Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 633: A bill for an act concerning county recorder policies and procedures including the imposition of fees and the establishment of funds, and including transition and effective date provisions.

HF 633 modernizes county land record systems in Iowa by establishing electronic filing standards and restructuring recording fees. It requires county recorders to collect $10 per page (max $500 for 50+ pages) for physical documents, with $2 per document directed to a Technology Advancement Fund for equipment and digital conversion, and $3 per document to an Electronic Services System Fund for statewide electronic record access. The bill prohibits counties from paying filing fees (except treasurers) and mandates that fees only cover direct costs like technology, excluding office expenses. These changes affect property owners paying recording fees, county recorders managing land records, and the public accessing digital records. The law also defines key terms like "electronic services system" and sets standards for secure, accessible digital land record management.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HJR 12: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service for members of the general assembly and certain statewide elected officials.

HJR 12 proposes a constitutional amendment in Iowa that would impose term limits on state legislators and key statewide officials. It limits House representatives to six consecutive terms, senators to three consecutive terms, and governors, lieutenant governors, and statewide elected officers (like secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and attorney general) to three consecutive terms. The amendment also establishes a lifetime cap of 24 years across all these offices, with service before January 1, 2029, not counting toward this limit. This is a proposed constitutional change, not yet enacted, that would require voter approval to take effect.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 667: A bill for an act creating the uniform family law arbitration Act.

This bill creates Iowa's "Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act," allowing families to resolve certain custody, parenting time, and child support disputes through private arbitration instead of court. It requires a written agreement signed by both parties, mandates arbitrators be qualified attorneys with domestic violence training, and limits arbitration to issues like parenting plans but excludes divorce, adoption, or child dependency cases. Courts retain oversight to enforce agreements, halt arbitration if issues arise, or handle disputes not covered by the law. The law directly affects families navigating family law conflicts and the courts managing related cases.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 634: A bill for an act relating to forest and fruit-tree reservations, and providing for a fee.

HF 634 establishes an annual fee for landowners who maintain forest and fruit-tree reservations that currently qualify for property tax exemptions under Iowa law. Starting January 1, 2026, fees will be paid by September 1 each year to the county treasurer and deposited into the county general fund. The fee amount depends on location: $2 per acre if the reservation is in the same county as the owner's homestead, $3 per acre if in a contiguous county, and a calculated rate based on county property taxes and corn ratings for all other reservations (including those within city limits). This replaces the current tax exemption with a location-based fee structure, directly affecting landowners with designated forest or fruit-tree reservations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 626: A bill for an act relating to monthly stipends for members of the Iowa veterans home, and making appropriations.

HF 626 creates an Iowa veterans home members fund in the state treasury to provide monthly stipends to eligible veterans. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to use fund money to give a $45 monthly stipend to each resident of an Iowa veterans home who receives Medicaid benefits. Funds in the new account come from state appropriations, federal sources, or private donations, and any unused balance at year-end cannot revert to the general state fund. This policy directly affects veterans living in state veterans homes who qualify for Medicaid, providing them with a fixed monthly financial support.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 438: A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

HF 438 establishes Iowa's process for appointing delegates to a potential Article V constitutional convention if Congress calls one. It requires the Iowa legislature to hold a special session (if not already in session) to appoint five commissioners to represent the state at such a convention. The bill specifies that commissioners must only support amendments related to the topic for which the convention was called (as defined by two-thirds of states), and outlines procedures for filling vacancies. This bill directly affects Iowa's legislative body and future delegates, preparing the state to comply with Article V requirements if a convention is convened. It is procedural, focusing on Iowa's internal appointment process rather than constitutional amendment content.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 674: A bill for an act providing paid leave to state employees for volunteer activities.

HF 674 would allow Iowa state employees to take up to 16 hours of paid leave each year for volunteer activities without losing seniority, regular pay, benefits like health coverage, or accrued leave time. Employees would be paid at their regular hourly rate for the time taken off, and the leave would not count as state employment for workers' compensation or tort claims purposes. The bill directly affects all state employees in Iowa who wish to volunteer during work hours. It creates a specific policy change to support employee community involvement through structured paid leave. The bill was introduced on February 28, 2025, and referred to the Labor and Workforce committee.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 625: A bill for an act providing for the future repeal of tax credits.

HF 625 sets specific expiration dates for existing Iowa tax credit programs, with most ending between 2027 and 2041. It also establishes that any new tax credit program enacted after January 1, 2026, will automatically expire six years after its effective date. The bill preserves tax credits issued or awarded before January 1, 2031, ensuring taxpayers can still claim or redeem them. This affects Iowa taxpayers who currently use or may later claim these credits, but does not alter existing agreements or credits issued prior to the specified dates.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HJR 6: A joint resolution calling for an Article V convention in order to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the number of terms that a person may serve in Congress or as a federal official.

HJR 6 is a resolution passed by Iowa's legislature requesting Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It seeks to propose amendments that would impose fiscal limits on federal spending, reduce federal power over states, and restrict congressional and federal official terms. This is a procedural application - meaning it does not change laws itself but asks Congress to convene a convention to draft such amendments. Iowa's application remains active until two-thirds of states apply for a similar convention or Iowa withdraws it. The resolution specifically limits the convention's purpose to these three policy areas.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 630: A bill for an act authorizing persons to wear eyeglasses when photographed for driver’s licenses and nonoperator’s identification cards.

HF 630 allows Iowans to wear their regular eyeglasses during photo sessions for driver's licenses and nonoperator ID cards, without being required to remove them. The bill amends Iowa Code sections 321.189 and 321.190 to explicitly state that applicants "shall not be required to remove eyeglasses ordinarily worn." This directly affects anyone applying for or renewing these state-issued IDs. The key change is removing a prior requirement to remove glasses for the photo, making the process more convenient for people who rely on eyewear. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as requested.)

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 377: A bill for an act concerning radon testing in rental properties.

HF 377 requires landlords in Iowa to address elevated radon levels in rental properties. Tenants can test for radon (using a certified professional) and must notify landlords if levels reach 4 parts per billion (the EPA action level). If confirmed high, landlords must install a radon mitigation system within 90 days and retest, providing results to tenants. If landlords fail to install the system or radon remains high after installation, tenants can terminate their lease with full refunds of prepaid rent and security deposits, without penalties. This bill directly affects renters and landlords in Iowa rental housing.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 487: A bill for an act relating to drug paraphernalia and drug-checking equipment.

HF 487 modifies Iowa's drug paraphernalia laws to exempt specific harm reduction tools from criminal penalties. It explicitly excludes fentanyl/xylazine test strips, drug-checking equipment, and materials used by authorized harm reduction organizations (like public health departments) from the definition of "drug paraphernalia." The bill protects individuals from arrest, housing loss, or other penalties when using these tools for testing substances, and prohibits using drug-checking results as evidence in court. It also permits state opioid settlement funds to support these activities, directly affecting people who use substance-checking services and harm reduction programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Bill results