Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to bestiality and providing penalties
Topics:Courts & civil lawCrime & correctionsBooks & libraries
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 8, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 11, 2024
- Done: Senate committeeJanuary 31, 2024
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 28, 202447–0
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 27, 202497–0
- Done: To the GovernorApril 10, 2024
- Done: Signed into lawApril 10, 2024
Became SF 2180 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2180 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to bestiality. Under current law, a person who performs a sex act with an animal is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. Current law defines “sex act” as any sexual contact between a person and an animal by penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus, contact between the mouth and genitalia, or by contact between the genitalia of one and the genitalia or anus of the other. The bill provides that a “sex act” includes the following conduct that is not an accepted veterinary medical practice, an accepted animal husbandry practice that provides care for animals, an accepted practice related to the insemination of animals for the purpose of procreation, or an accepted practice related to conformation judging: an act between a person and an animal involving physical contact between the sex organ, genitals, or anus of one and the mouth, sex organ, genitals, or anus of the other; any touching or fondling by a person, either directly or through clothing, of the sex organ, genitals, or anus of an animal or any insertion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or any object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal; any insertion, however slight, of any part of an animal’s body into the vaginal or anal opening of a person; advertising, offering, selling, transferring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining an animal with the intent that the animal be used for sexual contact in this state; organizing, promoting, conducting, or participating as an observer of an act involving a sex act with an animal; permitting a sex act with an animal to occur in any premises under the person’s ownership or control; photographing or filming obscene material depicting a person engaging in a sex act with an animal; distributing, selling, publishing, or transmitting obscene material depicting a person engaged in a sex act with an animal; possessing with the intent to distribute, sell, publish, or transmit obscene material depicting a person engaged in a sex act with an animal; or forcing, coercing, enticing, or encouraging a minor to engage in a sex act with an animal.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that a person who performs a sex act with an animal is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation is a class “D” felony.3B (animal mistreatment) who commits bestiality is guilty of a class “D” felony. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. 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. Current law also requires a person convicted of bestiality to submit to a psychological evaluation and treatment at the person’s expense, in addition to any sentence authorized by law.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
Senate subcommittee
Named January 11, 2024. On January 18, 2024 it recommended passage. [].
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
House File 2318 increases penalties and expands the definition of an existing criminal offense. The fiscal impact cannot be determined due to a lack of data but is anticipated to be minimal.
- Final Fiscal Note — Bestiality, Definition and Penalties · May 1, 2024
- Bestiality, Definition and Penalties · February 15, 2024
- Bestiality, Definition and Penalties · February 8, 2024
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Amends§717C.1
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
9 for · 0 against · 7 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.