House passes bill expanding victim protections, evidence-kit retention and restitution priorities

The Iowa House approved Senate File 2379, a multi-part bill intended to strengthen protections for victims of sexual and domestic violence, on final passage after adopting a series of amendments. The House clerk reported the vote as 77 ayes, 11 nays and 12 absent or not voting.

Representative Gustaf, recognized for the bill, said the measure "brings significant protections to victims of ****** abuse," including strengthened confidentiality for victim counselors, expanded preservation of assault-evidence collection kits, and clearer timelines and procedures for competency evaluations and restitution priorities. The House adopted H8346, a conforming amendment described as matching the House language to the Senate file, and later adopted H8347, which changed the effective date for division 7 to July 1, 2027, to give the court system time to adjust.

Representative Ramirez, speaking in support, highlighted division 4 and said she was "especially encouraged by division 4, which extends the storage of ****** assault evidence collection kits to 20 years," adding that the provision extends storage for minors for their lifetime and requires additional information about examinations be provided to survivors. Ramirez also recounted stakeholder concerns raised during drafting about who may authorize training for victim counselors and about notice and civil-commitment provisions.

Another amendment, H8291, removed references to "federal and state" in division 7 and clarified that the Iowa Department of Justice will approve training and certification of assault nurse examiner programs rather than delegating that authority to an entity cited in earlier drafts. Representatives noted that an internationally referenced approving body no longer exists; the bill instead empowers the attorney general and the Iowa Department of Justice to set standards.

The bill manager said the measure was the product of compromise and stakeholder input; the House then moved the measure to final passage and agreed to the title. The House clerk confirmed the constitutional majority and the bill will proceed under the Senate file caption for enrollment and transmission.