A bill for an act concerning conflicts of interest involving a county attorney.(See HF 862.)

House File 414 (HF414) was a bill introduced in the Iowa General Assembly to address conflicts of interest involving county attorneys. The bill proposed prohibiting county attorneys from representing the county, the board of supervisors, or any other county official if a conflict of interest exists between the parties. It also allowed boards of supervisors to obtain outside counsel in disputes involving the county attorney and permitted county sheriffs to petition the district court for a determination of conflict of interest when the board of supervisors refuses to act. HF414 was withdrawn on March 31, 2025, and its provisions were incorporated into House File 862 (HF862), which was signed into law on May 19, 2025.

Media coverage highlighted that HF862, which incorporated the provisions of HF414, aimed to enhance transparency and accountability in county legal matters by clearly defining and addressing conflicts of interest involving county attorneys. Supporters praised the bill for providing mechanisms for boards of supervisors and county sheriffs to seek outside counsel or court intervention when conflicts arise, thereby promoting fair and impartial legal representation within county governments.

Critics expressed concerns that the provisions in HF862 could lead to increased legal costs for counties due to the potential need for outside counsel. They also worried that the bill might complicate existing legal processes and strain relationships between county attorneys and other county officials. Some argued that the legislation could be used to undermine the authority of elected county attorneys by allowing other officials to challenge their decisions more easily.