Senate adopts amendment strengthening victim protections, then passes SF 2379

Senator Bussello, the senator from Polk, told the Senate on March 17, 2026, that Senate File 2379 is intended to protect victims and that an amendment filed during committee work had addressed survivor and provider concerns.

"This bill is legislation that is intended to protect victims," Senator Bussello said during opening remarks. She described components that clarify how victim counselors may share information, allow prosecutors to seek extensions of no-contact orders when appropriate, require certain offender registration notification changes, and preserve forensic assault-examination kits for extended periods in some cases.

Amendment 5,100 was offered to further clarify what information may be shared by victim counselors when confidentiality is broken and to more tightly define standards for forensic nurse certification. Senator Peterson urged support for the amendment, saying survivors told the subcommittee they had deep concerns that the amendment addresses: "I would encourage the body to support this amendment."

Senator Bussello moved for adoption of Senate amendment 5,100; the amendment was adopted. She then moved that Senate File 2379, as amended, be read for the final time and placed on its passage. The roll-call vote was announced as 42 ayes and 1 nay; the chair declared the bill passed. During final remarks Bussello applauded the attorney general for bringing the protections forward and described the amended measure as a meaningful addition to victim protections.

The bill was ordered messaged to the governor by unanimous consent.