HF 2092 expands Iowa's statewide preschool program to include eligible five-year-olds who turn five between March 15 and September 15 of the school year, in addition to existing four-year-olds. It modifies eligibility rules so children must be four by September 15 (or five by that date for the new group) to qualify for state funding, and clarifies that children already counted for funding in prior years cannot be counted again. The bill also updates compulsory attendance rules to treat enrolled preschoolers as school-age, and changes references to "four-year-olds" to "young children" throughout related statutes. These changes apply to school budget years starting July 1, 2027.
HF 2074 allows Iowa cities to create designated "entertainment districts" where people can legally possess and consume alcoholic beverages in public areas like streets and sidewalks. Cities must adopt ordinances defining these districts, including maps, permitted hours, requirements for clearly labeled containers, and rules for participating bars and restaurants with Class C alcohol licenses. The bill specifically permits consumption only within these designated districts during approved times, using containers marked with the licensee's name, and does not allow drinking in vehicles or outside district hours. It directly affects city governments, local businesses with alcohol licenses, and residents in areas where such districts are established.
HF 2158 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create a statewide resilience plan by December 2027, focusing on preparing for natural disasters like flooding and water quality changes. The plan must include detailed risk assessments, an inventory of critical infrastructure (such as hospitals, roads, and water systems), and strategies for prioritizing projects that protect communities and natural resources. It mandates specific elements like 30-year projections of hazards, analysis of economic impacts on agriculture and infrastructure, and methods for allocating state and federal funds. The department must update the plan every two years, reporting progress to the governor and legislature on implemented projects and funding needs. This bill directly affects state agencies and local governments by establishing a structured framework for long-term disaster preparedness.
HF 2114 allows parents or legal guardians to seek substance use or mental health treatment for minors (under 18) without court involvement. The bill amends Iowa law to let guardians apply directly to treatment facilities or healthcare providers for their child's care, with strict confidentiality protections. It prohibits reporting a minor's treatment details to law enforcement without consent and creates penalties for unauthorized disclosure. The bill also specifies that a minor’s admission to treatment cannot be subject to court jurisdiction if the minor and guardian consent. This applies directly to minors needing substance use or mental health services in Iowa.
HF 2228 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request for potential transmission line placements on highway corridors. It mandates the DOT assign a project coordinator within 30 days and share highway project plans that could impact transmission line siting. The bill allows longitudinal transmission lines on primary roads (including interstates) with DOT approval, unless safety or highway function is endangered, and requires the DOT to publicly justify denials within 90 days. This directly affects utility companies seeking to install transmission lines along highways and the DOT's approval process. The bill updates existing coordination requirements to be more structured and responsive.
HF 2072 prohibits the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) from including noncompete clauses in employment contracts with physicians. It requires the university's board of regents to create a policy banning these clauses, which are restrictions preventing doctors from practicing in certain areas or for specific time periods after leaving UIHC. The law applies to all new or renewed physician contracts entered into on or after the bill's effective date (which is immediately upon enactment). This directly affects physicians employed by UIHC by removing geographic and time-based restrictions on their future practice options.
HF 2213 requires Iowa counties and cities to transfer any mineral rights they own or control to the current surface owner of the land. This applies to perpetual mineral interests (like coal, oil, gas, or geothermal resources) that counties or cities hold separately from surface ownership. The transfer must occur without cost to the surface owner within five years of the bill's effective date. The bill directly affects county/city governments and landowners who hold surface rights but lack mineral ownership.
HF 2094 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to at least double the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute by July 1, 2027, using the bed count from June 30, 2025, as the baseline. The bill also mandates that the department apply for a federal Medicaid waiver by October 1, 2026, to allow Medicaid funding for these additional beds. This policy directly affects Iowa's state mental health institutes by requiring them to expand capacity and navigate federal funding changes. The bill aims to increase access to inpatient psychiatric care through concrete, time-bound requirements.
HF 2061 expands who can request removal of their name from public property records maintained by Iowa county assessors and recorders. It adds U.S. Senators, Representatives, statewide elected officials, and Iowa state legislators to the list of people who can ask for their name to be removed from electronic documents. The bill also requires Iowa's Secretary of State to propose solutions by November 1, 2026, for protecting candidates' personal residence information while still verifying their election residency requirements. This changes the current law that only allowed law enforcement and judicial personnel to request such name removals.
HF 95 removes a prohibition on vessels displaying solid blue lights while operating on Iowa waters under the Natural Resource Commission's jurisdiction, while maintaining the ban on flashing blue lights. This change directly affects vessel operators, including recreational boaters and non-emergency commercial vessels, who can now use solid blue lights without violating state law. The bill amends existing code to clarify that only flashing blue lights remain restricted, unless the vessel is an authorized emergency vehicle. The policy change eliminates a $35 fine for displaying solid blue lights, which was previously prohibited under current law.
HF 463 creates two specialized human trafficking prosecution units within Iowa's Department of Justice, one serving western Iowa and the other eastern Iowa (divided by Interstate 35). These units will bring together prosecutors, investigators, law enforcement, victim services, healthcare professionals, and community advocates to investigate, prosecute human trafficking cases, and support victims. The units will also provide community training and technical assistance to raise awareness. The bill directly affects victims of human trafficking and requires coordination between the Attorney General's office, public safety, and health agencies. It defines "human trafficking" using the existing legal standard from Iowa Code section 710A.1.
HF 930 creates an interstate agreement (compact) allowing podiatrists licensed in one participating state to more easily obtain licenses in other participating states. It establishes a "state of principal license" (where the doctor primarily practices or resides) and streamlines additional state licenses through a standardized process. Podiatrists must meet all requirements - including background checks and current licensure in their principal state - but existing state laws remain unchanged. The compact ensures doctors are licensed in the state where the patient is located during treatment, prioritizing patient safety without altering individual states' core licensing authority.
