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

HF 2256: Exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse

Signed into law

What it does

This bill relates to adjudication of a child in need of assistance due to the need for treatment of a chemical dependency, mental health disorder, or behavioral disorder. The bill allows a court to adjudicate a child in need of assistance (CINA) when the child requires treatment to cure or alleviate a serious chemical dependency or mental or behavioral health disorder that compromises the child’s safety or causes untoward aggressive behavior toward others in the household or the child’s community, and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian (parent) is unwilling or unable to provide such treatment, or the parent’s efforts to secure needed treatment have been exhausted and unsuccessful.

Cost

See the fiscal note

The introduced version of House File 2256 required a Fiscal Note which included estimated fiscal impacts. House File 2256 was amended by the Senate on April 6, 2026, and the Bill no longer requires a Fiscal Note. Source Department of Health and Human Services …

Senate subcommittee · named March 4, 2026

Sen. Kevin Alons (R) · kevin.alons@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Lynn Evans (R) · lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Janet Petersen (D) · janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 7 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Association of School Boards; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Mental Health Advocacy; Iowa State Bar Association; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

January 12, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Health and Human Services committee · as HSB 503
January 12, 2026House subcommittee named: Meyer, A., Ingels, Johnson and R · as HSB 503
January 15, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 503
January 29, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 503
January 29, 2026Committee vote: 12–5 · as HSB 503
January 30, 2026Filed in the House
January 30, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2256 · as HSB 503
February 25, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
February 26, 2026Passed the House, 90–0
March 2, 2026Arrived in the Senate
March 4, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Alons, Evans and Petersen
March 9, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
March 13, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
March 19, 2026Approved by the Senate committee
April 6, 2026Passed the Senate, 47–0
April 13, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
April 13, 2026Passed the House, 90–0
May 6, 2026Sent to the Governor
May 6, 2026Signed into law