HF 2675 establishes specific procedural rights for Iowa peace officers, firefighters, EMTs, corrections staff, and other public safety personnel during formal investigations into complaints. The bill requires agencies to provide officers with a written summary of complaints before interviews, access to relevant incident reports and evidence without delay, and audio recording of all interviews. It guarantees officers the right to have legal counsel or union representatives present during investigations and disciplinary proceedings, while protecting confidential communications between officers and their representatives. The bill also prohibits using interview responses against officers in criminal cases and mandates that disciplinary decisions include providing full investigative reports upon request. This applies directly to all certified public safety personnel employed by Iowa municipalities, counties, or state agencies.
HF 2668 requires Iowa's rate-regulated electric utilities to file integrated resource plans every five years starting in 2028, detailing 5- and 20-year energy strategies. It defines virtual power plants (VPPs) - collections of customer-owned energy systems managed centrally - as not public utilities, but mandates the commission create rules to approve VPPs only if they benefit customers in their service area. The bill also requires utilities to include detailed analyses of energy options, costs, reliability, and customer impacts in their plans, with public access to non-confidential data. This directly affects electric utilities and their customers by shaping how energy resources are planned, approved, and evaluated across Iowa.
HF 2669 allows individuals with nonapparent disabilities - including autism spectrum disorder, mental disabilities, or developmental disabilities - to request that their Iowa driver's license or nonoperator ID card include a visible marking (like a butterfly design approved by the Department of Transportation) to indicate their disability status. When applying for or renewing a license or ID card, holders must specifically request this marking and may need to provide medical proof of their disability. The Department of Transportation will note the disability status in its electronic database for law enforcement access and must develop educational materials about the option. The bill takes effect on March 1, 2027, or when the new records system is implemented, and does not change existing marking for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.
HF 2693 provides legal immunity from criminal or civil liability for Iowans who use reasonable force in self-defense, defense of others, or protection of property. It creates a presumption that the person reasonably believed force was necessary to stop unlawful force, requires law enforcement to have probable cause before arresting someone for justified force, and mandates a 14-day pretrial hearing if immunity is claimed. During this hearing, the party challenging the immunity must prove it was not justified using clear and convincing evidence. The bill directly affects individuals using force in defensive situations and changes how such cases are handled by courts and law enforcement.
HF 2216 requires courts to order convicted individuals to pay restitution to law enforcement agencies for the replacement cost, training, and related expenses when a police service dog is tortured, injured, or killed. This applies to those convicted of knowingly and willfully or maliciously harming the dog, in addition to any other penalties. The bill directly affects offenders convicted under these circumstances and the law enforcement agencies that lose or require replacement of their service dogs. It creates a concrete financial obligation for harm to police dogs, focusing on covering agency costs rather than creating new criminal charges.
HF 2654 creates a tuition waiver for Iowa community college residents who are dependents of first responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical providers). To qualify, dependents must enroll in an associate degree program related to public safety/emergency response or a high-demand job, meet college admission requirements, and provide proof their parent worked as a first responder for at least six years (currently active or retired). The waiver covers remaining resident tuition after subtracting federal/state aid and scholarships, limited to two academic years. Dependents must remain Iowa residents for five years post-graduation; failure to do so requires repayment of the waived tuition, with exceptions for death or disability.
HF 2658 prohibits "street takeovers" - events involving motor vehicles violating reckless driving (Code 321.277), careless driving (321.277A), or drag racing (321.278) laws, with at least three vehicles or spectators present. It imposes escalating penalties: a first-time participant faces a $500 fine and license revocation, a second violation brings a $2,500 fine (up to 1 year jail), and a third violation is a class "D" felony ($3,500 fine, up to 5 years jail). The bill also bans organizing (serious misdemeanor) or spectating (simple misdemeanor, $400 fine) street takeovers, and requires impounding vehicles used in such events for 30 days. These provisions directly affect drivers, organizers, and spectators involved in street racing or similar events.
HF 2653 creates a 30-day driver's license suspension for unlawful or fraudulent use of a license, specifically targeting violations related to underage alcohol/tobacco access (sections 321.216B and 321.216C), license falsification (321.216A), or misuse (321.216). It prohibits temporary restricted licenses during these suspensions and extends the requirement to expunge suspension records after the suspension period ends to include tobacco-related violations (321.216C). The bill applies to suspensions occurring on or after July 1, 2027, and requires a $20 fee for license reinstatement after the suspension period. It directly affects individuals who misuse licenses for underage alcohol or tobacco access, or engage in license fraud.
HF 2626 requires campgrounds operating in Iowa floodplains to install emergency alarm systems that function without internet and post evacuation directions in all occupied structures. This directly affects campgrounds located in floodplains across Iowa, mandating specific safety measures for visitor protection during flood events. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will enforce these requirements, ensuring campgrounds have reliable emergency systems in place. The bill focuses on concrete safety infrastructure, not broader policy changes or funding.
HF 2605 establishes torture as a new criminal offense in Iowa, targeting individuals who inflict severe physical or mental suffering on someone they are controlling. The bill defines key terms like "serious bodily injury" (e.g., risk of death, severe burns) and "severe mental pain" (e.g., from threats of death or mind-altering substances), requiring the perpetrator to act with intent to cause such harm. Violators face a class B felony charge with a maximum 50-year prison sentence, and proof of victim pain is not required for conviction. This law applies to situations where a person is held against their will (e.g., in custody or confinement), and it does not prevent additional charges under other state laws for the same act.
HF 2603 updates Iowa's licensure rules for respiratory care practitioners. Starting January 1, 2027, new applicants must hold a "registered respiratory therapist" credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (or its successor) in addition to passing an exam and meeting other board requirements. Out-of-state license holders must also obtain this credential or pass a board-approved exam. Current licensees (held before 2027) are exempt unless their license lapsed over three months prior to renewal. The bill also requires the licensing board to work with educational institutions to create pathways for certified therapists to earn the new credential and develop continuing education programs.
HF 2637 protects confidential conversations between public safety workers (including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical staff, and civilian employees in these agencies) and their peer support counselors. It prohibits counselors from disclosing these communications in investigations, disciplinary actions, or legal proceedings, except when the conversation involves a plan to commit a crime, an explicit threat of harm, or mandatory reporting requirements like child abuse. The bill defines "confidential communication" as any discussion during peer support sessions and ensures these protections do not limit employers' ability to direct staff to employee assistance programs. This law aims to encourage open mental health support by preventing fear of professional consequences for sharing sensitive information.
