Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2025

HF 364: A bill for an act relating to a standing appropriation to the department of health and human services to make free radon test kits available to homeowners and renters in the state.

HF 364 appropriates $20,000 annually from the state general fund starting fiscal year 2025-2026 to provide free radon test kits to Iowa homeowners and renters. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must designate a lab to supply, distribute, and analyze the kits, with the lab required to share test data with HHS. HHS will also create an online ordering system on its website for residents to request kits. This bill directly affects residential property occupants by making radon testing accessible at no cost, while the funding mechanism ensures ongoing availability through annual appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2025

HSB 251: A bill for an act relating to the allocation of nonresident deer hunting licenses.

This bill limits nonresident deer hunting licenses in Iowa to 6,000 antlered or any sex licenses annually. It reserves 500 of these licenses specifically for nonresidents who book with registered outfitters (businesses providing transportation, lodging, or guiding services) that maintained registration since July 2024. Applications must include proof the reservation aligns with the license's validity period, and bow season licenses cannot exceed 35% of both reserved and regular licenses. After the 6,000 limit is reached, only antlerless deer licenses for nonresidents will be available.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 59: A bill for an act relating to the farm tenancy net income exclusion available against the individual income tax, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

SF 59 expands Iowa's farm tenancy net income exclusion for individual income tax by allowing income earned through certain business entities (like partnerships, S corporations, trusts, or disregarded entities) to qualify for the exclusion, just as if received directly by the farmer. This change directly affects farmers who operate through these business structures, enabling them to exclude farm tenancy income from their taxable income under the same conditions as direct recipients. The bill clarifies that income accruing to a grantor trust or disregarded entity is deemed distributed to its sole owner if they have the right to withdraw it. It takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 64: A bill for an act relating to budget adjustments by school districts affected by a natural disaster.

SF 64 allows Iowa school districts impacted by federally or state-declared natural disasters to receive an additional budget adjustment. If a disaster occurred in the base year or the year before, the district qualifies for an extra adjustment equal to the amount they received in their base year. This extends an existing budget adjustment policy (which normally covers a 1% cost difference) to include disaster recovery needs. The bill directly affects school districts in Iowa that meet the disaster declaration criteria, providing them with an additional year of funding to cover unexpected costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2025

HSB 236: A bill for an act relating to the sales tax imposed on amusement devices.

This bill amends Iowa's sales tax code to exempt the portion of revenue from amusement devices that will be paid out as prizes. It applies to operators of pinball machines, bowling alleys, slot machines, and similar games where prizes are awarded, such as raffles or card tournaments. The 6% sales tax will now only apply to the net revenue after prize amounts are subtracted, not the full sales price. This change directly affects businesses operating these devices by reducing their taxable income. The bill does not legalize any currently prohibited games or devices.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 453: A bill for an act relating to school district and area education agency funding and education savings accounts, and including applicability provisions.

SF 453 changes transportation reimbursement rules for students at nonpublic schools: school districts no longer must pay for transportation if parents use education savings accounts (section 257.11B) to cover school costs. It also adjusts funding for area education agencies based on enrollment of nonpublic school students who do not use these accounts, requiring agencies to provide comparable services or face potential budget reductions. The bill affects public school districts, nonpublic schools, and area education agencies by altering reimbursement eligibility and funding calculations. These changes apply to school budget years beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SSB 1189: A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance taxes on employers.

This bill changes how Iowa employers pay unemployment insurance taxes. It simplifies the contribution rate system by reducing the number of rate tiers from eight to four, based on an employer's historical claims history ("benefit ratio rank"). The bill also modifies how the "current reserve fund ratio" is calculated, removing a $150 million addition to fund reserves and changing the calculation period. Employers who save money due to these changes must use those savings for employee salaries, benefits, or seasonal unemployment alternatives. The bill directly affects all Iowa employers contributing to the state's unemployment fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 452: A bill for an act relating to employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, personnel records and settlement agreements, city civil service requirements, and health insurance matters, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions.

SF 452 amends Iowa's public employee collective bargaining laws, directly affecting state and local government workers (including educators) and their unions. Key provisions include requiring written member consent for dues checkoff, specifying negotiable topics like health and safety (while excluding retirement systems), and revising election rules to prevent frequent union representation changes. The bill updates procedures for union certification, decertification, and collective bargaining agreements, with new rules limiting election petitions for one year after a certification or decertification. It also clarifies that public employers must negotiate in good faith on agreed-upon topics without forcing concessions.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2025

HSB 253: A bill for an act relating to disputed land boundaries and corners including acquiesced boundaries and corners.

This bill amends Iowa law to clarify how disputed land boundaries are resolved through long-term acceptance. It states that if neighbors recognize and accept a boundary for 10 years, that boundary becomes permanently established without needing a court order ("self-executing"). It also specifies that common ownership of adjacent properties does not erase an established boundary, and new boundaries would require another 10 years of mutual recognition. The bill directly affects landowners in Iowa with boundary disputes, ensuring established boundaries remain valid despite changes in property ownership.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 282: A bill for an act prohibiting certain requirements for students and faculty at regents institutions relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory and including applicability provisions.

SF 282 prohibits Iowa's regents institutions (public universities) from requiring students to take courses or faculty to participate in activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, or critical race theory as part of any degree program. It bans forcing students to enroll in such courses for general education, majors, or certificates, and prevents institutions from tying faculty evaluations, promotions, or pay to including related content in courses. Exemptions are allowed only for programs explicitly titled as focusing on racial, ethnic, or gender studies, but students cannot be forced to take these programs to meet other degree requirements. The law takes effect for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 360: A bill for an act relating to the administration of gene-based vaccines, and providing penalties.

This bill prohibits administering gene-based vaccines in Iowa, defined as vaccines using mRNA, modified mRNA, self-amplifying mRNA, or DNA technology. Violators face a $500 fine per incident and potential license review by health licensing boards for professionals licensed under Iowa's health professions code (Chapter 147). It directly affects healthcare providers who administer such vaccines, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The law creates a clear legal restriction on the use of these specific vaccine technologies within the state.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 478: A bill for an act relating to Medicaid and children’s health insurance program coverage for mental health services provided in school-based settings.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid and CHIP coverage for mental health services provided in schools. It ensures all children enrolled in Iowa's Medicaid or CHIP programs - regardless of whether they have a special education plan - can access covered services without needing a formal mental health diagnosis. Covered services include individual, group, and family therapy, prevention services, evaluation, and case management. The bill also mandates collaboration with schools and federal technical assistance to implement these changes, particularly in rural and under-resourced districts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill results