Iowa Code » Chapter 4 — CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 4.6 (2026)

Ambiguous statutes — interpretation

✓ current as of July 2026
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If a statute is ambiguous, the court, in determining the intention of the legislature, may consider among other matters: 1. The object sought to be attained. 2. The circumstances under which the statute was enacted. 3. The legislative history. 4. The common law or former statutory provisions, including laws upon the same or similar subjects. 5. The consequences of a particular construction. 6. The administrative construction of the statute. 7. The preamble or statement of policy. [C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §4.6]

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 214 cases (21 in the last 5 years), 1966–2025 · leading case: State of Iowa v. Christopher George Storm, 898 N.W.2d 140 (Iowa 2017).
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State of Iowa v. Christopher George Storm, 898 N.W.2d 140 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 8× “2d 90, 95 (Iowa 2010); see also Iowa Code § 4.6 . In deciding whether an application for a search warrant can be submitted under section 808.”
Amended September 30, 2015 Iowa Ins. Inst., Iowa Def. Couns. Ass'n, Iowa Self-insurers' Ass'n, Prop. Cas. Insurers Ass'n of Am., Nat'l Ass'n of Mut. Ins. Companies, & Iowa Ass'n of Bus. & Indus. v. Core Grp. of the Iowa Ass'n for Just. Christopher J. Godfrey, Workers' Comp. Comm'r, Div. of..., 867 N.W.2d 58 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 10× “The order is internally inconsistent—a serious flaw in our view.”
Jodi Lynn Erpelding v. Timothy John Erpelding, 917 N.W.2d 235 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 7× “" Iowa Code § 4.6 ; accord State v. McCullah , 787 N.”
Nick C. Rhoades v. State of Iowa, 880 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 4× “” Iowa Code § 4.6 . In considering the statute in its full context, we do not give weight to the affidavit submitted by Rhoades from a former state legislator.”
Slager v. HWA Corp., 435 N.W.2d 349 (Iowa 1989). · cites it 8× “See Iowa Code § 4.6 . In determining the legislature's intent, we consider the language of the statute, the objects sought to be accomplished, and the evils sought to be remedied.”
State v. Sailer, 587 N.W.2d 756 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 4.6 (1995). We have said the following in summarizing our duty when interpreting statutes: The ultimate goal of statutory construction is to give effect to the intent of the legislature.”
Peg Hutchison, Dan Johnson, Russ Nichols, Shawn Ripperger, Leigh Ann Swain, & Shelly Vander Tuig v. Douglas Shull, Steve Wilson, Dean Yordi, the Bd. of Supervisors for Warren Cnty., Iowa, & Warren Cnty., Iowa, 878 N.W.2d 221 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 4.6 (4). Accordingly, because the concept of agency predates the enactment of the open meetings law and accounting for that concept in construing the open meetings law is consistent with the object the legislature sought to attain by its enactment, we conclude…”
Midwest Auto. III, LLC v. Iowa Dep't of Transp., 646 N.W.2d 417 (Iowa 2002). · cites it 4× “2d 694 , *425 700 (Iowa 2001) (citing Iowa Code § 4.6 ). Ambiguity may arise from specific language used in a statute or when the provision at issue is considered in the context of the entire statute or related statutes.”
Gary N. Porter & Lori Porter v. Richard L. Harden & Janice Harden, 891 N.W.2d 420 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 4× “” Iowa Code § 4.6 (1); see United Suppliers, Inc.”
State v. Allen, 708 N.W.2d 361 (Iowa 2006). · cites it 4× “2d 372, 374 (Iowa 1977) (explaining “[t]he striking of a provision before enactment of a statute is an indication the statute should not be construed to include it”); Iowa Code § 4.6 (3) (stating the court may consider the legislative history of an ambiguous statute in…”
State of Iowa v. John Robert Hoyman, 863 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 4× “8(4) would make it a crime only if the incorrect entry was intended to fool someone.”
Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Rand & Reed Powers P'ship, 972 F. Supp. 1194 (N.D. Iowa 1997). · cites it 12× “2d 517, 519 (Iowa 1995) (“We engage in statutory construction only when the meaning of statutory provisions is unclear,” citing Iowa Code § 4.6 and Krull v. Thermogas Co.”
Show all 214 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 4.6(1) — 5 cases
In the Interest of G.J.A., 547 N.W.2d 3 (Iowa 1996).
Shriver v. Iowa Dep't of Transp., Motor Veh. Div., 430 N.W.2d 921 (Iowa 1988).
State v. Smith, 291 N.W.2d 25 (Iowa 1980).
Weitl v. Moes, 311 N.W.2d 259 (Iowa 1981).
Mathis v. Iowa Utils. Bd. (Iowa 2019).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(2) — 6 cases
Jodi Lynn Erpelding v. Timothy John Erpelding, 917 N.W.2d 235 (Iowa 2018). “" Iowa Code § 4.6 ; accord State v. McCullah , 787 N.”
McNaughton v. Chartier (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
Jodi Lynn Erpelding v. Timothy John Erpelding, 911 N.W.2d 397 (Iowa 2018).
Renee Hummel v. Adam B. Smith, Adam Smith, M.D., P.C., & Tri-State Specialists, L.L.P. (Iowa 2023).
Renee Hummel v. Adam B. Smith, Adam Smith, M.D., P.C., & Tri-State Specialists, L.L.P. (Iowa 2023).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(311) — 1 case
Briggs v. Sterner, 529 F. Supp. 1155 (S.D. Iowa 1981).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(4) — 8 cases
State v. Conner, 292 N.W.2d 682 (Iowa 1980).
Young v. City of Des Moines, 262 N.W.2d 612 (Iowa 1978).
In Re the Det. of Shaffer, 769 N.W.2d 169 (Iowa 2009).
Robinson v. State, 687 N.W.2d 591 (Iowa 2004).
Hunter Three Farms, LLC v. Richard Hunter, individually & as member of Hunter Three Farms, LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(5) — 22 cases
Deanna Jo Ramirez-Trujillo v. Quality Egg, L.L.C., Wright Cnty. Egg Div., & Selective Ins. Co. of Am., 878 N.W.2d 759 (Iowa 2016).
Amended September 30, 2015 Iowa Ins. Inst., Iowa Def. Couns. Ass'n, Iowa Self-insurers' Ass'n, Prop. Cas. Insurers Ass'n of Am., Nat'l Ass'n of Mut. Ins. Companies, & Iowa Ass'n of Bus. & Indus. v. Core Grp. of the Iowa Ass'n for Just. Christopher J. Godfrey, Workers' Comp. Comm'r, Div. of..., 867 N.W.2d 58 (Iowa 2015). “The order is internally inconsistent—a serious flaw in our view.”
State of Iowa v. Lloyd Aschbrenner, 926 N.W.2d 240 (Iowa 2019).
Churchill Truck Lines, Inc. v. Transp. Reg. Bd. of the Iowa Dep't of Transp., 274 N.W.2d 295 (Iowa 1979).
Dennis Willard v. State of Iowa, 893 N.W.2d 52 (Iowa 2017).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(6) — 2 cases
Churchill Truck Lines, Inc. v. Transp. Reg. Bd. of the Iowa Dep't of Transp., 274 N.W.2d 295 (Iowa 1979).
Robinson v. State, 687 N.W.2d 591 (Iowa 2004).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(7) — 1 case
Shinrone Farms, Inc. v. Gosch, 319 N.W.2d 298 (Iowa 1982).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(d) — 1 case
Parsons v. Brewer, 202 N.W.2d 49 (Iowa 1972).
— Iowa Code § 4.6(f) — 1 case
State v. Gogg, 561 N.W.2d 360 (Iowa 1997).
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