precinct caucus, except merely to vote for, or support in the delegate selection process, a candidate for the office of President of the United States; or 
• Become a candidate for nonjudicial elective office.  

Agency Gifts and Bequests Reports

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 8.7, every executive branch agency (other than the Board of Regents and the Iowa State Fair Board) is required to report every gift or bequest it receives having a value of $50 or more to the Ethics Board. These reports must be filed electronically within twenty days of receipt using the Ethics Board's web reporting system.