This bill modifies Iowa's rules for vehicles operating with permits for excessive size or weight. It expands all-systems permits to cover most primary/secondary roads and truck-route-designated roads (excluding interstates and locally designated "not valid" roads), while requiring local authorities to justify road restrictions and cooperate on alternate routes if needed. The bill increases the allowable weight variance for permitted vehicles from 12% to 12.5% above standard limits and changes registration fees for single-trip permits to $4 per ton over 40 tons. It also removes a requirement that international shipping containers must contain only raw forest products. This directly affects commercial truck drivers, local governments managing road access, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
This bill (HSB 260) updates Iowa's rules for appointing and assigning magistrate judges. It requires each county to have at least one resident magistrate and creates a new formula for determining magistrate numbers based on estimated case workload, travel time, and administrative duties - not just population. The bill also allows chief judges to temporarily assign magistrates from other counties within the same judicial district to fill vacancies, provided the combined workload doesn't exceed 31% of a full-time position (a rule set to expire January 1, 2029). These changes apply directly to county magistrate appointing commissions, state court administrators, and judicial districts across Iowa.
HF 482 restricts landlords in Iowa mobile home parks and manufactured home communities from ending rental agreements solely to reassign a tenant's space to another resident. The bill requires landlords to have a tenant's "material violation" of the rental agreement (such as nonpayment or property damage) as the sole reason for termination, banning terminations intended only to make space available for new tenants. Rental agreements must still provide 90 days' written notice for cancellation by either party, and the law applies only to agreements entered into or renewed after the bill's effective date. This directly affects tenants in mobile home communities by limiting landlord power to evict without cause.
This bill (SF 433) removes a prior authorization requirement for direct-acting antiviral medications treating hepatitis C that are already on Iowa's preferred drug list for Medicaid. It directly affects Medicaid patients seeking hepatitis C treatment by simplifying access to these specific medications. The bill also requires the Iowa Medical Assistance Drug Utilization Review Commission to review the drug Vosevi for potential inclusion on the preferred formulary by July 1, 2026, per federal guidelines.
SF 481 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create interest-bearing accounts for foster children receiving federal Social Security benefits or court-ordered child support. It directly affects children in foster care who qualify under three categories: those committed to HHS, with custody transferred to HHS, or voluntarily placed in foster care. The bill mandates that all such benefits be deposited into these accounts, which HHS must manage as trustee until the child turns 18, when funds are released directly to them. The legislation also appropriates $1.2 million for fiscal year 2025-2026 specifically to cover foster care costs related to these benefits.
This bill increases Iowa's personal needs allowance for residents in specific long-term care facilities from $50 to $65 per month. It directly affects individuals living in nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual/mental disabilities, or psychiatric medical institutions for children. The allowance helps cover personal expenses not covered by medical assistance, with the state providing supplements to residents earning under $65 monthly. Starting July 1, 2026, the allowance will automatically adjust annually based on the federal consumer price index to keep pace with inflation.
HF 372 establishes a state grant program under Iowa's Department of Justice to fund nonprofit organizations operating sexual assault forensic examination centers. Eligible nonprofits must be state-incorporated, employ sexual assault nurse examiners, maintain survivor-focused facilities, and prioritize sexual assault care as their main mission. The program requires grantees to provide medical forensic services to all survivors - including adults, children, people with disabilities, and rural Iowans - and offer trainings for medical staff, law enforcement, and the public on sexual assault services and prevention. Grantees must submit annual reports and may seek additional funding while receiving state reimbursement for operating costs, though they are not classified as state agencies.
HF 717 is an Iowa legislative bill that updates procedures for licensing decisions and judicial review. It requires licensing criteria for constitutionally protected activities to be written in clear, unambiguous language (otherwise void), sets a 30-day default deadline for agencies to act on license applications (unless extended by mutual agreement), and places the burden of proof on agencies in contested cases. The bill also mandates that courts conducting judicial review must examine all legal questions anew, not defer to agency decisions, and requires agencies to report on the law's impact by January 2026. This applies to all licensing decisions and court reviews starting July 1, 2026, affecting applicants, licensing agencies, and courts.
HF 719 requires Iowa's Department of Revenue to commission a private study examining how local governments (like counties, cities, school districts, and townships) collect taxes and assess property values. The study aims to identify more efficient and cost-effective methods for these local taxing authorities. The Department must issue a request for proposals by July 1, 2026, with a contract finalized by October 1, 2026, funded 90% by the state and 10% by local entities. The Department must submit findings to the legislature by June 30, 2027. This bill does not change tax laws but seeks to improve existing local tax processes.
HF 709 removes a requirement that cities in Iowa with populations of 29,000 or more maintain independent local civil rights agencies or commissions. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 216.19, subsection 2, by deleting the existing mandate. This change directly affects larger cities by eliminating a specific administrative obligation related to civil rights oversight. The legislation does not create new requirements but modifies an existing one, focusing solely on the structure of local civil rights bodies. The bill was introduced on March 3, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary committee.
This bill exempts private employment agencies in Iowa from paying state sales and use tax on their services. It amends Iowa Code by removing a tax obligation that currently applies to these agencies, meaning they will no longer pay tax on the fees they charge for job placement services. Under the bill, this exemption also extends to use tax under Code section 423.5 due to the automatic linkage between sales and use tax exemptions. The change directly affects private employment agencies operating in Iowa, reducing their tax burden on core service fees.
HF 720 allows counties, cities, school districts, and townships (defined as "governmental units" with tax authority) to combine tax-related services through formal agreements. It enables these local governments to jointly handle tax levying, collection, and property valuation to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The bill establishes a legal framework for such collaborations under existing Chapter 28E of Iowa law. This change directly affects local governments seeking to streamline administrative functions, not individual residents or businesses.
