Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to campaign finance, including participation in ballot issue campaigns by foreign nationals and investigations of election misconduct, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by Rep. Austin Harris (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 27, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 5, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 23, 202690–0
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 21, 202644–0
- Done: To the GovernorMay 6, 2026
- Done: Signed into lawJune 2, 2026
Became HF 2601 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2601 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to campaign finance. The bill defines the terms “directly or indirectly” and “foreign national” for purposes of the bill and for independent campaign expenditures and transfers of campaign funds under current law. The bill requires the treasurer of a candidate’s committee that receives a contribution from a political committee expressly advocating the passage or defeat of a ballot issue to obtain an affirmation that the donor is not a foreign national and has not knowingly or willfully accepted funds in excess of $100,000 in aggregate from one or more foreign nationals within the four years immediately preceding the date the contribution is made.
Read the full explanation
The bill also requires a political committee expressly advocating the passage or defeat of a ballot issue to include with its required reports to the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board affirmations that the political committee has not knowingly or willfully received, solicited, or accepted contributions from a foreign national, or from a donor that has knowingly or willfully accepted funds in excess of $100,000 in aggregate from one or more foreign nationals within the four years immediately preceding the date the contribution is made. A person required to file an independent expenditure report must also affirm that the person will not knowingly or willfully accept funds in excess of $100,000 in aggregate from one or more foreign nationals through the date of the election in which the ballot issue will appear on the ballot. The bill prohibits a foreign national from directly or indirectly participating in the decision-making process of a person regarding the person’s activities to influence a ballot issue. The bill requires a governmental entity conducting an investigation related to certain forms of election misconduct to, to the greatest extent possible, shield the identity of lawful donors to tax-exempt organizations. The bill prohibits a governmental entity from collecting information regarding the identity of a donor to a tax-exempt organization that is not directly related to a violation of Code chapter 68A (campaign finance). The bill also prohibits a governmental entity from disclosing information concerning the identity of a donor to a tax-exempt organization to the public or another governmental entity, other than to another governmental entity directly involved in an investigation, unless a final determination has been made that the donor violated a provision of Code chapter 68A. By operation of law, a person who willfully violates a provision of the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
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
House subcommittee
Named January 27, 2026. On February 10, 2026 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
2 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 10, 2026 (2) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
House File 2601 creates a new offense within Iowa Code chapter 68A, and the number of convictions is unknown. The average State cost per serious misdemeanor is between $350 and $6,200. This includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. Any cost increase or decrease would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
The estimate held steady
The largest dollar figure in each version’s summary.
- Final Fiscal Note — Ballot Measures, Contributions by Foreign Nationals · May 14, 2026 · $6,200
- Ballot Measures, Contributions by Foreign Nationals · March 11, 2026 · $6,200
- Ballot Measures, Contributions by Foreign Nationals · March 5, 2026 · $6,200
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§68A.507
Amends§68A.102§68A.203§68A.402§68A.404
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
7 for · 0 against · 3 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.