Bills › 91st General Assembly

Relating to certain activities associated with foreign entities in the state, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

Topics:Crime & correctionsState governmentPublic safety & emergencies

Same legislation: HF 2646

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2026
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2026
  3. Done: House committeeFebruary 18, 2026
  4. Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2646
  5. Next: Senate committee
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Became HF 2646 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2646 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Iowa government agencies are prohibited from buying or using drones made by certain foreign companies and must create plans to replace them. The law also makes it a felony to fly foreign-made drones near power plants, water facilities, or National Guard sites. Additionally, people working for foreign interests must register with the state when lobbying, and international organization rules cannot be enforced in Iowa unless the state legislature officially passes them into law.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to certain activities associated with foreign entities in the state. DIVISION I —— DRONES —— SECURITY AND PROCUREMENT. _____ the covered list published by the public safety and homeland security bureau of the federal communications commission. The bill creates the crime of aggravated intrusion by the use of a remotely piloted aircraft, which a person commits if the person controls the flight of a remotely piloted aircraft, that was manufactured outside of the United States, within 400 feet of a power plant, water treatment facility, or national guard facility. A person who commits aggravated intrusion by the use of a remotely piloted aircraft is guilty of a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. The bill requires each state entity and political subdivision of the state that owns, leases, or operates a remotely piloted aircraft to develop a plan to replace all remotely piloted aircraft that were manufactured, in whole or in part, by a company listed on the covered list published by the public safety and homeland security bureau of the federal communications commission with remotely piloted aircraft listed on the blue list of the federal defense contract management agency. The bill also requires the chief information officer of the department of management to conduct an audit of the transmission protocols utilized by remotely piloted aircraft operated by state entities and political subdivisions of the state to ensure compliance with the secure-by-design standards of the federal cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency with respect to data encryption and server localization. DIVISION II —— FOREIGN AGENTS —— REGISTRATION. _____ to foreign-funded influence operations targeting legislators or executive branch agencies in this state. The bill directs the board to impose a civil penalty of $100 per day on a person who does not register as required by the bill, up to a maximum penalty of $5,000 for a single violation, to be deposited in the general fund of the state.34). 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. DIVISION III —— INTERNATIONAL DIRECTIVES —— STATE SOVEREIGNTY. The bill specifies that a treaty, accord, emergency guideline, or other document issued by the world health organization, united nations, or world economic forum does not have the force of law in this state unless it is affirmatively adopted as law in this state by the general assembly. The bill also prohibits the state or a political subdivision of the state from using tax revenues or directing personnel to enforce mandates derived from a treaty, accord, emergency guideline, or other document issued by an international organization. The bill requires each department, authority, and agency of this state to annually conduct a review of all memoranda of understanding to ensure that the entity is not using any resources of the state to support international regulatory goals that have not been adopted as law in this state by the general assembly. The bill affirms, pursuant to the 10th amendment to the Constitution of the United States, that powers relating to public health and police powers in this state reside exclusively with the state of Iowa and not any international organization.

Full bill text2

House subcommittee

Named February 17, 2026. On February 18, 2026 it recommended passage.

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

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 18, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill restricts certain drones from being used by the state and requires foreign agents to register with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. The Department of Public Safety estimates an increase in annual vendor costs of approximately $100,000, but the cost to replace its drone fleet cannot be determined until a request for proposal is issued. The bill is estimated to cost the state General Fund between $13,000 and $18,100 per Class D felony conviction, and the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board estimates a cost of between $35,000 and $50,000 for system enhancements. The total fiscal impact regarding new convictions for either division cannot be determined.3

From the note: House File 2646 creates the new offense, and the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. The average State cost per Class D felony is between $13,000 and $18,100. The estimated impact to the General Fund includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. The costs would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.

Reading a fiscal note4

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§1.19§68B.37§715E.3A§8A.311C

How the Code works5

Lobbying

2 for · 1 against · 17 undecided · Who →

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