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

HF 2579: Prohibiting disorderly conduct related to religious services, and providing penalties

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

Under current law, disorderly conduct is punishable by a range of penalties from simple misdemeanor to class “C” felony based on the nature of the offense (Code sections 723.4 and 723.5). This bill provides that a person who intentionally obstructs, prevents, or interferes with the orderly conduct of a religious service or assembly, including by creating persistent or unreasonable noise, physically obstructing an entrance, or creating a reasonable apprehension of danger among congregants, is guilty of 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.

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named February 25, 2026

Rep. Carter F. Nordman (R) · carter.nordman@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Steven C. Holt (R) · steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Monica Kurth (D) · monica.kurth@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 7 for, 2 against

For: Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers

In plain words

February 18, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Ways and Means committee
February 25, 2026House subcommittee named: Nordman, Holt and Kurth
March 11, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it