This bill (SF 2400) strengthens penalties for assaults against specific public safety and service workers in Iowa. It adds "employee or contractor of a public utility engaged in public utility responsibilities" to the list of protected occupations, expanding existing assault penalty tiers. Assaults causing injury or using weapons against these workers become class C felonies, while assaults involving spitting or saliva contact are classified as aggravated misdemeanors requiring a minimum 7-day jail term. The bill directly affects public utility employees and contractors, as well as other covered professions like police, firefighters, and healthcare workers, by increasing legal consequences for violence against them.
HB 651 makes it a serious felony to send, post, or transmit written or electronic threats online to kill, cause bodily harm, or carry out a mass shooting or terrorism. It directly affects anyone who posts such threats on digital platforms (like social media or messaging apps), with penalties including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $13,660. The bill explicitly excludes phone calls from its definition of "electronic record" and protects internet service providers from liability for user content. It aims to criminalize threatening digital communications while clarifying that platforms hosting such content are not held responsible.
HF 2202 amends Iowa's controlled substances schedule to add 12 specific synthetic drugs, including various fentanyl analogs (like "Butonitazene" and "Flunitazene") and other novel compounds. The bill directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these newly listed substances within Iowa. Violations involving these drugs would trigger existing penalties: a Class B felony (up to 25 years in prison and $5,000-$100,000 fine), a Class C felony (up to 10 years and $1,000-$50,000), or an aggravated misdemeanor. The bill aligns Iowa's schedule with federal designations from Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
HF 2119 defines "restricted or disruptive contraband" in Iowa correctional facilities as items not inherently illegal (like tobacco, cell phones, money, or synthetic cannabinoids) but prohibited for security reasons. It makes possessing such contraband a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison, with sentences served consecutively to any existing sentence. The bill also requires inmates to report contraband (failure is an aggravated misdemeanor) and authorizes X-ray searches of inmates suspected of carrying such items. This law directly affects inmates in Iowa Department of Corrections facilities and aims to enhance facility security by strengthening penalties for contraband possession.
This bill adds 13 specific synthetic opioids and related compounds - including Butonitazene, Flunitazene, and several fentanyl analogs - to Iowa’s Schedule I controlled substances list. It directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these chemicals, as violations could result in Class B felony charges (25-year minimum prison term) or other severe penalties. The bill aligns Iowa’s controlled substances schedule with federal designations under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It takes immediate effect upon enactment, with penalties including fines up to $100,000 for the most serious offenses.
HF 2130 strengthens penalties for drivers required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) after DUI convictions. It creates a simple misdemeanor offense for operating a vehicle without an approved IID installed or removing it without authorization, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $105-$855 fine. The bill also elevates tampering with or circumventing an IID to a serious misdemeanor and mandates automatic revocation of a temporary restricted license (TRL) for both violations. This directly affects individuals with DUI-related license restrictions who fail to comply with IID requirements.
This bill (SF 2001) restricts the sale or offer for sale of specific firearm devices known as "trigger cranks." A trigger crank is defined as a device attached to a firearm that repeatedly activates the trigger using a circular lever motion, excluding weapons originally designed to fire via crank. Selling such devices is classified as an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in jail and fines up to $8,540. The bill clarifies and narrows the existing restriction to only apply to these specific devices, not all rapid-fire attachments.
SF 2013 would classify kratom (any part of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, including its compounds) as a Schedule I controlled substance in Iowa. This would directly affect anyone possessing kratom, with penalties escalating based on prior offenses: first offenses face a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, up to $2,560 fine), subsequent offenses become aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years, up to $8,540), and third+ offenses would be class D felonies (up to 5 years, up to $10,245). The bill establishes these specific penalty tiers through amendments to Iowa's controlled substances code. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Judiciary Committee for review.
SF 2019 makes it a crime to knowingly view, photograph, or film another person (or attempt to do so) for sexual gratification, directly affecting individuals who commit such acts. The bill specifies that violating this law is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of $855-$8,540, and requires registration as a tier II sex offender unless the victim is under 13 (then tier III). This law amends Iowa Code section 709.21 to clarify penalties for privacy violations involving sexual motives.
This bill amends Iowa's sentencing rules for sexual exploitation of minors. It prohibits deferred or suspended sentences for defendants convicted under Iowa Code section 728.12 when the victim was under 12 years old or prepubescent at the time of the offense. The key provision removes sentencing flexibility for these specific cases, requiring immediate incarceration for such convictions. This directly affects individuals convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor under 12 or prepubescent, ensuring they cannot avoid prison time through deferred or suspended sentences.
