(Des Moines, Iowa/Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Iowa House lawmakers unanimously passed legislation Thursday changing how the crime of misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is charged.
Intentional misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal or service animal in training is already a crime in Iowa, charged with a simple misdemeanor. However, there are some requirements in state law that an officer must meet before charging a person for this offense. The person must be given a written or verbal warning that misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is illegal, and the person must know that the animal in question is not actually a service animal or service animal in training.
House File 615 would strike these two provisions, allowing law enforcement to charge someone for misrepresenting an animal without having to give a prior warning and in cases where a person erroneously believed the animal in their possession was a service animal.
Terry Reams, a Mason City veteran, and his service dog, Lola, were introduced at the Iowa House of Representatives March 13, 2025 as lawmakers passed legislation on the misrepresentation of animals as service animals. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Service animals are animals that perform specific tasks to help people with disabilities, like guide dogs, or dogs that can retrieve medication or provide seizure alerts. Emotional support animals, which do not require specific training, are not considered service animals. Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, said the legislation will “add clarity” to better support people with legitimate service animals.
The legislation heads to the Senate, where the bill’s companion, Senate File 234, has already received approval by the Senate State Government Committee.
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