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

SF 2161: Relating to false reports to or communications with public safety entities, and providing penalties

Signed into law

What it does

This bill relates to false reports to or communications with public safety entities. Under current law, a person who reports or causes to be reported false information to a fire department, a law enforcement authority, or other public safety entity, knowing that the information is false, commits either a simple misdemeanor or a serious misdemeanor depending upon the method of making the false report, or the seriousness of the falsely reported criminal act.6, an act of terrorism under Code chapter 708A, unlawful possession of biological agents or diseases under Code chapter 708B, and any offense under Code chapter 712 (concerning arson, explosive materials, and destructive devices).

Sponsors

Judiciary committee

Cost

Can’t be estimated

Senate File 2161 creates a new criminal offense, and the fiscal impact cannot be estimated due to a lack of existing data. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per offense for a Class C felony, Class D felony, aggravated misdemeanor, serious misdemeanor, and …

Lobbying · 10 for, 0 against

For: City of Des Moines; City of Waukee; Iowa Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO); Iowa Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA); Iowa Dept. of Public Safety; Iowa Emergency Management Association; Iowa Police Chief Association (FKA Iowa Police Executive Forum); Iowa State Patrol Supervisors Association; Metropolitan Coalition; State Police Officers Council

In plain words

  1. January 31, 2024Filed in the Senate
  2. January 31, 2024Approved by the Senate committee
  3. February 6, 2024Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  4. February 20, 2024Passed the Senate, 46–0
  5. February 26, 2024Took the place of HF 2165 on the House floor (the same legislation)
  6. February 26, 2024Passed the House, 95–0
  7. April 10, 2024Sent to the Governor
  8. April 10, 2024Signed into law
  9. May 1, 2024Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted

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/SF2161