Iowa Bills

This bill establishes rules for repairing agricultural equipment in Iowa, primarily affecting farmers, independent repair shops, and equipment manufacturers. It defines key terms such as "agricultural equipment," "independent repair provider," and "embedded software" to clarify who can perform repairs and what resources they need. The legislation requires manufacturers to provide necessary documentation, software tools, and parts to independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms without imposing restrictive conditions. Additionally, the bill outlines penalties for violating these requirements and sets an effective date for the new regulations.

This bill allows food prepared at home to be sold at events held on farms and establishes specific rules for selling such items in regular stores. It defines a "farm-to-table event" as a gathering on agricultural land where at least half the meal consists of products from local farmers participating in the Choose Iowa program. The law also sets strict conditions for selling cottage foods in retail establishments, requiring them to be packaged, labeled, and kept separate from other foods, while explicitly permitting their sale at the newly defined farm events. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state licensing department create emergency rules within 180 days to implement these new requirements, which take effect immediately upon passage.

This bill updates Iowa's procedures for handling abandoned vehicles by clarifying when a vehicle is considered abandoned and standardizing how it can be towed and stored. It allows police officers or private garagekeepers to remove vehicles from public or private property, with specific rules about who can initiate the tow and how the vehicle owner must be notified. The law requires detailed written notices sent to owners within ten days of towing, informing them of the twenty-day window to reclaim the vehicle, pay fees, or retrieve personal property. Garagekeepers must display their contact information, keep records for three years, and offer limited liability protection if they follow proper notice procedures. Owners can reclaim vehicles by paying all associated fees, retrieve personal items once during business hours, and lienholders may inspect impounded vehicles for a fee.

This bill increases Iowa's tax refund for biodiesel producers from 4 cents to 5 cents per gallon of biodiesel produced. It directly affects biodiesel manufacturers in Iowa by raising their quarterly refund amount based on total annual production. The refund calculation method remains unchanged - multiplying gallons produced by the rate - but extends the program's expiration from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2031. The bill modifies existing tax provisions without altering eligibility or production requirements.

SF 2301 creates Iowa's "EDGE Program" (Headquarters Expansion and Development for Growth and Employment), which offers tax incentives to eligible businesses that retain or establish corporate headquarters in the state. It directly affects businesses in advanced manufacturing, bioscience, insurance/finance, technology, or R&D - requiring them to generate over 50% of revenue outside Iowa, offer comprehensive employee benefits, and demonstrate state-level competition for their headquarters. Key mechanisms include tax credits tied to creating new corporate jobs (e.g., strategic roles at headquarters) or retaining existing ones at risk, with incentives calculated based on qualifying wage thresholds in the local area. The bill also repeals older programs like the New Jobs Tax Credit and Industrial New Jobs Training Program while establishing new funds for electric transmission planning.

SF 2445 requires service companies selling motor vehicle or residential service contracts in Iowa to obtain and maintain a state license. It directly affects businesses offering these contracts, mandating they submit detailed applications including biographical affidavits for executives, pay a $500 license fee, and report ownership changes or disciplinary actions within 30 days. Key provisions include verifying executives' backgrounds through third parties, requiring clear disclosure of contract terms, and exempting "support services" (like marketing) from licensing while holding them accountable for compliance. The bill also establishes civil penalties for noncompliance and creates a dedicated oversight fund for administrative costs.

This bill exempts ethanol-blended gasoline containing over 85% ethanol from Iowa's excise tax when purchased exclusively for use in farm machinery (like tractors) used in agricultural production. It requires farmers to provide a completed exemption certificate to fuel suppliers at the time of purchase, which suppliers must keep for three years. If the fuel is later used for non-farm purposes, the farmer must pay the excise tax directly to the state. The change shifts from a post-purchase refund system to an upfront exemption, applying specifically to agricultural equipment fuel.

HF 2502 provides paid parental leave for Iowa state employees following the birth or adoption of a child, directly affecting all eligible state workers. The bill removes a previous requirement that employees must first qualify for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to receive paid state leave. It establishes that state employees are entitled to paid leave for up to 12 months after a birth or adoption, covering both birth and adoption placements. This change expands access to paid leave for state employees who may not have met the prior federal FMLA eligibility criteria.

This bill establishes rules for rounding cash transaction amounts in Iowa to the nearest nickel (5 cents). It requires merchants and employers paying cash wages to round down for amounts ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents; round up for amounts ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents; and always round up 1 or 2 cents to 5 cents. The rules apply only to cash payments, excluding credit cards, checks, electronic transfers, or other non-cash methods. The bill responds to the U.S. Mint suspending penny production in 2025, aiming to simplify cash transactions without pennies.

HF 978 establishes a regulatory framework for the production and administration of psilocybin in Iowa. It permits the recommendation, possession, use, and dispensing of psilocybin by registered "qualified medical psilocybin providers" and "qualified therapy providers" for patients. The bill defines various roles, facilities like cultivation and testing laboratories, and the process of psilocybin administration. It mandates that psilocybin production establishments and therapy providers maintain a real-time, video-monitored inventory control system to track psilocybin products. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for registering providers and adopting rules to implement these systems.

This bill establishes fixed annual salaries for Iowa state elected officials, including members of the General Assembly and key executive officers, effective January 2027. It sets specific pay amounts for regular assembly members and leadership roles through 2032, with a provision to revert to previous salary levels starting in 2033. The legislation also defines expense allowances, travel reimbursement rules, and per diem rates for legislative sessions, while explicitly repealing these new salary provisions after December 31, 2032.

This bill increases the state tax on cigarettes sold in Iowa, directly affecting smokers and retailers. Under the new law, the tax per cigarette rises from 6.8 cents to 14.3 cents, which doubles the cost of a standard 20-cigarette pack from $1.36 to $2.86. The legislation also raises taxes on loose tobacco dispensed from vending machines, increasing the rate from 3.06 cents to 6.43 cents per cigarette. These changes are implemented by amending existing tax code sections to require higher payments to the state department.