Senate File 2416 - Reprinted SENATE FILE 2416 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3167) (As Amended and Passed by the Senate March 4, 2026 ) A BILL FOR An Act relating to interviews conducted with a child subsequent 1 to a report of child abuse. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 SF 2416 (4) 91 dg/ko/mb

S.F. 2416 Section 1. Section 232.68, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code 1 2026, is amended to read as follows: 2 a. (1) “Interview” means either of the following: 3 (a) A verbal exchange between the child protection worker 4 and the child for the purpose of developing information 5 necessary to protect the child. 6 (b) A verbal exchange between a forensic interviewer at 7 a child protection center or a child advocacy center and the 8 child for the purpose of developing information necessary to 9 protect the child. 10 (2) A child protection worker or a forensic interviewer at 11 a child protection center or a child advocacy center is not 12 precluded from recording visible evidence of abuse. 13 Sec. 2. Section 232.71B, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 14 2026, is amended to read as follows: 15 b. If a report is determined not to constitute a child 16 abuse allegation or if the child abuse report is accepted 17 but assessed under the family assessment, but a criminal act 18 harming a child is alleged, the department shall immediately 19 refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If 20 a child abuse allegation is referred to law enforcement and the 21 child’s parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian does not 22 give permission to enter the child’s home, to interview the 23 child, or to observe the child, the court or district court 24 upon a showing of probable cause may authorize entry into the 25 child’s home, an interview with the child, or observation of 26 the child. 27 -1- SF 2416 (4) 91 dg/ko/mb 1/ 1