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SF 461IOWASession 2025-2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Iowa requires persons convicted of criminal grooming to register as tier I sex offenders

Original title: A bill for an act relating to the criminal offense of grooming and the sex offender registry, and making penalties applicable.(Formerly SSB 1096 .)

Last action · March 28, 2025: Signed by Governor . H.J. 872 .

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What This Bill Does

Iowa enacts SF 461, requiring individuals convicted of the criminal offense of grooming under Code section 709.8A to register as s for a period of 10 years.

Why it matters

Convicted offenders face a 10-year sex offender registration requirement alongside a 10-year committing them to the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections upon release from incarceration, probation, parole, or work release.

Background

Senate File 461 originated from the Senate Committee on Judiciary as a successor to SSB 1096 during the 91st General Assembly of Iowa. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Individuals convicted of the criminal offense of grooming

Offenders must register as tier I sex offenders for 10 years and serve a 10-year special sentence in the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections.

Directly affected

Iowa Department of Corrections

The department is tasked with taking custody of convicted individuals under the mandated 10-year special sentence.

Key Facts

Grooming in violation of section 709.8A is added to the sex offender registry requirements as a tier I offense.
A person convicted of grooming is classified as a class "D" felon.
Offenders are sentenced to a special sentence of 10 years in the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections with eligibility for parole.
Sex offender registration is mandated for a period of 10 years upon placement on probation, parole, work release, or release from incarceration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What registration tier applies to individuals convicted of grooming?

Individuals convicted of grooming are required to register as s.

How long must an offender remain on the sex offender registry under this law?

The mandatory registration period is 10 years upon placement on probation, parole, work release, or release from incarceration.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

29 actions

Mar 28, 2025HouseEnrolled
Signed by Governor . H.J. 872 .
Mar 28, 2025House
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 872 .
Mar 12, 2025House
Message from Senate. H.J. 635 .
Mar 12, 2025Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 505 .
Mar 12, 2025SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 48, nays 0. S.J. 504 .
Mar 12, 2025Senate
Substituted for SF 461 . S.J. 503 .

Show 23 earlier actions

Mar 12, 2025Senate
Withdrawn. S.J. 504 .
Mar 12, 2025Senate
HF 180 substituted. S.J. 503 .
Feb 27, 2025Senate
Attached to SF 461 . S.J. 387 .
Feb 27, 2025Senate
Attached to HF 180 . S.J. 387 .
Feb 27, 2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 384 .
Feb 27, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 379 .
Feb 26, 2025Iowa Legislature
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 461 .
Feb 24, 2025SenateIntroduced
Read first time, passed on file. S.J. 336 .
Feb 24, 2025House
Message from House. S.J. 336 .
Feb 20, 2025House
Immediate message. H.J. 401 .
Feb 20, 2025HouseFloor
Passed House , yeas 87, nays 5. H.J. 385 .
Feb 18, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Feb 17, 2025Senate
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/18/2025 3:30PM Senate Lounge.
Feb 4, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Dawson, Petersen, and Shipley.
Feb 4, 2025Iowa LegislatureIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Judiciary.
Jan 30, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 154 .
Jan 30, 2025Iowa Legislature
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 180 .
Jan 29, 2025House
Committee vote: Yeas, 20. Nays, 3. H.J. 146 .
Jan 29, 2025House
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 146 .
Jan 22, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Jan 16, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2025 8:00AM RM 304.
Jan 15, 2025House
Subcommittee: Dieken, Gearhart and Wessel-Kroeschell. H.J. 83 .
Jan 15, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Public Safety. H.J. 79 .

Version history

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Lobbying Activity

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

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