A bill for an act establishing the criminal offense of torture, and providing penalties.

HF 2605 establishes torture as a new criminal offense in Iowa, targeting individuals who inflict severe physical or mental suffering on someone they are controlling. The bill defines key terms like "serious bodily injury" (e.g., risk of death, severe burns) and "severe mental pain" (e.g., from threats of death or mind-altering substances), requiring the perpetrator to act with intent to cause such harm. Violators face a class B felony charge with a maximum 50-year prison sentence, and proof of victim pain is not required for conviction. This law applies to situations where a person is held against their will (e.g., in custody or confinement), and it does not prevent additional charges under other state laws for the same act.