Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateIowaEnacted
HF 2695: A bill for an act relating to the application of foreign law and limiting changes in venue of civil actions, and including applicability provisions.
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
HF 2695 status: Enacted — Signed by Governor (updated Jun 2, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
45OUT OF 100
Score:45/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 55/100
Constitutionality50%
Bipartisan30%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
This bill does two main things: 1. **Local laws first:** It prevents judges from using the laws of other countries instead of our own local laws. 2. **Stricter rules for moving cases:** It makes it harder for people to move a lawsuit from one court location to another. **Status:** This bill is currently being debated in the House of Representatives and is not yet a law.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Critical outlook
40%
Benefits
- Protects parties from enforcement of contracts violating Iowa or US fundamental rights
- Provides clearer statutory grounds for challenging foreign choice-of-law clauses
- Maintains existing precedents of the Iowa supreme court
Risks
- Creates uncertainty for international commercial agreements not qualifying for business exemptions
- Increases litigation risks by enabling challenges to previously standard choice-of-law clauses
- May discourage international investment due to concerns over contract enforceability
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Explicitly protects individuals' fundamental rights from foreign legal interference
- Exempts internal ecclesiastical religious matters from the scope of the act
- Ensures individuals are not bound by foreign laws that violate constitutional liberties
Risks
- Vague definitions of 'fundamental liberty' may lead to inconsistent judicial applications
- Potential for disparate impact on individuals with international social or family ties
- Creates barriers for residents to seek justice in forums they may have originally agreed to
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Increased risk of protracted litigation in contractual disputes involving choice-of-law provisions.
Analysis scope
The term 'fundamental liberty, right, or privilege' is not defined, leaving significant interpretive discretion to the courts.
04
Where it stands
Official recordSigned by Governor.
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
How it affects your district
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06
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