This bill establishes a grant program and trust fund to support sexual assault forensic examination centers in Iowa, primarily affecting nonprofit organizations and survivors of sexual violence. It requires the Attorney General to contract with eligible nonprofits that are independent of hospitals and focus on serving diverse populations, including rural residents and people with disabilities. The funded centers must provide medical forensic services, offer training to professionals and the public, and submit annual reports on their activities and service gaps. Additionally, the bill creates a dedicated trust fund to accept private contributions and state or federal money specifically for operating these centers.
This bill establishes a grant program within the Iowa Department of Justice to fund nonprofit organizations that operate sexual assault forensic examination centers. To qualify for funding, these nonprofits must be independent of hospitals, employ sexual assault nurse examiners, and prioritize services for survivors, including adults, people with disabilities, and rural residents. The program requires the selected organization to provide medical forensic care, offer training to law enforcement and medical professionals, and submit annual reports on services provided and client demographics. Additionally, the bill creates a trust fund in the state treasury to accept private donations and state or federal money specifically for supporting these examination centers.
This bill creates a grant program within the Iowa Department of Justice to fund a nonprofit organization that operates sexual assault forensic examination centers. To qualify, the selected nonprofit must be independently incorporated, employ sexual assault nurse examiners, and focus primarily on serving survivors through medical forensic services and related training. Once contracted, the organization is required to provide care to underserved populations, facilitate training for law enforcement and healthcare professionals, and submit annual reports detailing service statistics and identified barriers. The legislation also allows the funded nonprofit to seek additional funding from other sources while maintaining its primary focus on survivor support.
HF 2302 creates a public registry for "persistent domestic abuse assault offenders" in Iowa - defined as individuals convicted of domestic abuse assault (under §708.2A) with at least one prior similar conviction. The registry, maintained by the Department of Public Safety, will include offenders' names, birth dates, conviction dates, counties, and photos, but exclude addresses, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license details. Courts must report qualifying convictions to the Department within seven days, and offenders must pay a $150 registration fee ($50 to the court, $100 to the Department). Offenders are removed from the registry after 2, 5, or 10 years, depending on prior convictions, with the registry applying only to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
This Iowa bill (HF 2726) strengthens penalties for assaults against specific public safety and health workers (like police, nurses, correctional staff, and firefighters) and adds a new requirement for disease testing. It defines "protected occupations" and classifies assaults on these workers as serious crimes (felonies or aggravated misdemeanors) based on circumstances like weapon use or injury. Crucially, if a victim contacts bodily fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) during an assault and suspects the perpetrator may have a communicable disease, they can request a court-ordered medical test of the perpetrator. The medical professional conducting the test must then share results directly with the victim as soon as possible. This provision applies specifically to assaults where bodily fluid exposure occurred, focusing on victim safety and transparency.
HF 2301 creates a public registry for individuals convicted of multiple domestic abuse assaults (defined as repeated offenses under Iowa Code §708.2A). It requires courts to order registration after a conviction with at least one prior domestic abuse assault conviction, including the offender’s name, date of birth, conviction details, and photo on the Iowa Department of Public Safety website (excluding addresses or Social Security numbers). Offenders must pay a $150 registration fee ($50 retained by the court, $100 for registry administration), and the registry automatically removes names after 2-10 years based on prior convictions. The registry applies only to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026, with prior convictions dating back to any time.
SF 2398 (Iowa) restricts a legal defense called "justification" for certain violent crimes. It prohibits defendants from using this defense if they commit a violent crime (as defined in Iowa law) because of a nonviolent sexual advance they received, or solely because of the victim's sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The bill directly affects individuals accused of violent crimes who might otherwise claim justification based on these specific circumstances. It changes the legal standard by removing this defense option in those defined situations, without altering the definition of violent crimes themselves.
HF 2316 amends Iowa law to define an "unborn child" as an individual organism from fertilization to fetal death or live birth, treating them as legal persons for specific purposes. It expands wrongful death damages to include the death of an unborn child, and creates new criminal provisions making homicide and assault against an unborn child subject to the same legal protections as crimes against born persons. The bill explicitly excludes unintentional harm or death resulting from life-saving medical procedures for the pregnant woman or miscarriages. This law applies only to incidents occurring on or after its effective date.
SF 2379 strengthens protections for crime victims by establishing strict confidentiality for communications between victims and certified victim counselors, prohibiting disclosure without written consent or in cases of imminent danger. It allows courts to issue lifetime protective orders for victims of sexual offenses, removing previous one-year limits and enabling unlimited extensions based on ongoing safety concerns. The bill also clarifies that confidentiality does not apply to evidence chain-of-custody matters or if a counselor suspects a victim provided false testimony. These changes directly affect victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes who use victim services or seek protective orders.
HF 2576 establishes new criminal offenses for possessing or transferring fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, or mixtures containing these substances. It creates a class D felony for first-time possession (with possible probation and treatment requirements), escalating to class C for second offenses and class B for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also creates a new class A felony charge for reckless homicide when transferring these substances and causing death, regardless of whether the victim consented. These provisions apply directly to individuals possessing or distributing these drugs, with enhanced penalties if firearms or weapons are involved during the offense.
