(Guthrie Co.) Tuesday, State Representative Carter Nordman (R-Dallas Center), in collaboration with Assistant Guthrie County Attorney Charles Abel, Guthrie County Sheriff Matt Harmann, Stuart Police Chief Dave Reha, and Panora Police Chief Matt Reising, announced the filing of House File (HF) 2086, also known as the SAFE KIDS ACT, a bill aimed at strengthening Iowa’s child endangerment laws to better protect vulnerable youth.
The legislation comes as a recommendation from Assistant County Attorney Charles Abel, working in conjunction with Sheriff Harmann and Chiefs Reising and Reha. These local law enforcement leaders identified critical gaps in current statutes that prevent prosecutors from pursuing child endangerment charges in cases involving older minors. Rep. Nordman has drafted and filed the bill and is committed to shepherding it through the legislative process to ensure it becomes law.
“Working hand-in-hand with law enforcement and prosecutors is essential to crafting effective policies that safeguard the most vulnerable members of our communities,” Nordman said. “This bill is a prime example of that collaboration, ensuring we are doing everything we can to protect innocent children and minors from neglect and harm, no matter their age.”
Assistant Guthrie County Attorney Charles Abel highlighted the urgent need for the reform, citing real world cases where current laws fall short.
“Under existing Iowa law, child endangerment charges are often unavailable when the victim is 14 or older, leaving prosecutors without the tools to hold abusers accountable,” Abel explained. “We’ve seen heartbreaking situations, such as parents exposing teens to methamphetamine without legal recourse, and even allowing registered sex offenders to reside in the home with older minors. These are clear instances of endangerment, but the age threshold ties our hands.”
In a joint statement, Sheriff Matt Harmann, Stuart Police Chief Dave Reha, and Panora Police Chief Matt Reising expressed their support:
“We thank Rep. Carter Nordman and Assistant County Attorney Abel for their commitment to being tough on crime and for truly listening to the feedback and needs of law enforcement in Guthrie County. This collaboration strengthens our ability to protect our communities, and we appreciate the strong working relationships that make initiatives like this possible.”
HF2086 seeks to amend Iowa Code Section 726.6 to extend child endangerment protections to all minors under 18, closing loopholes that currently hinder justice for older youth. The bill will now proceed through the Iowa House for committee review and debate.
(Photo from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook)
