SF 2238 clarifies public records procedures by defining "original government bodies" (the agency that created or maintains a record) and "secondary lawful custodians" (entities physically holding records provided by the original agency, like libraries or contractors). It allows secondary custodians to refer disclosure requests to the original agency for a decision, requires them to notify requesters of this deferral, and prohibits them from independently determining if records are confidential. The bill protects secondary custodians from legal liability (like lawsuits or fees) when reasonably relying on the original agency’s guidance. This affects secondary custodians handling public records but does not change disclosure standards or directly impact the public.
HF 2483 regulates towing and impounding of vehicles in Iowa, directly affecting tow companies and property owners (like parking lot operators). It requires tow operators to obtain owner consent before towing (with safety exceptions), post clear signage, document vehicles with photos, and maintain detailed records. The bill limits fees (no storage charge for the first 24 hours, max $20 if towing stops early), mandates 24-hour owner notifications with location and fee details, and requires tow companies to display rates and provide complaint instructions. Vehicle owners gain rights to record towing actions, retrieve personal property without fees, and receive itemized billing.
HF 2449 allows Iowa school districts to partner with cities and counties to jointly purchase group health insurance, nonprofit hospital plans, nonprofit medical plans, or group life insurance for their employees. Currently, school districts can only partner with other school districts or area education agencies for these plans, but this bill expands that option to include municipal and county governments. The key change is amending Iowa Code 279.12 to explicitly permit these new agreements, while clarifying they won't be classified as federal "multiple employer welfare arrangements." This directly affects school districts, cities, and counties seeking cost-effective health insurance solutions for their workforce.
HF 2551 limits how much landlords can raise rent for current tenants in Iowa residential rentals and mobile home parks. It sets a cap: rent increases cannot exceed either the Midwest region's consumer price index (CPI) increase or the county-assessed property value increase over the past year, whichever is higher. Landlords must provide written notice of any increase at least 90 days before it takes effect, and the new rent cannot start before the current lease ends. This directly affects existing tenants in both standard housing and manufactured home communities.
HF 2469 prohibits businesses from using automated systems (like AI or algorithms) to change the price of a product or service for a specific person based on "surveillance data" - such as information gathered about their behavior, salary, or biometrics. The law defines this data as anything collected through observation or inference about an individual or their group. Exceptions include price changes due to actual cost differences, widely available discounts (like student or senior rates), insurance pricing, or credit decisions under federal law. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $40,000 per incident, enforced through existing consumer fraud laws.
This bill creates a legal framework for terminally ill Iowa residents to request physician-prescribed medication for self-administration to end their life, known as "medical aid in dying." It requires patients to make two oral requests to their attending provider, obtain medical confirmation from a second provider, and undergo a 15-day waiting period. The law mandates that providers discuss all end-of-life care options (including hospice and palliative care) and confirms the patient's mental capacity to make an informed decision. The "Iowa Our Care, Our Options Act" establishes safeguards against coercion and requires providers to honor patient autonomy in end-of-life care planning.
This bill changes Iowa's licensing rules for private investigators and security agents. It requires applicants to have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions within the past ten years (instead of a lifetime ban under current law) to obtain or renew a license. The policy directly affects individuals and agencies seeking to work in these security fields in Iowa. The change applies to all new license applications and renewals processed after the law takes effect.
SF 2325 requires public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools to adopt policies granting at least one excused absence per school year for students in grades 6-12 participating in specified civic or political events. The policy must include a 24-hour advance notice requirement for students and defines "civic or political events" to include voting, serving as a poll worker, attending government meetings, political rallies, forums, or strikes. Absences for these events will not count toward chronic absenteeism thresholds. The bill applies directly to school boards and administrators managing student attendance policies in Iowa.
HF 2470 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create a voluntary pilot program allowing public school districts and charter schools to offer logic and critical thinking instruction to students in grades six through eight. Schools may provide this as a standalone course, elective, or integrated into existing classes, but participation and student completion are optional. The curriculum must be skills-based and neutral, covering logical reasoning, fallacy identification, evidence evaluation, and historical propaganda analysis - without promoting political or ideological views. The pilot runs for two school years (2027-2028), with schools submitting annual reports and the Department reporting to lawmakers by December 2029 on the program's effectiveness.
HF 2475 requires nonprofits making donations to public education to make related records publicly accessible. Specifically, it deems nonprofits acting as "supporting organizations" (under IRS rules) as government bodies, treating their records as public unless confidentiality is required by law. It also removes an existing exception that previously kept donation records to public schools, colleges, or supporting foundations confidential. This bill directly affects nonprofits donating to public educational institutions (like school districts, community colleges, or state-regent universities) and gives the public the right to examine and copy those donation records.
SF 2333 prohibits Iowa counties from requiring land surveyors to meet additional requirements beyond those mandated by state licensure under Chapter 542B. Specifically, it bans counties from imposing extra bonds, fees, or permits on surveyors working within their jurisdictions. The bill directly affects land surveyors who conduct work in Iowa counties, ensuring they only need to comply with state-level licensing standards. This change simplifies compliance for surveyors by preventing local jurisdictions from adding separate, county-specific hurdles.
HF 2473 increases the annual cap on fees collected by Iowa's Auditor of State from cities not required to have an audit or fiscal year examination from $375,000 to $600,000. The fee for each city is calculated using a sliding scale based on its budgeted gross expenditures. If total fees collected exceed $600,000 in a fiscal year, the excess must fund training for city officials on municipal financial management. The new fee structure applies to fiscal years beginning July 1, 2026.
