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

HF 43: Establishing the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material, and providing penalties

Became HF 899 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

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.

Cost

See the 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…

House subcommittee · named January 15, 2025

Rep. Bill Gustoff (R) · bill.gustoff@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Brian Meyer (D) · brian.meyer@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Sam Wengryn (R) · sam.wengryn@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 1 against

For: Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: Iowa Association for Justice

In plain words

January 14, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Public Safety committee
January 15, 2025House subcommittee named: Gustoff, Meyer, B. and Wengryn
January 22, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
March 5, 2025Approved by the House committee
March 5, 2025Committee vote: 21–0
March 10, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 899
March 31, 2025Withdrawn