Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to fraudulent practices involving academic credentials and providing penalties
Sponsored by Rep. Dean Fisher (R)
Topics:Crime & correctionsK–12 education
Same legislation: HF 2337
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2337
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 2337 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2337 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People who lie about having a college degree or other school credentials to get a job or other benefits would be committing a crime. This law makes that action a felony. If convicted, a person could face up to five years in prison and a fine.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to fraudulent practices involving academic credentials. The bill provides that a person who falsely represents oneself as possessing an academic degree or academic credentials for the purpose of obtaining employment or other personal gain is guilty of a fraudulent practice in the second degree. A fraudulent practice in the second degree 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.
Changed since by amendments S-5137, H-8178, H-8074; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named January 21, 2026. On January 29, 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
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill makes it a crime to falsely claim to have academic degrees or professional licenses to obtain employment or personal gain. The fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. If convictions occur, the average state cost per aggravated misdemeanor is between $8,300 and $12,200, affecting the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the Department of Corrections.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 2337 relates to fraud. The Bill provides that a person who falsely represents oneself as possessing an academic degree or academic credentials for the purpose of obtaining employment or other personal gain is guilty of a fraudulent practice in the fifth degree. Additionally, the Bill provides that a person who knowingly and with intent falsely represents oneself as possessing a professional or occupational license regulated under Iowa Code chapter 272C is guilty of a fraudulent practice in the third degree.
A fraudulent practice in the fifth degree is a simple misdemeanor. A fraudulent practice in the third degree is an aggravated misdemeanor.
Background
An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for up to two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540.
Assumptions
- The following will not change over the projection period: charge, conviction, and sentencing patterns and trends; prisoner length of stay (LOS); revocation rates; plea bargaining; and other criminal justice system policies and practices.
- County jail data is unavailable. For purposes of this analysis, the marginal cost for county jails is assumed to be $50 per day.
- Conviction data reflects the total number of convictions in adult court, which may include multiple convictions per individual. Not all convictions lead to incarceration, and there may be a delay between conviction and prison admission, which can contribute to differences in totals.
- A six-month delay is assumed from the effective date of the Bill to the date the first offender will enter the correctional system.
- Offender-based convictions are a count of individuals convicted of the same offense. Each offender is counted only once per Iowa Code section, regardless of the number of individual convictions.
- Admissions are a count of individuals newly admitted to the Department of Corrections (DOC) for supervision during a selected time period, based on the most serious offense committed.
Correctional Impact
The correctional impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. Figure 1 shows estimates for sentencing to State prison, parole, probation, or Community-Based Corrections (CBC) residential facilities; LOS in months under those supervisions; and supervision marginal costs per day for an aggravated misdemeanor.
Figure 1 — Sentencing Estimates and Length of Stay (LOS) in Months
Conviction Offense Class
Percent
Ordered to
State
Prison
FY 2025 Avg
LOS in
Prison (All Releases)
Marginal
Cost Per
Day
Prison
Percent
Ordered to
Probation
FY 2025
Field Avg
LOS on
Probation
Avg Cost
Per Day
Probation
Marginal
Cost Per
Day CBC
Marginal
Cost Per
Day Jail
FY 2025
Field Avg
LOS on
Parole
Marginal
Cost Per
Day Parole
Aggravated Misdemeanor Non-Persons 31.1% 9.3 $23.07 37.1% 28.4 $8.00 $16.35 $50.00 11.2 $8.00 Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 12, 2026, for information related to the correctional system.
Minority Impact
The minority impact cannot be determined since it is not known how many new convictions would result from the changes under the Bill. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority Impact Statements, dated January 12, 2026, for information related to minorities in the criminal justice system.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. The average State cost per aggravated misdemeanor is between $8,300 and $12,200. The estimated impact to the General Fund includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. The costs would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
Sources
- Department of Corrections
- Division of Data, Planning, and Improvement (DPI), Department of Management (DOM)
- Final Fiscal Note — Fraud, False Educational Credentials · May 13, 2026 · $12,200
- Fraud, False Educational Credentials · March 31, 2026 · $12,200
- Fraud, False Educational Credentials · March 18, 2026
- Fraud, False Educational Credentials · March 2, 2026 · $18,100
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
3 for · 0 against · 8 undecided · Who →
Family tree
91st General Assembly