Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2294: A bill for an act relating to the audio volume of commercial advertisements provided by a video streaming service, and providing penalties.

This bill (SF 2294) prohibits Iowa-based video streaming services from transmitting commercial advertisements louder than the accompanying video content, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu that deliver video via internet protocol within Iowa, excluding TV stations, cable operators, and ad-free services. The Iowa Utilities Commission will enforce the rule, with penalties of up to $500 per daily violation, and can require services to demonstrate compliance through evidence of adherence to volume standards. The bill does not create a private right for consumers to sue over violations.

died · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2410: A bill for an act relating to the definition of public improvement for purposes of public construction bidding.

This bill changes Iowa's definition of "public improvement" for public construction bidding. It specifically excludes two items: (1) equipment for city utilities related to electric generating projects, and (2) manufactured home installation work (including foundation setup, anchoring, and utility connections). These exclusions mean such projects would no longer require competitive bidding under public construction laws. The change affects city utilities, manufactured home installers, and applies to related statutes covering school buildings, community colleges, and municipal contracts. The bill was introduced in 2026 but was later withdrawn.

died · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2421: A bill for an act relating to utilization review organizations’ use of artificial intelligence, prior authorization determinations and exemptions, and audits, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2421 would have required healthcare review groups to use human reviewers - not solely artificial intelligence - for decisions denying, delaying, or downgrading prior authorizations (e.g., changing urgent requests to standard ones). It mandated that denials include written explanations citing specific criteria, along with detailed attestations about the reviewer’s qualifications and specialty expertise. The bill also required separate human reviews for appeals and prohibited the same reviewer from handling both initial denials and appeals. This bill was withdrawn on March 4, 2026, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✗ Technology

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2026

HF 2548: A bill for an act relating to the determination and collection of certain fees by the auditor of state and the provision of municipal financial management training, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2548 increases the annual cap on fees collected by Iowa's Auditor of State from cities not required to undergo mandatory audits or fiscal examinations, raising it from $375,000 to $600,000. The fees, based on a city's budgeted gross expenditures (a sliding scale), must be paid by cities that don't need an audit or fiscal year exam. If fees exceed $600,000 in a fiscal year, the excess funds must be used to provide financial management training for city officials, either directly or through contracted organizations. The funds collected cannot revert to the general state fund and remain available for future training or examination purposes. This bill applies to fees collected starting July 1, 2026.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2420: A bill for an act relating to agriculture, including by providing for the powers and duties of the department of agriculture and land stewardship, including the promotion and regulation of commodities and products, the regulation of the transportation of agricultural commodities, and the use of agricultural land, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2420 establishes the "Choose Iowa" program to promote Iowa agricultural products, directly affecting farmers, food businesses, schools, and food banks. It creates two new purchasing initiatives: a school program reimbursing 100% of costs for eligible Iowa-grown food (like meat, dairy, and produce) when purchased from enrolled farms, and a food bank program offering similar reimbursement with a $50,000 annual cap per organization. The bill also allocates $1.75 million annually for renewable fuel infrastructure and sets membership criteria for farms/businesses to join the program. These changes provide concrete market access for Iowa producers through direct financial support for local purchases.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2409: A bill for an act relating to Gadsden flag special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.

This bill allows Iowa drivers to obtain special Gadsden flag license plates with a specific design: black background, yellow text, a coiled yellow rattlesnake on grass, and the phrase "Don’t Tread on Me." Owners pay a $50 one-time fee for standard plates or an additional $25 for personalized plates (limited to five characters), plus a $5 annual fee. All fees collected are deposited into the road use tax fund, with half allocated to the Natural Resource Commission for shooting range grants (requiring school access) and half to the Homeland Security Department for school infrastructure grants. The bill directly affects vehicle owners seeking these specialty plates and funds specific state programs through dedicated fees.

passed both · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SCR 101: A concurrent resolution to approve and confirm the appointment of Bernardo Granwehr as Ombudsman.

This concurrent resolution confirms Bernardo Granwehr's appointment as Ombudsman for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2026, as required by Chapter 2C of the law. It follows the constitutional process where the Legislative Council appoints the Ombudsman, subject to approval by both chambers of the legislature. The resolution formally approves his appointment without creating new policy or affecting any specific group.

passed · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2157: A bill for an act relating to malicious prosecution arising from civil actions between private parties.

SF 2157 creates a legal pathway for private individuals to sue others who file lawsuits against them with malicious intent. To win such a case, a plaintiff must prove the original lawsuit was dismissed or decided in their favor, the defendant lacked reasonable legal/factual justification for filing it, the defendant acted with improper purpose (like harassment), and the plaintiff suffered actual financial harm directly from the case. The bill clarifies that plaintiffs don’t need to prove special harms like arrests or property seizures - only the normal stress and costs of defending a civil lawsuit. This applies solely to disputes between private parties, not to challenges against government actions.

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2026

HF 2223: A bill for an act relating to local and state government finances by modifying provisions relating to homestead property tax credits, providing a residential property tax rebate, modifying provisions relating to retirement systems, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2223 creates a new residential property tax rebate program for Iowa homeowners, funded from the taxpayer relief fund, applicable to property taxes due in fiscal years 2026-2027. It modifies existing homestead tax credit rules to expand eligibility for elderly and disabled residents (ages 65+ with income under 250% of federal poverty level) and adds a new credit calculation method for homes where property value didn’t increase due to improvements. The bill also adjusts how homestead credits are calculated, covering up to $14,550 of a home’s value, and sets the effective date for most changes as July 1, 2027. These provisions directly affect Iowa homeowners, particularly seniors and low-income residents, by providing potential tax relief through modified credits and a new rebate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

introduced · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2026

HF 2530: A bill for an act requiring the department of natural resources to identify specific animal sources of pollutants to a water of the state when determining the water’s inclusion on a list of impaired waters.

HF 2530 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to identify specific animal sources contributing to fecal bacteria pollution before listing a water body as impaired under federal Clean Water Act rules. If fecal bacteria levels cause a water body to be considered impaired, the DNR must conduct microbial source tracking to determine the percentage contribution from each animal species (e.g., livestock, wildlife, pets) responsible for the pollution. This change applies specifically to waters listed under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, which governs state water quality standards and impairment listings. The bill mandates this analysis as a prerequisite for inclusion on the state's impaired waters list, ensuring more precise identification of pollution sources.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2026

HF 2519: A bill for an act relating to collection of accrued interest on unpaid child support by the department of health and human services.

HF 2519 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect accrued interest on unpaid child support debts, using the same interest rate applied to court judgments. It removes the current requirement for HHS to track interest balances separately and allows HHS to collect this interest without needing a court order first. The bill also permits HHS to waive accrued interest if doing so helps collect the underlying child support payment. This directly affects parents who owe unpaid child support, as it changes how interest on their debt is handled and collected.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SF 2339: A bill for an act enacting the psychology interjurisdictional compact.

This bill establishes the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, enabling psychologists licensed in one participating state to provide telepsychology services and up to 30 days of in-person care annually in other participating states without needing separate licenses. It creates standardized rules for temporary cross-state practice, requires states to share license and disciplinary information, and ensures psychologists remain accountable under each state’s regulations. The compact directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to serve clients across state lines and their clients in participating states. It does not apply to permanent practice or psychologists already licensed in both states.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results