Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 2C.12 (2026)

Complaints investigated

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. The ombudsman may receive a complaint from any source concerning an administrative action. The ombudsman shall conduct a suitable investigation into the administrative actions complained of unless the ombudsman finds substantiating facts that:

a. The complainant has available another remedy or channel of complaint which the complainant could reasonably be expected to use.

b. The grievance pertains to a matter outside the ombudsman’s power.

c. The complainant has no substantive or procedural interest which is directly affected by the matter complained about.

d. The complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious, or not made in good faith.

e. Other complaints are more worthy of attention.

f. The ombudsman’s resources are insufficient for adequate investigation.

g. The complaint has been delayed too long to justify present examination of its merit.\n\nTue Dec 09 22:34:47 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 2C (28, 0) 5 OMBUDSMAN, §2C.16\n\n 2. The ombudsman may decline to investigate a complaint, but shall not be prohibited from inquiring into the matter complained about or into related problems at some future time. [C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §601G.12] C93, §2C.12 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201; 2013 Acts, ch 10, §14 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1996–2024 · leading case: Off. of Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Deb Edwards & Iowa Dep't of Corr., 825 N.W.2d 8 (Iowa 2012).

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Off. of Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Deb Edwards & Iowa Dep't of Corr., 825 N.W.2d 8 (Iowa 2012). · cites it 6× “at 902 (quoting Iowa Code § 2C.12). States created these offices to safeguard the rights of individuals subject to administrative decision making, at a time when administrative agencies were gaining an increasing presence, power, and discretion in state government.”

Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Miller, 543 N.W.2d 899 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 2C.12; see also Iowa Code § 2C.”

Pledge v. Roland (N.D. Iowa 2024). · cites it 2× “However, the office also may decline to investigate complaints for a variety of reasons, including “[t]he complainant has available another remedy or channel of complaint which the complainant could reasonably be expected to use.”

Pledge v. Scott (N.D. Iowa 2024). · cites it 2× “However, the office also may decline to investigate complaints for a variety of reasons, including “[t]he complainant has available another remedy or channel of complaint which the complainant could reasonably be expected to use.”

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