91st General Assembly

HF 592Died when the session ended · February 25, 2025

Relating to a forensic interview of a minor by law enforcement

Sponsored by Rep. Sean Bagniewski (D)

Topics:Courts & civil lawCrime & corrections

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
  2. Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
  3. Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
  4. Next: Passes the House
  5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  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 a parent or guardian is suspected of a crime, police can ask a judge for permission to interview the child at a child advocacy center. The police must explain to the court what happened and why they cannot get permission from the child's family. This rule applies to any person under the age of 18.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to a forensic interview of a minor by law enforcement. The bill allows law enforcement to make application to the court for consent to conduct a forensic interview of a minor at a licensed child advocacy center when the suspect of a crime is the parent, guardian, or custodian of the minor. The bill provides that the application shall describe the nature of the crime being investigated, why a forensic interview of the minor is necessary, attempts made by law enforcement to gain consent from any parent, guardian, or custodian, and why consent cannot be obtained any other way. For purposes of the bill, “minor” means a person under 18 years of age.

Full bill text2

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§808.3A

How the Code works3

Courts interpreting this law

Opinions of Iowa’s appeals courts that cite this part of the Iowa Code.4