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

HSB 685: Relating to assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and harassment against public utility employees or contractors, 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 assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and harassment against public utility employees or contractors. The bill adds an employee or contractor of a public utility engaged in the performance of a public utility responsibility to the list of occupations that are protected by enhanced assault penalties. The penalty for assault against an employee or contractor of a public utility ranges from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class “C” felony depending on the nature of the assault.

Cost

See the fiscal note

The fiscal impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions under the Bill cannot be estimated. Figure 2 shows the average State cost per relevant offense. The estimated impact to the General Fund includes operating costs incurred …

House subcommittee · named February 5, 2026

Rep. Sam Wengryn (R) · sam.wengryn@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Timi M. Brown-Powers (D) · timi.brown-powers@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Dean Fisher (R) · dean.fisher@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 20 for, 0 against

For: Alliant Energy Corporation; Black Hills Energy; Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO); City of Waukee; Dairyland Power Cooperative; IBEW Iowa State Conference; ITC Midwest; Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI); Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives; Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities; Iowa Cable and Telecommunications Association; Iowa Communications Alliance; and 8 more

In plain words

February 5, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Public Safety committee
February 5, 2026House subcommittee named: Wengryn, Brown-Powers and Fisher
February 11, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it