Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2450: A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

HF 2450 expands Iowa's statewide preschool program to include five-year-olds who turn five between June 1 and September 15 of the school year, while maintaining priority for four-year-olds (born by September 15) when enrollment space is limited. It modifies funding rules so children previously counted for four-year-old programming cannot be counted again as five-year-olds, and updates compulsory attendance rules to include preschoolers in the program. The bill changes all references to "four-year-old" in related laws to "young children" and applies to school budgets beginning July 1, 2027. This directly affects Iowa children aged 4-5, school districts offering preschool, and state education funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SF 2328: A bill for an act relating to school lunch programs provided by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2328 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools (under chapters 256E and 256F), and innovation zone schools to provide free lunches to every student in attendance, regardless of family income, starting July 1, 2026. The bill appropriates state funds from the general fund to the Department of Education to cover costs not covered by federal school lunch program funds. It mandates that schools comply with existing free lunch program requirements under section 283A.6 and directs the state board of education to create administrative rules. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HJR 2010: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to legislative changes to public retirement systems.

HJR 2010 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both Iowa legislative chambers to pass any bill changing public retirement systems (including laws governing benefits, funding, or administration). This would apply to all legislation enacting, amending, or repealing retirement system provisions, making it harder to alter these systems without broad bipartisan support. The amendment does not change retirement benefits or funding levels itself, only the legislative process needed to make such changes. If approved by the legislature and voters, it would become part of Iowa's Constitution.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2446: A bill for an act relating to wind energy conversion facilities, including requirements for development, construction, and operation.

HF 2446 requires wind energy developers in Iowa to conduct a subsurface and environmental survey before obtaining construction permits. The survey must assess risks to karst terrain, wells, septic systems, groundwater, and nearby structures, and must be shared publicly with local authorities. Developers must also maintain third-party insurance naming landowners and the state as insureds, and provide a legal opinion confirming the project isn’t a nuisance. These requirements apply to all wind energy projects seeking permits under Iowa law, directly affecting developers, landowners, and county permitting boards.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2464: A bill for an act relating to audits of governmental subdivisions by the state auditor concerning suspected embezzlement, theft, or other significant financial irregularities.

HF 2464 requires cities, counties, school districts, and other local government entities (called "governmental subdivisions") to cooperate with Iowa's state auditor when suspected embezzlement, theft, or major financial irregularities involving public funds are reported. The state auditor determines if further investigation is needed, and the affected subdivision must reimburse the auditor for investigation costs - limited to the amount of misused public funds. This bill establishes a clear process for investigating financial misconduct at local government levels while capping reimbursement amounts based on the actual loss. It directly affects all governmental subdivisions defined in the bill, including cities, counties, school districts, and public hospitals.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2461: A bill for an act relating to the auditor of state by providing for efficient use of public funds reporting.

This bill requires Iowa's auditor of state to annually create and update a list of practical, innovative best practices for efficiently using public funds - without needing new laws. The auditor must share these recommendations with all public entities (like cities, schools, and counties) and ask them to report which practices they're implementing. The auditor then compiles an annual report analyzing all responses to track progress on fund efficiency across state entities. It focuses on reporting and transparency, not on changing spending rules or creating new obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2445: A bill for an act providing for a manure management planning map.

HF 2445 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create and publish an interactive digital map showing areas vulnerable to manure pollution from animal feeding operations (AFOs). The map identifies risks based on terrain, weather patterns, and proximity to water sources like rivers or wells. Farmers applying manure from AFOs must verify they consulted this map before application, as part of their required manure management or nutrient management plans. This affects all AFO operators, including those with confinement feeding operations and open feedlots, by adding a mandatory step to reduce runoff risks. The map is designed to help farmers apply manure more efficiently while protecting water quality.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2482: A bill for an act exempting from state income tax income received by a certified public accountant performing certain audits or examinations of governmental subdivisions, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill exempts certified public accountants (CPAs) from paying state income tax on fees earned from performing audits or examinations for local governments (such as cities, counties, or school districts). It modifies Iowa's tax codes (sections 422.7 and 422.35) to exclude this specific income from taxable earnings for both individual and corporate CPAs. The exemption applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This policy change directly affects CPAs who conduct government audits by reducing their state tax burden on those fees.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2405: A bill for an act creating a study committee on advanced air mobility.

HF 2405 creates a study committee within Iowa's Department of Transportation to evaluate whether an advisory committee is needed to support planning for advanced air mobility (electric aircraft like eVTOLs for urban transportation). The committee, including aviation experts, industry representatives, and stakeholders, must report by January 11, 2027, on whether an advisory committee is necessary. If one is established, it will review state laws, assess costs, create planning resources, and coordinate with utilities and local governments before reporting to the legislature by January 10, 2028. The bill expires July 1, 2028.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2453: A bill for an act relating to school district general fund flexibility accounts by expanding eligible uses to include costs to expand preschool programs.

HF 2453 allows Iowa school districts to use existing general fund flexibility accounts for costs to expand preschool programs for four-year-olds. This directly affects school districts by expanding the permitted uses of funds they already manage under state law. The bill amends Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph c, subparagraph (1) to specifically include "start-up costs and costs to expand" approved local preschool programs. The key change is redirecting current flexibility funds toward preschool expansion without creating new state funding.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2375: A bill for an act relating to conventional human drivers physically present in certain driverless-capable vehicles, and making penalties applicable. Effective date: 07/01/2026.

HF 2375 requires a human driver to be physically present in self-driving vehicles used for commercial purposes (like delivery services or ride-hailing) in Iowa, while allowing driverless operation for personal use. The human driver must monitor the vehicle, intervene manually if needed (including stopping the vehicle), hold a valid driver's license with required commercial endorsements (like a CDL), and follow all vehicle safety laws. This directly affects commercial operators of autonomous vehicles, ensuring human oversight during operations. The bill builds on existing Iowa law that already permits driverless vehicles without humans for personal use, adding this specific requirement for commercial applications.

Topics ✗ Technology ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SF 2194: A bill for an act relating to the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights.

SF 2194 amends Iowa law to strengthen procedural protections for peace officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other public safety personnel during disciplinary investigations. The bill requires agencies to provide officers with written complaint summaries and access to relevant evidence (like incident reports and recordings) before interviews, allows officers to have legal counsel or union representatives present during investigations, and mandates audio recording of all investigative interviews. It also prohibits using statements obtained in violation of these procedures against officers for disciplinary action. The bill directly affects certified public safety personnel facing formal administrative investigations across Iowa.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results