Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2121: A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2121 requires all Iowa schools serving grades 7-12 (including public school districts, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools) to provide specific social studies instruction. It mandates at least half a semester of civics and U.S. government content for grades 7-8, and increases the required civics unit for grades 9-12 from half to one full unit. The bill specifies that this civics instruction must cover voting procedures, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and U.S. government structure, with assessments on constitutional knowledge. These requirements apply to all schools starting in the 2028-2029 school year.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2092: A bill for an act establishing the school health-related emergency response plan competitive grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2092 creates a competitive grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help schools develop cardiac emergency response plans. The program provides funding to schools (including public, nonpublic, and charter schools) to cover costs for plans meeting specific requirements, such as establishing emergency response teams, placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) within three minutes of any location on school property, requiring annual staff training in CPR and AED use, and conducting regular emergency drills. Schools must follow American Heart Association guidance for AED placement and maintenance, and the grants are intended to supplement, not replace, existing funding for these purposes. The law applies to school years starting July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2135: A bill for an act relating to limitations on discovery depositions involving minor victims.

HF 2135 limits court questioning (discovery depositions) of minor victims in criminal cases. It prohibits such questioning when the minor has already provided a recorded statement describing the alleged crime, obtained by a forensic interviewer at an accredited child advocacy or protection center following national protocols. The bill allows exceptions only if the court grants permission after a party demonstrates "exceptional circumstances." This directly affects minors who are victims in criminal cases and aims to reduce repeated trauma during legal proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2162: A bill for an act relating to shooting from roads, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2162 prohibits shooting rifles, shotguns (with a slug load), pistols, or revolvers from any road, as defined by Iowa law. It directly affects anyone using or being near roads, including drivers, pedestrians, and property owners, by banning firearm discharge in these areas. The bill defines "road" broadly as any public or private way open to public traffic, excluding only peace officers and military personnel acting in their official duties. Violators face a $30 fine, with no other penalties specified. This bill aims to enhance public safety by preventing accidental or intentional firearm discharge near moving vehicles and pedestrians.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2156: A bill for an act authorizing court-required drug testing for a parent pursuant to a custody order.

This bill allows Iowa courts to require drug testing for parents as part of custody orders when it serves a child's best interests. Parents ordered to test must pay for it, and test results remain confidential except for those involved in the custody case. If a parent fails a test, the court can modify custody arrangements to better protect the child. The law does not specify testing frequency or duration, leaving those decisions to the court's discretion. It applies directly to parents in custody disputes where drug use is a concern.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2113: A bill for an act relating to the conduct of calendar raffles by a licensed qualified organization.

This bill (SF 2113) removes a prohibition on calendar raffles conducted by licensed qualified organizations in Iowa. Currently, Iowa law (Code 99B.24) bans calendar raffles - single-entry raffles where winners are selected over multiple dates - but this bill would delete that ban. The key change amends Code 99B.24 to eliminate the specific prohibition listed in subsection 1, paragraph d. This would directly affect organizations that currently operate calendar raffles under charitable or social gambling permits.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 2164: A bill for an act relating to the definition of public improvement.

SF 2164 amends Iowa's definition of "public improvement" in construction bidding rules to exclude certain utility work. Specifically, it removes equipment from the definition and exempts repair/maintenance performed for city utilities related to electric generation, transmission, or existing utility infrastructure (like water, electricity, or gas systems). This change affects projects covered under Code chapter 26 (public construction bidding), as well as related rules for school buildings, community college contracts, and city lease-purchase agreements. By excluding these specific utility projects from "public improvement" requirements, the bill reduces the scope of projects needing competitive bidding under current law.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HJR 2004: A joint resolution calling for an Article V convention in order to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States that limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and limit the number of terms that a person may serve in Congress or as a federal official.

HJR 2004 is a joint resolution from the Iowa General Assembly requesting Congress to call an Article V convention. It seeks to propose constitutional amendments that would limit federal government power and jurisdiction, impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, and restrict terms for members of Congress and federal officials. The resolution serves as a continuing application to Congress until two-thirds of states similarly apply or Iowa withdraws, and requires the Secretary of State to transmit certified copies to federal and state officials. This is a procedural request, not a law, and does not change current federal authority.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SSB 3172: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of a health insurance pool for municipal employees.

This bill creates a centralized health insurance pool for municipal employees in Iowa, directly affecting cities and counties that choose to join. It requires the state department to conduct a competitive online bidding process ("health carrier reverse auction") where insurers submit progressively lower prices to provide health plans, with strict technology and security standards for the bidding platform. Municipalities must opt in by July 2027 (needing 10% of counties and cities to participate), and the first pool must be operational by July 1, 2028, covering active employees and retirees in specific Medicare programs. The process aims to lower costs through transparency, including automated claim reviews and market checks to ensure ongoing competitive pricing.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2306: A bill for an act relating to the treatment of animals other than agricultural animals by providing for the inspection or monitoring of commercial establishments by the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and making penalties applicable.

SF 2306 requires Iowa's Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to inspect businesses that handle non-agricultural animals, such as pet shops, shelters, boarding kennels, and commercial breeders. The bill mandates regular inspections during business hours and priority inspections for complaints or suspected violations of animal care standards. Businesses must allow inspections, and refusal may lead to a warrant for entry. This applies only to commercial animal businesses (not farms or agricultural operations), focusing on ensuring minimum care standards like food, water, and veterinary access.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2308: A bill for an act relating to certain charges for utility service.

SF 2308 prohibits Iowa utility companies from charging customers nonusage fees like meter fees, customer charges, or franchise fees. It requires utility bills to include only actual usage charges and late payment fees, banning all other charges. The bill applies to all public utilities providing water, electricity, and natural gas in Iowa, including smaller systems like rural water districts. The Iowa Utilities Commission must enforce these rules, review existing billing practices, and impose penalties for violations, including refunds to affected customers. This directly affects all Iowa utility customers by eliminating fees not tied to actual service consumption.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2235: A bill for an act relating to sewer services provided by a city utility, including establishing procedures for water that does not enter the sewer system.

SF 2235 prevents Iowa cities from charging sewer fees for water lost to leaks, pipe failures, or other conditions where water does not enter the sewer system. It requires utilities to refund improperly collected fees when customers provide reasonable proof (like repair receipts or plumber certifications) of water loss. Customers can request refunds within 12 months of the affected billing period, and utilities cannot impose unreasonable barriers to these requests. The law applies to all city sewer systems in Iowa and gives customers the option to file complaints or seek refunds through civil action.

Bill results