Relating to medical malpractice by exempting claims involving sexual assault from the limitations on noneconomic damages

Sponsored by Sen. Liz Bennett (D), Sen. Tony Bisignano (D), Sen. Matt Blake (D), Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. William A. Dotzler Jr. (D), Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach (D), Sen. Art Staed (D), Sen. Thomas Townsend (D), Sen. Janice Weiner (D), Sen. Cindy Winckler (D)

Topics:Courts & civil law Health care

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2025
Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary People who sue healthcare providers for sexual assault will no longer have a limit on the amount of money they can receive for non-economic damages. This rule applies even if the provider pretended the sexual act was part of a medical treatment or counseling session.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill creates an exception to a medical malpractice limitation on damages in personal injury actions that involve a sexual assault. The bill provides that if the health care provider is a defendant in a personal injury action, the limitation on noneconomic damages does not apply if the defendant’s action is sexual in nature regardless of if the action was committed under the guise of medical diagnosis, counseling, or treatment or if the patient believed at the time the act occurred it was for medical diagnosis, counseling, or treatment.

Full bill text²

Senate subcommittee

Named February 4, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.

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Iowa Code it changes

Amends§147.136A

How the Code works³

Lobbying

2 for · 1 against · 2 undecided · Who →

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Tried before

SF 2175Cleared committee90th GA

91st General Assembly

SF 189Cleared committee

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

SF 2175 Relating to medical malpractice by exempting claims involving sexual assault from the limi…
90th General Assembly · In committee · same title
Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.