HF 572: Establishing the criminal offense of the smuggling of persons, and providing penalties

What it does

This bill establishes the criminal offense of smuggling of persons. The bill provides that a person commits the offense of smuggling of persons when the person knowingly, for payment or anything of value, does any of the following involving a noncitizen individual: uses a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other means of conveyance to transport an individual with the intent to conceal the individual from a peace officer or flees from a person the actor knows is a peace officer attempting to lawfully arrest or detain the actor; encourages or induces a person to enter or remain in the United States in violation of federal law by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection; or assists, guides, or directs two or more individuals to enter or remain on agricultural land without the effective consent of the owner.

Senate subcommittee · named March 26, 2025

• Sen. Julian B. Garrett (R)
• Sen. Izaah Knox (D) · izaah.knox@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Scott Webster (R) · scott.webster@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 12 against

For: Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; VALOR Iowa

Against: AFSCME Council 61; American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Dubuque For Refugee Children; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Iowa Insurance Associates; Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice; Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque

In plain words

1. January 15, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee · as HSB 15
2. January 15, 2025House subcommittee named: Holt, James and Wheeler · as HSB 15
3. January 22, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 15
4. February 20, 2025Approved by the House committee · as HSB 15
5. February 20, 2025Committee vote: 13–4 · as HSB 15
6. February 24, 2025Filed in the House
7. February 24, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 572 · as HSB 15
8. March 19, 2025Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
9. March 20, 2025Passed the House, 75–14
10. March 24, 2025Arrived in the Senate
11. March 24, 2025Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
12. March 26, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Garrett, Knox and Webster
13. April 1, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
14. April 3, 2025Approved by the Senate committee