Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to captioning requirements for motion picture theaters
Sponsored by Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. Sandy Salmon (R), Sen. Art Staed (D)
Topics:State government
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 11, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 12, 2026
- 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 General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to captioning requirements for motion picture theaters. The bill requires a motion picture theater to provide access to fully operational and well-maintained closed captioning technology for each screening of a motion picture that is produced and available with closed captioning. The bill establishes open captioning requirements for motion pictures that are produced with open captioning and distributed to motion picture theaters. The bill requires large motion picture theater companies operating five or more motion picture theaters in the state to provide a minimum number of open captioning screenings at each theater with at least five scheduled screenings of the motion picture, provided the theater has digital projection systems that support open captioning files.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that if a small motion picture theater company operates four or fewer motion picture theaters in the state, each qualifying theater must either provide an open captioning screening within eight days after receiving a request for such a screening or offer open captioning consistent with the requirements of large motion picture companies. The bill requires motion picture theaters to provide contact information on their internet sites for receiving requests for open captioned screenings. The bill also requires motion picture theaters to advertise open captioning screenings in the same manner as other screenings. The bill requires motion picture theaters to maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the bill for at least one year.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 12, 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
Creates§216C.13
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works