This bill extends the time period for minors to file civil lawsuits related to sexual abuse or exploitation that occurred during their childhood. It allows victims to file claims within 10 years of discovering the injury and its connection to the abuse, or until they turn 18 - whichever is later. The bill also revives previously time-barred cases (filed before the law's effective date) for a three-year window, and grants these cases priority in court scheduling. These provisions specifically apply to civil actions against counselors, therapists, school employees, or others providing training/education.
This bill (SSB 3080) allows nursing home residents or their designated representatives to install and use electronic monitoring devices (like cameras) in their rooms for personal monitoring. It requires written consent from the resident (or their representative if the resident lacks capacity) and from any roommate in a shared room, with clear explanations of device use and recording rules. Nursing facilities must attempt to accommodate monitoring requests by offering alternative shared rooms (or private rooms at additional cost) if a roommate refuses consent. The bill establishes specific procedures for consent, conditions, and withdrawal of monitoring, aiming to balance resident privacy rights with facility operations.
HF 2186 modifies Iowa's education savings account program by creating a new application window for semester-based funding. Parents or guardians of students attending nonpublic schools can now apply for payments between December 1-20 (instead of the existing January 1-June 30 window for full school years). If applications are submitted in this new semester window, payments are reduced to 50% of the standard amount. The bill also requires the state to pay nonpublic schools directly within 30 days when tuition is covered by these accounts. This affects families using the program for nonpublic school expenses like tuition and educational materials.
HF 2192 raises the voter approval threshold for school district bond proposals from 60% to 80% of total votes cast, while maintaining the 60% requirement for other local entities like counties or cities. It also requires school districts to set aside at least 50% of a project's total cost in dedicated funds before holding a bond election, and prohibits a school district from resubmitting a failed bond proposal for four years after a vote rejection. The bill directly affects Iowa school districts seeking to issue bonds for capital projects, such as building or renovating schools. These changes aim to strengthen voter approval requirements and ensure financial commitment before bond elections.
This bill establishes rules for bicycles, electric personal mobility devices, and pedestrian conveyances on public roads and sidewalks. It requires users to follow device manufacturer guidelines, prohibits carrying items that block steering, and bans sidewalk use for class 3 e-bikes (requiring riders under 16 to ride as passengers only). The law sets a 25 mph speed limit on roads and 20 mph on sidewalks, mandates functional brakes, and requires front/rear lights during low-light conditions. Violations are classified as simple misdemeanors with a $25 fine, while users are exempt from vehicle registration, licensing, and insurance requirements.
This bill changes retirement benefits for retired law enforcement officers rehired as school resource officers in Iowa. It allows these retired members of the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) or municipal fire/police retirement systems to continue receiving their full retirement allowance during reemployment without the usual 50-cent-per-dollar earnings reduction that applies to other retirees working over $50,000. The bill also clarifies that their reemployment as school resource officers does not count toward future retirement benefits under the systems. Retirees must elect to opt out of retirement coverage within 60 days of reemployment, but this election is final.
Iowa's HJR 2005 is a joint resolution urging the U.S. Congress to propose a constitutional amendment requiring the Supreme Court to always have exactly nine justices. It does not change current law but formally requests Congress to draft and submit this amendment. The resolution directs Iowa's Secretary of the Senate to send certified copies to the President, Senate and House leaders, and Iowa's congressional delegation. This is a procedural request, not a binding law, and directly affects only the process for amending the Constitution. The bill explicitly states it seeks to preserve the Court's stability by preventing future political changes to its size.
HF 494 requires class I and class II rail carriers (federal categories based on annual revenue) to operate passenger and freight trains with at least two qualified railroad employees on staff. The bill directly affects major freight and passenger rail companies operating in Iowa that meet the federal revenue thresholds. Violators face escalating penalties: $500-$1,000 for a first offense, $500-$5,000 for a second offense, and $5,000-$10,000 for third or subsequent offenses within a three-year period. These penalties are calculated based only on violations occurring within the three years prior to the most recent offense.
House File 824 requires courts in child custody proceedings to consider a minor child's educational setting when parents disagree on the issue. The bill defines "educational setting" broadly, covering public, charter, nonpublic, and private instruction. It establishes a rebuttable presumption that it is in the child's best interest to remain in the educational setting they attended the previous school year, which can only be overcome by specific evidence. Additionally, all child custody orders must specify each parent's rights and responsibilities concerning the child's education, such as access to records and decision-making authority. Parents with legal custody are required to provide a copy of the order to the child's educational setting.
SF 119 increases Iowa's minimum required auto insurance coverage for bodily injury or death to $50,000 per person (up from $20,000) and $100,000 for two or more people (up from $40,000), while raising property damage coverage to $25,000 (up from $15,000). These changes apply to all drivers in Iowa and align with existing requirements for transportation network company drivers (like Uber/Lyft). The bill also updates penalties for violations, increasing the fine for driving without coverage to $645 if involved in an accident (up from $325). It ensures insurance policies and judgments reflect the new coverage limits, matching current standards for ride-share services.
HF 2051 adds "school and career specialists" to the list of positions school districts can share with other entities (like other districts or political subdivisions) to qualify for extra state funding. It directly affects Iowa school districts that share these specialists for at least 20% of the school year. The key provision assigns each shared school and career specialist role a supplementary weighting equivalent to funding for two additional students, increasing resources for districts that collaborate on these services. This policy targets specialists who support at-risk students with career planning, life skills, and postsecondary transitions.
HF 2067 creates temporary "A" beer permits allowing native breweries (businesses with an existing class "A" permit) to manufacture beer off their primary premises or store beer overnight at temporary locations for up to nine months. The permit requires a $150 fee (half the standard annual fee) and cannot be refunded, though it may be renewed twice. Importantly, the permit only authorizes manufacturing and storage - not the sale of beer - at off-premises sites. This bill modifies existing Iowa beer regulations to provide limited flexibility for breweries during temporary operational needs.
