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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
April 09, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretaiy,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2416, an Act relating to interviews conducted with a child subsequent to a
report of child abuse.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincer^y,
Kim fttfynoldf
Govemor of Iowa
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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Senate File 2416
AN ACT
RELATING TO INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH A CHILD SUBSEQUENT TO A
REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OP IOWA:
Section 1. Section 232.68, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
a. (1) ^Interview" means either of the following;
(a) A verbal exchange between the child protection worker
and the child for the purpose of developing information
necessary to protect the child.
(b) A verbal exchange between a forensic interviewer at
a child protection center or a child advocacy center and the
child for the purpose of developing information necessary to
protect the child.
(2) A child protection worker or a forensic interviewer at
a child protection center or a child advocacy center is not
precluded from recording visible evidence of abuse.
Sec. 2. Section 232.71B, subsection 3, paragraph b. Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
b. It a report is determined not to constitute a child
abuse allegation or if the child abuse report is accepted
but assessed under the family assessment, but a criminal act
harming a child is alleged, the department shall immediately
refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If
a child abuse allegation is referred to law enforcement and the
child^s parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian does not
Senate File 2416, p. 2
give permission to enter the child's home, to interview the
child, or to observe the child, the court or district court
upon a showing of probable cause may authorize entry into the
child^s home, an interview with the child, or observation of
the chi:
AMY sincla:
President of the Senate
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2416, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretary of the Senate
2026
KIM Rj^YWDLDS
Governor