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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa classifies kratom as a schedule I controlled substance and sets criminal penalties for possession
Last action · March 19, 2026: Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 599 .Sponsor: Jesse Green
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What This Bill Would Do
Iowa categorizes kratom as a , making possession a for a first offense, an for a second violation, and a for three or more convictions.
Residents found possessing, growing, or manufacturing the plant face criminal prosecution, fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and potential prison time.
- Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain compounds that can have psychotropic effects. context
- Schedule I controlled substances are defined in law as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Individuals possessing kratom
Individuals face potential criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment for possessing or manufacturing the substance.
Key Facts
- Designates kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) and its compounds, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, as a schedule I controlled substance.
- A first offense for possessing kratom is classified as a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year of confinement and a fine between $430 and $2,560.
- A subsequent violation for possessing kratom is classified as an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years of confinement and a fine between $855 and $8,540.
- A person with two or more prior convictions who violates the provision is guilty of a class "D" felony, punishable by up to five years of confinement and a fine between $1,025 and $10,245.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kratom classified as under this bill?
What are the penalties for a first-time possession offense?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.
Procedural history
10 actions- Mar 19, 2026SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 599 .
- Mar 18, 2026SenateAttached to HF 2133 . S.J. 592 .
- Feb 12, 2026Iowa LegislatureFiscal note.
- Feb 4, 2026SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 202 .
- Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 196 .
- Feb 4, 2026SenateCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2192 . S.J. 202 .
Show 4 earlier actions
- Jan 22, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Jan 20, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 11:00AM Room 217 Conference Room.
- Jan 13, 2026SenateSubcommittee: Green, Knox, and Reichman. S.J. 67 .
- Jan 12, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Judiciary. S.J. 37 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Reference to SF 2192
The bill text explicitly cross-references Senate File 2192 in relation to the regulation of kratom.
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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