The Center ranked each state based on the existence of financial-disclosure filings, access to these public records, basic disclosure requirements, and penalties on the books for late or inaccurate reports. Iowa received 33.5 out of a possible 100 points.

The Center examined what it termed "basic," or minimal, disclosure requirements - legislators' employment relationships, officer/director positions, investments, real-property holdings, client and family name information. Iowa's House of Representatives "Personal Financial Disclosure Form" requires all of the above be disclosed, except client and family name information. Iowa's Senate "Statement of Economic Interests" require all of the above be disclosed, except officer/director, client and family name information.

Iowa's senate and house disclosure forms differ markedly. While state representatives in Iowa must disclose the name of their employers, state senators are not required to list names of employers or businesses from which they derive income. While state representatives in Iowa must list their job titles, state senators are not required to do so, leaving the public unaware about officer and director positions held by their senators.

Iowa is one of seven states with financial disclosure systems in place which do not have penalties for both late and inaccurate filings written into their statute.

Iowa is one of the 28 states that do not require lawmakers to disclose employment income and investments for all members of their households.

Iowa is one of 41 states that do not allow citizens to differentiate between minor and major sources of lawmaker's economic interests, because these states do not require lawmakers to report the value or value range of their employment income or investments.
 

IOWA RANKINGS WORKSHEET

Availability (Weight Of 1): 3 Points
Has Financial-Disclosure Forms: 1
Requires Complete Financial Disclosure (No Updates): 1
Requires Financial Disclosure Annually: 1

Access (Weight Of 1): 4 Points
Financial-Disclosure Forms In Centralized Office: 0
Lawmakers Are Not Forwarded Reviewer Information: 1
Doesn't Require In-Person Appearance To Obtain Forms: 1
Conflict Information In Journal Is Close To Roll Call/Easily Accessible: 1
Copy Fee Less Than 50 Cents Per Page: 1

Disclosure Requirements

Employment Information (Weight Of 5): 12.5 Points
Employment Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 1
Employer/Business Names Required: .5, House Only
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 0
Dependents' Information Required: 0

Officer/Director Information (Weight Of 4): 6 Points
Officer/Information Required: .5, House Only
Not Narrowly Defined: .5, House Only
Entity Names Required: .5, House Only
Spouse's Information Required: 0
Dependents' Information Required: 0

Investment Information (Weight Of 3): 6 Points
Investment Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 1
Names Of Investment Entities Required: 0
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 0
Dependents' Information Required: 0

Client Information (Weight Of 2): 0 Points
Client Information Required: 0
Client Names Required: 0
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 0
Dependents' Information Required: 0

Real-Property Information (Weight Of 2): 2 Points
Real-Property Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 0
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 0
Dependents' Information Required: 0

Family Information (Weight Of 1): 0 Points
Spouse Name Required: 0
Dependent Name(S) Required: 0

Penalties (Weight Of 1): 0 Points
Late-Filing Penalties On The Books: 0
Misfiling Penalties On The Books: 0

Total: 33.5 Points