SF 641 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the department of health and human services, including administrative services organizations, child foster care, child and dependent adult abuse, internal audit and examination information, and the region incentive fund in the mental health and disability services regional service fund, health maintenance organization’s premium tax, and making appropriations and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill enacts changes across several areas overseen by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. It introduces definitions for "behavioral health districts" and "disability access points" and establishes new restrictions on who can serve as an advocate for involuntarily hospitalized patients, excluding those affiliated with administrative services organizations (ASOs) or care providers. The bill also updates child foster care laws to formally include "approved kinship caregivers" alongside licensed foster parents, granting them decision-making authority under the "reasonable and prudent parent standard" and ensuring their participation in care planning. These provisions directly affect individuals receiving mental health and disability services, children in foster care, and the various organizations involved in providing these services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Apr 23, 2025 Signed Jun 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled with Governor's Action Reprinted Marked Up · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reprinted in its amended form, incorporating significant updates to Iowa's child foster care and administrative services laws. The primary changes include the formal introduction of 'approved kinship caregivers' as a distinct legal category alongside licensed individuals and agencies, and the expansion of the 'reasonable and prudent parent standard' to explicitly cover extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. These updates aim to better support family-based placements and clarify the legal obligations of caregivers regarding a child's participation in community life.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to formally recognize and regulate 'approved kinship caregivers' as a specific type of foster care provider, distinct from licensed individuals or agencies, thereby broadening the pool of eligible caregivers and clarifying their legal standing.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'approved kinship caregiver' to distinguish them from licensed individuals and agencies, formalizing their role in the foster care system.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the 'reasonable and prudent parent standard' definition to explicitly include decisions regarding a child's participation in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities.

Added specific provisions requiring that approved kinship caregivers be included in planning and review activities, such as placement review meetings, to ensure their input is considered in the child's care plan.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated eligibility criteria and definitions to clarify the roles of 'individual licensees' and 'approved kinship caregivers' in providing care, ensuring they are treated appropriately under existing licensing frameworks.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025 · House May 13, 2025

How they voted

470
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic16
16 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Jun 6, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
upper
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 91, nays 0.
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 48, nays 0.
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Amendment S-3140 filed, adopted.
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.