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

SF 190: Establishing certain privileges for communications made regarding incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination and creating a special motion for expedited relief in such actions

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 it does

This bill establishes certain privileges for communications made regarding incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination and creates a special motion for expedited relief in those actions involving defamation, libel, and slander. The bill provides definitions. The bill applies to a cause of action asserted in a civil action against a person involving communications about sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination are not actionable under Code chapter 659 unless made with malice. The bill only applies to a person that has, or at any time had, a reasonable basis to file a complaint of sexual abuse, harassment, or discrimination, whether the complaint is, or was, filed or not.

Sponsors

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)

Cost

No fiscal note

Senate subcommittee · named February 4, 2025

  • Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Matt Blake (D) · matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) · mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa

In plain words

  1. February 3, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
  2. February 4, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Schultz, Blake and Bousselot

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/SF190