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

HF 850: Relating to illegal gaming, and making penalties applicable

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 relates to illegal gaming.7(1). A person who violates these prohibitions is guilty of illegal gaming and is subject to criminal penalties. The bill defines “account sharing” and “proxy betting” and includes those activities in the list of activities considered illegal gaming. The bill also includes in the activities considered illegal gaming the act of delivering anything of value to place as a wager in a pari-mutuel pool or other authorized system of wagering after receiving that thing of value, for a fee, outside of a gambling structure.

Cost

Can’t be estimated

7; however, the extent of the increase in costs to the Department of Corrections (DOC) is unknown. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per offense for a serious misdemeanor, an aggravated misdemeanor, a Class D felony, and a Class C felony. The estimated imp…

House subcommittee · named January 15, 2025

Rep. Steven C. Holt (R) · steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Elinor A. Levin (D) · elinor.levin@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Charley Thomson (R) · charley.thomson@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Behavioral Health Association (IBHA); Iowa Dept. of Public Safety

In plain words

January 15, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Public Safety committee · as HSB 21
January 15, 2025House subcommittee named: Holt, Levin, Thomson and C · as HSB 21
January 23, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 21
March 5, 2025Approved by the House committee · as HSB 21
March 5, 2025Committee vote: 21–0 · as HSB 21
March 7, 2025Filed in the House
March 7, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 850 · as HSB 21
March 10, 2025Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted