Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 232.75 (2026)

Sanctions

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. Any person, official, agency, or institution required by this chapter to report a suspected case of child abuse who knowingly and willfully fails to do so is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

2. Any person, official, agency, or institution required by section 232.69 to report a suspected case of child abuse who knowingly fails to do so or who knowingly interferes with the making of such a report in violation of section 232.70 is civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by such failure or interference.

3. A person who reports or causes to be reported to the department false information regarding an alleged act of child abuse, knowing that the information is false or that the act did not occur, commits a simple misdemeanor. [C75, 77, §235A.9; C79, 81, §232.75] 86 Acts, ch 1238, §11; 87 Acts, ch 13, §2; 2001 Acts, ch 122, §6; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §610 Referred to in §232.68, 232.71B\n\nTue Dec 09 22:21:33 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 232 (92, 1) §232.76, JUVENILE JUSTICE 60 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1986–2025 · leading case: Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015).

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Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 6× “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

United States v. White, 506 F.3d 635 (8th Cir. 2007). · cites it 2× “[6] See Iowa Code Ann. § 232.75 (3) ("A person who reports or causes to be reported to the department of human services false information regarding an alleged act of child abuse, knowing that the information is false or that the act did not occur, commits a simple misdemeanor.”

MH by & Through Callahan v. State, 385 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 1986). · cites it 2× “20, and for the knowing failure by specified parties to report a suspected case of child abuse, Iowa Code section 232.75(2). Plaintiffs do not base their negligence causes of action under either of these sections, however.”

Teachout v. Forest City Cmty. Sch. Dist., 584 N.W.2d 296 (Iowa 1998). “Furthermore, “any person, official, agency or institution required by this chapter to report a suspected case of child abuse who knowingly and willfully fails to do so is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.”

McCracken v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 595 N.W.2d 779 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 232.75 . McCracken’s finality argument would prevent the department from conducting a second investigation, even though new information substantiated a child abuse allegation.”

J.A.W. v. Roberts, 627 N.E.2d 802 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994). “§ 19-3-304 (4)(b); Iowa Code § 232.75 ; Mich. Comp. Laws § 722.”

Andrew Lennette, Individually & on behalf of C.L., O.L., & S.L., Minors v. Grace C. Mae Advocate Ctr., Inc. (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 15× “” Iowa Code § 232.75 (2). The district court held liability would not attach merely by showing GCM and its employees “‘should have known’ of mental abuse by Holly.”

Gatluak Jerweng, Gatluak Jerweng as Next Friend of S.M. & B.M., & Gatluak Jerweng as Adm'r for the Est. of D.M. v. State of Iowa (Dep't of Human Servs.) (Iowa Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 16× “Negligence Claim Founded Upon Alleged Violation of Iowa Code Section 232.75(2). To provide protection to victims or potential victims of child abuse in Iowa, our legislature has mandated that certain persons report suspected cases of child abuse to the DHS.”

Melissa Sadler, Individually & as Parent & Next Friend of S.S., A.S., Z.S., & I.S., Minor Child. v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs. (DHS) Charles M. Palmer, In His Capacity as Dir. of DHS Stacy Deberg, Individually & in Her Capacity as Child Prot. Worker Lori Mulder, Individually & in Her Capacity as DHS Soc. Worker II (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 9× “failed to report or interfered with a report pursuant to Iowa Code § 232.75 . The Plaintiffs further argue the State violated Iowa Code § 232.”

Sarah Lindemulder, Deborah Lindemulder, & Daniel Lindemulder v. Davis Cnty. Cmty. Sch. Dist., & Ryan Grinstead, & Patrick Nicoletto (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “Thus, for a 18 person to have committed a violation under section 232.75, intentional conduct is required.”

Shannon & Danny Nelson, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor v. Lynn M. Lindaman, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr. – Des Moines (Iowa 2015). · cites it 3× “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

Michael Chandler, Eddie Jones, & Chad Maddison, on behalf of themselves & all others similarly situated v. Iowa Dep't of Corr. (Iowa 2025). “§ 232.75(2) (imposing criminal liability on any “person, official, agency, or institution” that knowingly and willfully fails to report suspected child abuse (emphasis added)).”

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— Iowa Code § 232.75(1) — 2 cases

Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015). “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

Shannon & Danny Nelson, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor v. Lynn M. Lindaman, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr. – Des Moines (Iowa 2015). “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

— Iowa Code § 232.75(2) — 7 cases

Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015). “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

MH by & Through Callahan v. State, 385 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 1986). “20, and for the knowing failure by specified parties to report a suspected case of child abuse, Iowa Code section 232.75(2). Plaintiffs do not base their negligence causes of action under either of these sections, however.”

Andrew Lennette, Individually & on behalf of C.L., O.L., & S.L., Minors v. Grace C. Mae Advocate Ctr., Inc. (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). “” Iowa Code § 232.75 (2). The district court held liability would not attach merely by showing GCM and its employees “‘should have known’ of mental abuse by Holly.”

Gatluak Jerweng, Gatluak Jerweng as Next Friend of S.M. & B.M., & Gatluak Jerweng as Adm'r for the Est. of D.M. v. State of Iowa (Dep't of Human Servs.) (Iowa Ct. App. 2014). “Negligence Claim Founded Upon Alleged Violation of Iowa Code Section 232.75(2). To provide protection to victims or potential victims of child abuse in Iowa, our legislature has mandated that certain persons report suspected cases of child abuse to the DHS.”

— Iowa Code § 232.75(3) — 2 cases

Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015). “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

Shannon & Danny Nelson, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor v. Lynn M. Lindaman, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr. – Des Moines (Iowa 2015). “§ 232.75(1), as is the knowingly false reporting of child abuse, id.”

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