The bill amends Section 622.9 of the Iowa Code to clarify the rules surrounding privileged communications between spouses. It establishes that a spouse cannot be compelled to testify about any communication made between spouses during their marriage. Additionally, it states that after the marriage ends, a former spouse is also not required to disclose any such communications in testimony. However, the bill acknowledges that there are exceptions to this rule, particularly in cases involving child injuries and certain criminal prosecutions related to neglect, abandonment, nonsupport, and child endangerment.

Furthermore, the bill allows individuals to assert spousal privilege if subpoenaed, enabling them to refuse to disclose any information regarding communications made while they were married. This amendment aims to reinforce the confidentiality of marital communications while also recognizing the need for legal accountability in specific circumstances. Overall, the bill seeks to balance the protection of spousal communications with the necessity of addressing serious legal matters involving children and criminal activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 622.9