Bill > HF2098

Introduced Session

This bill requires a child abuse investigation for newborn children whose biological parent previously had the parent’s parental rights terminated due to child abuse. For purposes of Code chapter 232 (juvenile justice), a mandatory reporter is a person working in an occupation specified in Code section 232.69, who is required to make a child abuse report to the department of health and human services when the person, in the scope of the person’s professional practice or while performing the person’s employment responsibilities, reasonably believes a child has suffered child abuse, sexual abuse, or has engaged in prostitution. A permissive reporter is any other person who believes a child has been abused. A permissive reporter may make a child abuse report. The bill requires a mandatory reporter to make a child abuse report if the mandatory reporter learns that a person who previously had the person’s parental rights to a child terminated due to child abuse is the biological parent of a newborn child. By operation of law, a permissive reporter may make a child abuse report upon learning the same information. The bill makes conforming changes to Code sections 232.70 and 232.71B.

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Dean Fisher (R)*, 

Introduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 114. (on 01/15/2026)

Official Document