A bill for an act relating to child endangerment, and providing penalties.

HF 748 amends Iowa's child endangerment law to clarify that willfully depriving a child under 18 of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or appropriate supervision - when the caregiver can provide it and the deprivation harms the child’s health - constitutes a crime. It includes a religious exemption: refusal of specific medical treatment due to religious beliefs does not automatically count as willful deprivation, though courts may still intervene for the child’s best interest. Penalties range from an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years in jail) for less severe cases to a class C felony (up to 10 years) for the most serious deprivation, or a class D felony (up to 5 years) for cases involving bodily injury or other specified violations. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, and household members responsible for children’s well-being.