Sign in

Back to the bill

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

HF 52: Relating to civil liability of sports officials, providing criminal penalties for assault of sports officials, and including effective date and applicability provisions

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

What it does

This bill provides that a sports official who officiates an athletic contest at any level of competition in Iowa shall not be liable to any person in any civil action for injuries or damages claimed to have arisen due to actions or inactions within the confines of the athletic facility at which the athletic contest is played related in any manner to the sports official’s officiating duties. This provision does not apply to a sports official who causes injury or damage to a person by actions or inactions that are intentional, malicious, or grossly negligent.

Sponsors

Rep. Matthew Rinker (R)

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named January 15, 2025

  • Rep. Matthew Rinker (R) · matthew.rinker@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Bill Gustoff (R) · bill.gustoff@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Elinor A. Levin (D) · elinor.levin@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 1 against

For: Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

Against: Iowa Association for Justice

In plain words

  1. January 14, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Public Safety committee
  2. January 15, 2025House subcommittee named: Rinker, Gustoff and Levin
  3. January 22, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HF52