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

HF 2602: Establishing a criminal offense of grooming and providing penalties

Signed into law

What it does

This bill establishes the criminal offense of grooming. The bill provides that a person commits grooming when the person knowingly performs an act in person or by conduct through a third party, uses a computer, internet service, or any other electronic data storage or transmission device, or uses written communication to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child or a person believed to be a child to commit any sex act or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct. The bill defines “child” as a person under years of age. The bill provides that grooming is a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.

Sponsors

Judiciary committee

Cost

Cost: up to $306,000

House File 2602 is estimated to increase costs to the State Public Defender and Indigent Defense Fund by $306,000 per year. The fiscal impact to the correctional system cannot be estimated due to a lack of existing conviction data. The average State cost per o…

Senate subcommittee · named March 11, 2024

  • Sen. Lynn Evans (R) · lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Janice Weiner (D) · janice.weiner@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Protect My Innocence

In plain words

  1. February 19, 2024Filed in the House
  2. March 1, 2024Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  3. March 7, 2024Passed the House, 94–0
  4. March 11, 2024Arrived in the Senate
  5. March 11, 2024Senate subcommittee named: Evans, Shipley and Weiner
  6. March 12, 2024Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  7. March 12, 2024Subcommittee recommended passing it
  8. March 13, 2024Approved by the Senate committee
  9. April 17, 2024Passed the Senate, 46–0
  10. April 22, 2024Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  11. April 24, 2024Sent to the Governor
  12. May 1, 2024Signed into law

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/90/HF2602