This bill changes Iowa's school instructional requirements from a 1,080-hour standard to a 180-day calendar requirement for all public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. It removes the hourly requirement (previously requiring 1,080 hours of instruction) and instead mandates at least 180 days of in-person instruction per school year, with a defined minimum school day of six hours (excluding lunch but including passing time). The bill also adjusts truancy thresholds, lowering the percentage for "chronic absence" from 15% to 10% and for "truancy" from 20% to 15% of instructional time. These changes simplify calendar planning for schools while maintaining minimum instructional time standards.
HF 552 modifies Iowa's compulsory education laws to address chronic absenteeism. It requires public school districts to create policies defining chronic absenteeism (missing 15% or more of school days) and mandating school engagement meetings when students reach this threshold. These meetings involve parents/guardians and schools to develop absenteeism prevention plans, with parents facing penalties for non-attendance - ranging from $100 fines for a first offense to $1,000 for third offenses, or community service - unless they prove reasonable efforts were made. The bill excludes students with individualized education programs (IEPs) affecting attendance from these provisions.
This bill requires Medicaid and health insurers to treat nonopioid pain medications equally with opioids in coverage. It prohibits designating nonopioid drugs as "nonpreferred" when opioids are preferred and bans stricter prior authorization or step therapy requirements for nonopioid drugs compared to opioids. Health insurers must develop a "pain management access plan" covering at least two FDA-approved non-opioid prescription medications (not controlled substances) and three non-drug pain treatments, without more restrictive rules for nonopioid options. The bill applies immediately upon FDA approval of a nonopioid pain drug, regardless of prior committee review. It affects Medicaid managed care organizations and health carriers offering coverage in Iowa.
HF 536 requires Iowa schools serving grades 6-8 (including public, charter, nonpublic, and innovation zone schools) to offer a state-developed program on firearm safety, hunting laws, wildlife conservation, and outdoor skills. The program must be taught by certified instructors under supervision, with parental consent required for student participation and opt-out options available. Schools must report student participation annually to the Department of Natural Resources, which will maintain a database of completions to streamline future hunting licenses. Implementation begins for the 2026 school year, with costs covered by existing state school funding.
SF 467 establishes licensing requirements for anesthesiologist assistants in Iowa. The bill requires individuals to complete an accredited education program, pass a certification exam, and obtain a license from the Board of Medicine to practice or use the title "anesthesiologist assistant" (including abbreviations "A.A." or "C.A.A."). It defines key terms like "anesthesiologist assistant" and "supervising anesthesiologist," and creates a new section (148K) outlining the board's authority to grant, deny, and renew licenses. This directly affects anesthesiologist assistants seeking to legally practice in Iowa and ensures standardized training and oversight.
This bill allows Iowa public school districts to offer elective high school courses (grades 9-12) focused on biblical texts, including the Old Testament, New Testament, or both. School boards must approve such courses after a school improvement committee recommends them by majority vote. Courses must teach biblical content to help students understand culture and society, while strictly following religious neutrality rules - no endorsement of any faith, and students may use alternative Bible translations. The bill also permits displays of religious materials in class if educationally appropriate, without requiring students to engage with texts conflicting with their family's beliefs.
SF 279 provides legal immunity for sports and exhibition venues (including race tracks, athletic events, trade fairs, and art exhibitions) from nuisance lawsuits. It sets strict conditions for filing such lawsuits: only the majority owner of affected property can sue, and only if the venue materially violated a law. The bill also establishes that venues operating over one year cannot be deemed nuisances due to changed neighborhood conditions, provided they comply with all laws, and protects "reasonable expansions" like technology upgrades or land purchases. This applies to all venues meeting these criteria, excluding cases involving negligence or law violations.
This bill requires Iowa property tax statements mailed to owners to include a comparison of current property taxes versus estimated taxes for the upcoming budget year, showing the percentage change. It directly affects all property owners receiving tax statements by providing clearer information about potential tax changes. Key provisions mandate this comparison for fiscal years starting July 1, 2026, and extend filing deadlines by 15 days if the state's growth percentage is enacted after March 1. The bill modifies existing statement requirements under Iowa Code section 24.2A without changing tax rates or calculations.
SF 410 requires Iowa school district boards to provide a reasonable time for public comment at all regular and special meetings, directly affecting school board members and the public seeking to speak. The bill mandates that boards allow any interested member of the public to speak during this period without requiring them to be pre-registered on the meeting agenda. Boards may impose a uniform time limit per speaker if needed due to high attendance, but must apply it equally to all speakers. The law aims to streamline public participation by eliminating pre-meeting registration requirements for comment periods.
SF 451 requires fire department chiefs or their designees in Iowa cities and townships to investigate all fires causing property damage, injury, or destruction to determine if they resulted from natural causes, negligence, or intentional action. It mandates that fire officials file monthly reports with the state fire marshal for fires causing $50 or more in damage (or emergency responses), including property details, fire origin, and incident circumstances, while requiring immediate notification for fires involving death, serious injury, or $200,000+ in damage. The bill also grants law enforcement-certified fire officials access to vehicle registration data and the national crime database during investigations. These provisions aim to standardize fire cause determination and reporting across the state.
HF 612 regulates kratom sales in Iowa by requiring sellers (processors, retailers, and food service establishments) to register annually with the Department of Health and Human Services. It mandates lab testing for safety, limits 7-hydroxymitragynine content to under 2%, bans child-attractive packaging, and prohibits dangerous additives like synthetic drugs. All kratom products must carry specific labels warning against use by those under 21, pregnant/breastfeeding individuals, and including FDA disclaimers. The bill also requires clear labeling of ingredients, serving sizes, and safety instructions for consumers.
SF 292 amends Iowa law to require vehicle recyclers to verify there is no outstanding lien on vehicles 12 model years or older acquired for scrap or junk at under $1,000. This affects vehicle recyclers licensed under Chapter 321H and owners disposing of older vehicles without a title. The key provision adds a mandatory verification step before recyclers can accept such vehicles, ensuring no lienholder has a security interest. Violating this requirement would be a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $135 fine. The bill does not change the existing $1,000 price threshold or the 12-year age requirement for disposal without a title.
