Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2604: A bill for an act relating to child abuse based on use of a controlled substance by a pregnant woman.

HF 2604 amends Iowa law to define a pregnant woman's use of controlled substances (as defined in §124.101) as child abuse when she is responsible for a child's care. This bill expands the definition of "child" to include unborn children from fertilization to birth and requires mandatory reporters (like healthcare workers) to report such substance use to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as child abuse. Upon receiving such a report, HHS must conduct a child abuse assessment to determine if the report is valid, offer support to the pregnant woman, and take actions to protect the child's health. The bill directly affects pregnant women using controlled substances while caring for a child and changes how substance use during pregnancy is handled under child abuse reporting laws.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2613: A bill for an act relating to reporting requirements for accredited nonpublic schools and the department of education concerning education savings account funds.

HF 2613 requires accredited nonpublic schools accepting education savings account funds to annually report to Iowa's Department of Education the total amount received, detailed expenditures (including salaries and infrastructure), and publish a budget identifying these funds' intended use. It also mandates parents/guardians who decline participation or withdraw students to report their reasons to the Department. The Department must compile this data and submit an annual report to the Iowa General Assembly by September 1, including total funds distributed, school receipts, expenditure details, and participation withdrawal reasons. This bill directly affects nonpublic schools, families using savings accounts, and the Department of Education through new transparency requirements. The policy focuses on tracking fund usage and program participation without altering eligibility or funding levels.

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2597: A bill for an act relating to the payment of home security expenses from campaign funds, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2597 allows Iowa political candidates and their campaign committees to use campaign funds for home security system installation and operation, subject to strict limits: a maximum $3,000 one-time installation cost and $1,200 annual operation cost. Candidates must maintain detailed logs of all home security expenses - including provider name, date, and cost - and include these as line-item expenses in campaign finance reports. These logs must be preserved for five years (or three years after committee dissolution) and provided to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board upon audit request. Violating these rules may result in civil penalties up to $2,000 or criminal charges for serious misdemeanors.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2389: A bill for an act relating to the payment of per diem to members of the general assembly.

SF 2389 adjusts the per diem payment schedule for Iowa legislators. It reduces the number of days members receive per diem from 110 to 55 days for the first regular session and from 100 to 50 days for the second session, effective 2007. Polk County members receive 75% of the standard per diem rate. The bill does not change the $25,000 annual salary, $300 monthly allowance, or travel expense reimbursement rules.

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2599: A bill for an act relating to the right of access for persons with disabilities and service animals and modifying penalties.

HF 2599 expands the right of people with disabilities to be accompanied by service animals or service-animal-in-training in any location where such animals are permitted under state or federal law, beyond the current list of covered places like public buildings and transportation. It specifically clarifies that individuals cannot be charged extra fees for their service animals and must not be denied access solely because of the animal. The bill maintains existing penalties for interfering with this right, treating violations as a simple misdemeanor. This directly affects people with disabilities, their service animal handlers, and businesses or facilities that serve the public.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2398: A bill for an act relating to the defense of justification for violent crimes.

SF 2398 (Iowa) restricts a legal defense called "justification" for certain violent crimes. It prohibits defendants from using this defense if they commit a violent crime (as defined in Iowa law) because of a nonviolent sexual advance they received, or solely because of the victim's sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The bill directly affects individuals accused of violent crimes who might otherwise claim justification based on these specific circumstances. It changes the legal standard by removing this defense option in those defined situations, without altering the definition of violent crimes themselves.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2622: A bill for an act relating to public libraries, including eligibility requirements for state assistance and oversight by city councils.

HF 2622 requires Iowa public libraries to implement age-appropriate policies that prohibit minors from accessing materials deemed inappropriate for their age (excluding content depicting sex acts) and allows parents to monitor their child's borrowing. Libraries must submit annual reports proving compliance to receive state funding, with non-compliant libraries losing eligibility for state aid. The bill transfers oversight of library governance from boards to city councils, requiring councils to establish advisory boards that review materials for age-appropriateness and handle parental challenges. These changes directly affect public libraries, city councils, and parents of minor library users.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2405: A bill for an act relating to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by public institutions of higher education and school districts.

SF 2405 requires public schools and colleges in Iowa to ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers avoid promoting stereotyping or scapegoating based on demographic group membership or identity in any curriculum, educational materials, or training. It prohibits school districts from using public funds or resources to support such content and mandates that all relevant personnel receive training on these requirements. The bill allows parents, employees, or residents to file lawsuits seeking to stop violations without needing to prove personal harm. This policy directly affects school districts, higher education institutions, and their employees, contractors, and volunteers who develop or deliver educational content.

Topics ✗ Education

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2627: A bill for an act relating to deer depredation.

This bill changes Iowa's eligibility for deer depredation permits. It broadens the requirement from proving physical crop or tree damage to requiring only an economic loss of $1,000+ in agriculture, horticulture, or silviculture due to deer. Landowners and tenants (with landlord approval) can now qualify for permits, expanding access beyond current landowner-only eligibility. Conservation officers are also authorized to issue these permits directly, streamlining the process for affected farmers. The change aims to better support producers facing financial harm from deer damage.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2593: A bill for an act relating to infant and maternal care at health care facilities.

HF 2593, known as "The Amir Act," requires Iowa healthcare facilities (including hospitals, birth centers, and birthing hospitals) to implement specific protocols for handling concerns raised by caregivers about an infant or the infant’s mother. Key provisions mandate that facilities document all caregiver concerns (such as verbal or written expressions of distress), immediately assess them, escalate unresolved issues to supervising clinicians or rapid response teams, and prohibit retaliation against caregivers. Facilities must also provide written and verbal notices to caregivers outlining their rights to request higher care acuity, initiate rapid response, and have concerns documented. Additionally, staff must undergo annual training on implicit bias, recognizing warning signs, and using escalation protocols, with the state health department overseeing enforcement and data collection.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SR 107: A resolution recognizing and honoring the Animal Rescue League of Iowa on its centennial anniversary.

This is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 107), not a policy bill. It formally recognizes and honors the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for its 100th anniversary (founded 1926), highlighting its role as Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter. The resolution acknowledges the organization's work caring for over 13,000 animals annually and its programs like low-cost veterinary services and pet adoptions. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any policies or individuals.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 753: A bill for an act regulating hemp and associated products, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions.

Iowa's HSB 753 regulates hemp products by defining key terms like "raw hemp," "semisynthetic cannabinoid," and "synthetic cannabinoid," while explicitly excluding synthetic and semisynthetic products from its rules. It classifies legally produced hemp as an agricultural commodity, allowing its commercial sale without being treated as a controlled substance - provided it meets federal and state THC limits (tested per established requirements). The bill requires hemp products to comply with THC testing standards and clarifies that hemp-derived products aren't regulated as drugs or tobacco absent specific authorization. This directly affects hemp farmers, processors, and retailers in Iowa by setting uniform statewide rules for lawful hemp commerce.

Bill results