For the purposes of this chapter:
1. “Government attorney” means an attorney employed by the state as a staff attorney in the attorney general’s office.
2. “Private attorney” means any private attorney or law firm.
3. “State” means the state of Iowa and includes state officers, departments, boards, commissions, divisions, bureaus, councils, and units of organization, however designated, of the executive branch of state government, and any of its agents.