Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act establishing a grant program for a nonprofit organization providing sexual assault forensic examination centers.(Formerly HF 458.)

Subcommittee members: Meggers-CH, Dieken, Gosa

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Time: 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Location: RM 304

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-16-2026

Marti Anderson

This bill creates a 24/7 place where a victim of sexual abuse can get a forensic physical exam and lab work conducted by a Sexual Abuse Nurse Examiner (SANE), meet a victim advocate, and get followup care. A law enforcement interview may be done on the premises and evidence safeguarded in a locked locker if the victim chooses to report the crime. After the examination, the victim will have access to a private shower. If clothes are taken for evidence, they will be replaced clean and appropriate clothes. The organization will provide a team approach that emphasizes the best interests of the sexual assault survivor. They will be required to help establish, one or more regional treatment facilities in the state to provide these services. The funds for this effort should not be taken from the Justice System line items supporting local victim services or child abuse centers. The organization must work in concert with other to provide comprehensive care and services for crime victims.

02-17-2026

David Anderson

This certainly sounds good. However, I am deeply concerned that it is limited to one organization, as written, with minimal oversight on how said organization is selected. Please amend both to allow contracts with multiple organizations, and clarify the standards to organizations need to meet. Otherwise I fear that we will get an organization that does the opposite of the stated intent of the rest of the bill.

02-17-2026

Kristin Fairholm

I am writing to express my strong support for HF 705. This bill will create a grant program for a trained nonprofit organization to provide sexual assault forensic examination services a critical resource in supporting survivors with traumainformed care. Having an experienced, specialized nonprofit leading this work ensures that victims receive compassionate, expert support at a time when every detail matters for their healing and for equitable access to justice. I believe this approach will significantly improve outcomes for survivors and strengthen our statewide response.

02-17-2026

BRANDI MILLIKAN

I support HF 705 because it strengthens coordinated medical and advocacy response for survivors and improves access to traumainformed care across Iowa. This is an incredibly important issue and having the ability to go to ONE PLACE after a terrible situation a HORRIBLE situation is the very least we could do for our survivors. They would experience far less trauma and so much more support!

02-17-2026

Sam Wu

As a bedside nurse working in a unit certified for stroke care, I see the importance of comprehensive and streamlined care every shift.If you suffered a stroke, you would expect your healthcare team to perform a timely assessment/scans to diagnose you; you would expect the appropriate treatments/procedures/medications; and finally, you would also expect us to make followup appointments with your doctor and neurologist to set you up for success.If we expect comprehensive care with strokes, why should people seeking sexual assault care expect anything different?Unfortunately, that is just not the current reality in Iowa. (Do a quick Google search asking instructions on seeking sexual assault care, and it will be very obvious that options are very limited!)There currently is nothing in Iowa like the SAFE Center. It will offer comprehensive care by coordinating with different resources and provide the guidance and education needed to help with recovery.I fully support this bill!

02-17-2026

Jeremy Tosh [Iowa Insurance Division]

As law enforcement in a resource starved area, having this center would have been an extremely helpful resource to my previous department. I have seen the downfalls of not having dedicated SANEs, providers, and facilities that care about the work they are doing with victims of sexual crimes. It creates an environment that revictimizes the subjects who already have to go through a terrible experience, as they are repeatedly asked if they are sure about what happened and want to go forward with this process, while being made to wait hours for a kit to be completed. Being able to do everything in one place makes it easier for victims of these crimes to get through this ordeal and the people behind this bill are the best and most experienced people for this difficult job.