90th General Assembly · Iowa Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 237: Relating to tampering with witnesses or jurors, and providing penalties

Became HF 399 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

This bill relates to tampering with witnesses or jurors. Current law provides that a person who offers a bribe, makes threats, or improperly detains or restrains another person who the person believes has been or will be summoned as a witness or juror in any judicial or arbitration proceeding or legislative hearing for the purpose of influencing or preventing the other person’s testimony or preventing the other person from serving as a juror on the case, commits an aggravated misdemeanor. The bill increases the penalty for tampering with a witness or juror to a class “C” felony.

Cost

See the fiscal note

House File 399 is estimated to increase costs to the DOC by at least $151,000 per group of individuals admitted to DOC supervision each year for this offense, as shown in Table 1. This cost is incurred across the entire LOS. Table 1 represents the cost of all …

House subcommittee · named February 9, 2023

Rep. Charley Thomson (R) · charley.thomson@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Carter F. Nordman (R) · carter.nordman@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Rick L. Olson (D) · rick.olson@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 1 for, 1 against

For: Iowa County Attorneys Association

Against: Iowa Association for Justice

In plain words

February 8, 2023Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee
February 9, 2023House subcommittee named: Thomson, C., Nordman and Olson
February 15, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it
February 21, 2023Approved by the House committee
February 22, 2023Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 399