Iowa legislation · 91st General Assembly
Iowa SF2398: A BILL FOR An Act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes
Status: In committee, February 19, 2026
An Act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes.
What the bill says
A bill FOR An Act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes.
From the introduced text, February 19, 2026:
A BILL FOR An Act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 6732XS (2) as/js S.F. 2398 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 704A.1 Restriction on the defense of justification. The defense of justification is not available to a person who is the subject of a nonviolent sexual advance who commits a violent crime, as defined in section 915.10, upon another person as the result of that sexual advance or solely as the result of the person's discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim's sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. EXPLANATION The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill specifies that a defense of justification is not available to a person who is the subject of a nonviolent sexual advance who commits a violent crime upon another person as the result of that sexual advance or solely as the result of the person's discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim's sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. LSB 6732XS (2) -1- as/js 1/1
Sponsors
- Liz Bennett (D, 39) · primary sponsor
- Zach Wahls (D, 43)
- Janice Weiner (D, 45)
Latest actions
- : Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Bousselot. S.J. 331 .
- : Introduced, referred to Judiciary. S.J. 327 .
Subjects: sexual orientation, gender, criminal procedure, criminal law
Common questions
- What is SF2398?
- SF2398 is a bill in the Iowa Legislature (91st General Assembly): A BILL FOR An Act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes.
- What does SF2398 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR An Act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes.
- What is the status of SF2398?
- In committee as of February 19, 2026. Latest action: Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Bousselot. S.J. 331 . (February 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored SF2398?
- Liz Bennett (D, 39), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SF2398?
- On the Iowa Legislature website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF+2398&ga=91
Source: official Iowa record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.