Bills › 91st General Assembly
Establishing the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R)
Topics:Crime & corrections
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 18, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 20, 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 intentionally send unwanted sexually explicit pictures or videos to others through electronic devices would be committing a new crime. Anyone convicted of this offense could face jail time, fines, and must register as a sex offender. They would also be placed under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections for several years.1
Read the official explanation
This bill establishes the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material. The bill provides that a person who is years of age or older who knowingly sends an unsolicited picture or video by electronic means depicting any person’s genitals or pubic area, any person engaging in a sex act, or the covered genitals of a male person that are in a discernibly turgid state is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560. A person convicted of a violation of the bill is required to register as a sex offender. A person convicted of a violation of the bill is also required to be sentenced to a special sentence committing the person into the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections for a period of years, with eligibility for parole.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 20, 2025. 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
Similar bills
- HF 43 Establishing the criminal offense of unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit…91st General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 899Nearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.