Iowa legislation · 91st General Assembly
Iowa HF2157: A BILL FOR An Act relating to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound, and making penalties applicable
Status: In committee, February 16, 2026
An Act relating to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound, and making penalties applicable.
What the bill says
A bill FOR An Act relating to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound, and making penalties applicable.
From the introduced text, January 26, 2026:
A BILL FOR An Act relating to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound, and making penalties applicable. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 6006YH (2) as/js H.F. 2157 Section 1. Section 717B.8, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: b. The delivery of a cat or dog to an animal shelter or pound as defined in section 162.2 that has been issued or renewed a valid authorization by the department under chapter 162. Delivery under this paragraph requires an employee or volunteer of the animal shelter or pound to physically accept the delivery of the animal. EXPLANATION The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound. The bill provides that in order for the delivery of a cat or dog to an animal shelter or pound to be an exception to abandonment of the cat or dog, an employee or volunteer of the animal shelter or pound must physically accept the delivery of the animal. A person committing animal abandonment faces criminal charges ranging from a simple misdemeanor to an aggravated …
Sponsors
- Brett Barker (R, 51) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Withdrawn. H.J. 484 .
- : Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2521 .
- : Committee vote: Yeas, 21. Nays, 0. H.J. 267 .
- : Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 267 .
- : Subcommittee recommends passage.
- : Subcommittee Meeting: 02/05/2026 8:30AM House Lounge 2.
- : Subcommittee: Watkins, Henderson and Nielsen. H.J. 196 .
- : Introduced, referred to Local Government. H.J. 151 .
Votes
- Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 267 . (February 10, 2026): 21 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: animal shelters, feline animals, canine animals
Common questions
- What is HF2157?
- HF2157 is a bill in the Iowa Legislature (91st General Assembly): A BILL FOR An Act relating to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound, and making penalties applicable.
- What does HF2157 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR An Act relating to the abandonment of cats and dogs including delivery to an animal shelter or pound, and making penalties applicable.
- What is the status of HF2157?
- In committee as of February 16, 2026. Latest action: Withdrawn. H.J. 484 . (March 2, 2026).
- Who sponsored HF2157?
- Brett Barker (R, 51).
- Where is the official record for HF2157?
- On the Iowa Legislature website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF+2157&ga=91
Source: official Iowa record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.