HF 14 would remove the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically crystalline polymorph psilocybin, also known as COMP 360) from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It directs Iowa to align with federal rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act, making it lawful to prescribe, distribute, and market this specific pharmaceutical product after FDA approval. The bill directly affects medical providers, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies seeking to legally offer this approved treatment. It does not change current penalties for non-pharmaceutical psilocybin possession, which remain classified as a serious misdemeanor or class B felony.
HF 849 expands the definition of harassment to include the unauthorized sharing of personal information. The bill makes it an offense to purposefully disseminate, publish, distribute, or post another person's personal information without their consent, with the intent to threaten, intimidate, annoy, or alarm them or encourage others to do so. "Personal information" is defined to include contact details like home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, places of employment, and photographic or film depictions. A violation of this provision is classified as harassment in the first degree, an aggravated misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of confinement and fines.
This bill repeals Iowa Code section 724.31A, which required district court clerks to forward to the Department of Public Safety the identifying information of individuals prohibited from purchasing handguns by court order. The repeal removes the existing process for sharing this information with the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It directly affects court clerks, the Department of Public Safety, and the federal background check system by eliminating a mandatory reporting requirement. The bill does not create new restrictions or change who is prohibited from purchasing firearms.
HF 81 defines "obscene material involving a minor" as visual depictions meeting specific criteria (depicting minors in prohibited sexual acts, appealing to prurient interest, being patently offensive, and lacking serious value). It prohibits producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing such material, with first offenses classified as aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years jail, $8,540 fine) and repeat offenses as class D felonies (up to 5 years jail, $10,245 fine), requiring sex offender registration. The bill exempts law enforcement activities, educational materials in schools/libraries, and does not require the depicted minor to exist. The bill was withdrawn on March 31, 2025, after committee approval.
HF 984 modifies services and support for youth, particularly those involved in juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance proceedings. The bill updates definitions and requirements for psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs), specifying that they provide treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth with serious emotional disturbances, substance use disorders, or both. It also addresses the licensing and certification of these residential facilities and mentions home and community-based services. Additionally, it includes provisions for the administration of juvenile court services and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.
HF 891 defines "obscene performance" as visual acts involving explicit sexual content that appeals to prurient interest without artistic value, as judged by community standards for minors. It prohibits knowingly exposing minors to such performances (aggravated misdemeanor) and admitting minors to venues showing them (serious or aggravated misdemeanor, depending on the minor’s age). The bill establishes a private civil right for parents/guardians or minors (after age 18) to sue for at least $10,000 in damages if obscene material is disseminated to them. It also bans public institutions, facilities, and funds from being used for obscene performances or exhibitions.
HF 833 updates and expands services and support for youth under 21 involved in involuntary commitment, juvenile delinquency, and child welfare proceedings. The bill specifies that psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs) must provide physical assessments and behavioral health evaluations, particularly for youth with serious emotional disturbances or substance use disorders. It also clarifies licensing requirements for these residential facilities. Additionally, the bill ensures certain insurance coverage for youth with biologically based mental illnesses admitted to PMICs and addresses the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.
HF 229 prohibits placing a GPS tracker on someone else's vehicle without their consent or accessing location data from such a device. It directly affects individuals who install or use trackers on vehicles they don't own or lease. The law includes key exceptions for vehicle manufacturers, insurance companies (with owner permission), law enforcement, parents tracking minors, and employers monitoring company vehicles. Violating the bill is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,560 fine.
HF 43 establishes a new criminal offense for adults (18+) who knowingly send unsolicited sexually explicit images or videos electronically. It specifically targets transmissions depicting genitals, pubic areas, sex acts, or engorged male genitalia. Violators face a serious misdemeanor charge punishable by up to one year in jail, fines of $430-$2,560, mandatory sex offender registration, and a 10-year custody term with parole eligibility. The bill was withdrawn on March 31, 2025, after committee approval.
HF 464 changes the timing for substance use disorder evaluations required for people convicted of operating while intoxicated (OWI). Currently, courts order these evaluations to be completed *before* sentencing, but this bill removes that "prior to sentencing" requirement. The evaluation itself remains mandatory and must be paid for by the individual, with courts then requiring them to follow the evaluation's recommendations. This bill directly affects OWI convicts in Iowa by altering when they must complete the evaluation process. The change is procedural, not substantive, as the evaluation requirement and its consequences remain unchanged.
