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Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 2163Died when the session ended · January 29, 2026

Relating to false accusations of criminal acts, and providing penalties

Sponsored by Sen. Doug Campbell (R)

Topics:Crime & corrections

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Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 29, 2026
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2026
  3. Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
  4. Next: Passes the Senate
  5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the House
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. 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 If someone keeps accusing others of crimes after those claims have been proven false, they can now be charged with a more serious crime called malicious prosecution. This change increases the punishment for this offense from a serious misdemeanor to an aggravated misdemeanor. People convicted of this crime could face up to two years in jail and larger fines.1

Read the official explanation

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.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 4, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§718.6§720.6

How the Code works3

Lobbying

1 for · 0 against · 1 undecided · Who →

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