Iowa Bills

HF 2716 requests federal waivers to improve administration of Iowa's SNAP (supplemental nutrition), medical assistance, and WIC programs. It would require quarterly error rate reports for SNAP starting in 2026, allow exclusion of income for minors in school from household calculations, permit use of automated data (like unemployment records) for verification, and modify how payment errors are reported. The bill also adjusts medical assistance rules to disregard certain income for disabled individuals under 65 and mandates error rate reporting for medical programs. These changes aim to streamline eligibility processing and reporting for federal public assistance programs under Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services.

HF 2292 mandates Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to double the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute by 2028. The bill requires applying for a federal Medicaid waiver by July 2027 to fund this expansion, using the 2025 bed count as the baseline. It directly affects homeless individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders, as cited in the bill's findings linking untreated mental health to public safety concerns. The key mechanism is the Medicaid waiver process, which would allow state-funded bed increases beyond current federal restrictions. This policy change aims to expand institutional treatment capacity without specifying outcomes or advocating for particular approaches.

This bill directs the Iowa Department of Management to use state funds for technology infrastructure projects that improve government services and protect resident privacy. It establishes a Technology Reinvestment Fund with annual appropriations of $17.5 million starting in 2026, requiring projects to prioritize innovation, scalability, and rural access while ensuring long-term sustainability. The legislation also mandates stricter background checks for IT staff and vendors, including FBI criminal history checks every five years, and prohibits certain contract terms such as indemnity clauses, foreign law provisions, and blanket confidentiality requirements. Additionally, the bill requires annual reporting on funded projects to track progress and spending, with unspent funds rolling over for two years rather than reverting to the general fund.

This bill requires Iowa public schools serving students in grades 7-12 to list the "Your Life Iowa" suicide prevention program's contact information (phone, text numbers, and website) as a resource on their school websites. It also mandates that schools issuing student ID cards to grades 7-12 must include this information on the cards, with schools serving grades 5-6 allowed to optionally include it. The law directly affects students in these grade levels by making suicide prevention resources more accessible through school-issued materials and online platforms. It does not change existing suicide prevention services but ensures schools proactively share this specific resource.

SF 2335 directs Iowa's Department of Education, with the Department of Health and Human Services, to form a working group to study how school-provided technology (like laptops, online learning systems, and classroom presentations) affects students' cognitive function and academic performance. The working group, including educators, mental health professionals, and parents, must examine research and submit findings and recommendations by December 2026. The report will focus on best practices to address potential negative impacts on students' attention, learning ability, and social development. This bill does not change current technology use but mandates a formal study to inform future educational decisions.

SF 2368 requires Iowa counties to conduct a cost comparison study before approving major jail projects (building new facilities, renovating 50%+ of existing space, or expanding jail grounds/structure). The study must compare the cost of building/renovating the county's own jail versus contracting with another county's jail, including specific metrics like prisoner volume (county vs. non-county residents), annual food/medical costs, staffing, equipment expenses, and surrounding counties' jail capacities. All study data must be made public and available at county meetings where the project is considered. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

This Iowa bill amends child welfare laws to exempt parents and guardians from being accused of abuse or endangerment when raising children consistent with their sex. It specifically protects actions like using a child's sex-consistent pronouns, seeking mental health care to support a child's sex, making medical decisions based on sex, and refusing gender transition procedures for minors. The exemption applies to definitions of child abuse, endangerment, foster care licensing, custody determinations, and adoption placement decisions. It ensures these parenting choices cannot be used against families in legal proceedings or licensing reviews.

HF 2538 modifies Iowa's school performance grading system and student discipline rules. It requires schools to calculate performance grades using metrics like safety efforts (including suspending students for "disorderly conduct" like threats or classroom disruptions), academic growth, attendance, and parental engagement. The bill authorizes teachers to immediately exclude disruptive students from their classrooms and request principal involvement, with specific rules for repeat offenses (e.g., three exclusions in 30 days triggering suspension). It also mandates that charter and innovation zone schools follow the same discipline procedures as traditional school districts and allows teachers to request Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings for students with behavioral issues.

HF 2618 repeals Iowa's "smart planning principles" (sections 18B.1 and 18B.2), which required local governments and state agencies to consider 10 specific guidelines in planning, zoning, and development decisions. The bill removes these requirements from state code, eliminating the obligation for cities, counties, and state agencies to reference or apply these principles when creating comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, or infrastructure projects. It also deletes related references from other sections of Iowa law governing regional planning (28I.4), airport zoning (329.3), and local development regulations (335.5, 414.3). This change directly affects how local governments approach land use and development planning across Iowa.

HF 2628 allows Iowa's Department of Transportation to issue instruction permits to minors under 18 whose special restricted driving licenses were suspended due to violations (like traffic offenses or accidents). This replaces the current rule that blocked them from obtaining any license type for three months after their 16th birthday. The instruction permit ($6 fee) permits supervised driving with an approved adult (parent, guardian, instructor, or 25+ person with permission) in the front seat. The bill takes effect March 1, 2027, or when the new license system launches, whichever comes first.

SF 2434 requires county and city departments to obtain formal board approval via ordinance before implementing new internal policies or rules, and mandates that such ordinances include a public cost analysis detailing impacts on taxpayers and businesses. It replaces traditional newspaper publication requirements for public notices with online posting on official government websites, requiring notices to be accessible to the public for the duration of the notice period. The bill applies to all policies adopted on or after its effective date, affecting how local governments in Iowa manage policy approvals and public engagement. This change aims to increase transparency about policy costs while modernizing public notice methods.

HF 2513 prohibits Iowa public colleges and universities from hiring individuals holding valid H-1B visas who are citizens of countries designated as "foreign adversaries" by the U.S. Commerce Secretary or "state sponsors of terrorism" by the U.S. State Secretary. The law applies to institutions of higher education (excluding state board of regents institutions and community colleges) starting July 1, 2026. It requires these institutions to adopt policies preventing employment contracts with affected visa holders. The bill directly impacts hiring practices at Iowa's public universities for specific foreign nationals under federal designations. It does not affect current employment or apply to other visa types or countries not designated under federal criteria.