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

SF 2163: Relating to false accusations of criminal acts, and providing penalties

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 false accusations of criminal acts. Current law provides that a person who reports the alleged occurrence of a criminal act, knowing the act did not occur, commits a serious misdemeanor or a class “D” felony depending on the nature of the alleged offense. The bill provides that any person who continues to make allegations of an alleged occurrence of a criminal act after the allegations are proven to be false may be charged with malicious prosecution under Code section 720.6, which the bill changes from a serious misdemeanor to an aggravated misdemeanor. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540.

Cost

No fiscal note

Senate subcommittee · named February 4, 2026

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 · 1 for, 0 against

For: VALOR Iowa

In plain words

January 29, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
February 4, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Schultz, Blake and Bousselot