HF2256 • 2026

A bill for an act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse. (Formerly HSB 503 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Children Parental Rights

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Last action: 2026-05-06
Official status: Signed by Governor . H.J. 05/06 .
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse. (Formerly HSB 503 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

A bill for an act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse.

What This Bill Does

A bill for an act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse.
(Formerly HSB 503 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-05-06 Iowa Legislature
Signed by Governor . H.J. 05/06 .
2026-05-06 Iowa Legislature
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 05/06 .
2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature
Explanation of vote. H.J. 1158 .
2026-04-14 Iowa Legislature
Message from House. S.J. 777 .
2026-04-13 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. H.J. 887 .
2026-04-13 Iowa Legislature
Passed House , yeas 90, nays 0. H.J. 882 .
2026-04-13 Iowa Legislature
House concurred in Senate amendment H-8299 . H.J. 882 .
2026-04-13 Iowa Legislature
Fiscal note .
2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature
Senate amendment H-8299 filed. H.J. 821 .
2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature
Message from Senate. H.J. 809 .
2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. S.J. 724 .
2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature
Passed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 724 .
2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature
Amendment S-5120 adopted. S.J. 723 .
2026-03-26 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 659 .
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar.
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Amendment S-5120 filed. S.J. 605 .
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, recommending amendment and passage. S.J. 605 .
2026-03-13 Iowa Legislature
Fiscal note .
2026-03-09 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/09/2026 12:30PM Room 315.
2026-03-04 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Alons, Evans, and Petersen. S.J. 477 .
2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature
Read first time, referred to Health and Human Services. S.J. 422 .
2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature
Message from House. S.J. 422 .
2026-02-26 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. H.J. 460 .
2026-02-26 Iowa Legislature
Passed House , yeas 90, nays 0. H.J. 447 .
2026-02-25 Iowa Legislature
Fiscal note .
2026-01-30 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 190 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse. (Formerly HSB 503 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 06, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2256, an Act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access
appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of
child abuse.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Kirw^ynokfc \
Governor of lo^a-^
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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WILL MAINTAH
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House File 2256
AN ACT
EXEMPTING A PARENT'S OR LEGAL GUARDIAN'S INABILITY TO ACCESS
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORAL OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR THEIR
CHILD FROM THE DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 232.68, subsection 2, paragraph a,
subparagraph (4), Code 2026, is amended by adding the following
new subparagraph division:
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH DIVISION . (d) If a child has a diagnosed
behavioral health condition and, despite reasonable attempts,
the child's parent or legal guardian is unable to provide
necessary care for the child's health and welfare solely
because the parent or legal guardian is unable to access
appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for the
child, the department shall not consider the lack of provision
of appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment as child
abuse. This subparagraph division shall not be construed to
prohibit the department from assessing a child's situation and
facilitating appropriate intervention the department deems is
in the best interests of the child.
Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES -
INCORPORATION INTO POLICIES. The department of health and
human services shall adjust the department's child abuse
House File 2256, p. 2
assessment policies, including the department's policy manuals,
to incorporate the provisions of section 232.68, subsection 2,
paragraph "a", subparagraph (4), subparagraph division (d), as
enacted in this Act.
PAT GRASSLEY
_
AMY SINCLAIR
Speaker of e House President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2256, Ninety-first General Assembly.
'AN NELSON
the House
Approved
K I’M REYNOLD
Governor