Establishing the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material, and providing penalties

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
2. ✓
   Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
3. ✓
   Done: House committeeMarch 5, 2025
4. ✓
   Done: Passes the HouseMarch 27, 202593–0
5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
6. Next: Passes the Senate
7. Next: To the Governor
8. Next: Signed into law

Became HF 899 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 899 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill establishes the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material. The bill provides that a person who is years of age or older who knowingly sends an unsolicited picture or video by electronic means depicting any person’s genitals or pubic area, any person engaging in a sex act, or the covered genitals of a male person that are in a discernibly turgid state 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

House subcommittee

Named January 15, 2025. On January 22, 2025 it recommended passage.

• Rep. Bill Gustoff REmail
• Rep. Brian Meyer DEmail
• Rep. Sam Wengryn REmail

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

House File 899 creates a new criminal offense, and the fiscal impact is unknown. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per offense for a serious misdemeanor. The estimated impact to the General Fund includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the Department of Corrections (DOC).

• Unsolicited Obscene Images, Criminal Penalty · March 20, 2025

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§709.9A

Amends§692A.102

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

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.

Similar bills

• SF 342 Establishing the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit…
  91st General Assembly · In committee
  Nearly identical

Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.