91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 186: Relating to child abuse and employees and agents of public schools and nonpublic schools

Became HF 389 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

This bill relates to child abuse and employees and agents of public schools and nonpublic schools.68 is used for reporting child abuse to the department of health and human services (HHS), for performing assessments of child abuse reports, and for making determinations as to whether a person committed child abuse. With one exception, the acts or omissions which meet the definition of “child abuse” only qualify as child abuse when a person responsible for the care of a child commits the act or omission.

Cost

See the fiscal note

Division I of House File 389 is estimated to increase costs to the HHS by approximately $755,000 in FY 2026 and approximately $656,000 in FY 2027.

House subcommittee · named February 6, 2025

Rep. Brooke Boden (R) · brooke.boden@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla (R) · barb.kniffmcculla@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) · beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 4 against

For: Inspired Life; Iowans for Freedom; PELLA PAC; VALOR Iowa

Against: Professional Educators of Iowa; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

January 30, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Education committee
February 6, 2025House subcommittee named: Boden, Kniff McCulla and Wessel-Kroeschell
February 10, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
February 11, 2025Approved by the House committee
February 11, 2025Committee vote: 23–0
February 13, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 389
March 21, 2025Withdrawn