This bill bars railway corporations from idling train engines longer than one hour when stationary within half a mile of residential neighborhoods in cities. It directly affects rail companies operating near homes, imposing fines of $500 to $5,000 per violation for exceeding the time limit. The rule applies to any stationary train in city areas zoned for housing, with penalties enforced under existing state code. The law aims to reduce noise and pollution from prolonged engine idling near residential properties.
This bill proposes increasing Iowa's state minimum hourly wage to $15.00 starting July 1, 2026, for most workers, with a lower rate of $14.10 for employees in their first 90 days of employment. It requires annual wage adjustments beginning July 1, 2027, tied directly to the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from the previous year. The bill ensures wages can only increase, never decrease, and applies to all covered workers in Iowa. This affects low-wage employees and employers across the state, with the first major increase set for 2026.
HJR 2003 proposes adding a new constitutional right to Iowa's Constitution, allowing residents to donate, convey, devise, or transfer their private property to public entities (like cities or schools) or nonprofit organizations without legal restrictions. This amendment would directly affect Iowa property owners by guaranteeing their ability to voluntarily give land or real estate to government bodies or nonprofits through a constitutional provision. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would replace current laws governing property transfers with a constitutional guarantee. The resolution is currently in committee and would require voter ratification after legislative approval.
HF 2070 renames the "Mississippi parkway planning commission" to the "Mississippi river parkway commission" (MRPC) and requires its 10 voting members to reside in different counties along Iowa's Mississippi River. It reduces advisory members from seven to four, specifying representatives from transportation, natural resources, economic development, and the state historical society. The bill mandates the MRPC to annually report the economic impact of Iowa's Great River Road - a scenic highway along the Mississippi River - to the governor and legislature by December 15. It also allows the MRPC to create a technical committee including staff from transportation, agriculture, consumer protection, and economic development agencies.
HF 2047 (the "Iowa Junk Fee Prevention Act") requires lodging, ticketing, and food delivery platforms to clearly display the total price - including all fees - before a consumer completes a purchase. It prohibits businesses from hiding or increasing fees during checkout, ensuring consumers see the full cost upfront. The law directly affects platforms like hotel booking sites, event ticket sellers, and food delivery apps, protecting Iowa consumers from surprise charges. Key provisions mandate transparent pricing in advertisements and at the point of sale, with enforcement through civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation.
HF 2053 standardizes how managed care organizations (MCOs) submit claims and get reimbursed for medical services under Iowa's medical assistance program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create uniform rules for claim processing and reimbursement levels by July 1, 2027, considering efficiency, federal rules, and funding. All existing MCO contracts must be updated to follow this standardized process, and new contracts after July 1, 2027, must include it. This directly affects MCOs managing Medicaid-like programs and healthcare providers who submit claims for patient services.
HF 2075 prohibits operating mini-trucks on Iowa highways with speed limits exceeding 55 mph (except when crossing intersections at intersections) and bans mini-trucks from being registered as antique vehicles. Mini-trucks are defined as small four-wheeled vehicles designed for property transport, with engines under 660cc and specific size limits (max 130" long, 78" high, 60" wide). Violating these rules constitutes a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $105-$855 fine. The bill applies directly to owners and operators of mini-trucks meeting this definition.
HF 2040 removes limits on compensation for patients suing healthcare providers in Iowa. It eliminates the $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages (like pain and suffering) for most cases, and removes the exception that previously allowed up to $1 million or $2 million for severe injuries like disfigurement or death. The bill also removes the exclusion of "loss of dependent care" (such as child care costs after a parent's death or injury) from noneconomic damages. Additionally, it strikes provisions requiring that punitive damages be paid to claimants in healthcare cases or to a state trust fund. The law applies to cases filed on or after July 1, 2026.
HF 2048 requires companies processing personal data for 5,000+ Iowa residents annually to obtain clear consent before using data, disclose how data will be used (including for automated decisions), and limit collection to what’s necessary. It grants Iowa residents the right to access, correct, delete their data, and revoke consent at any time. Companies must implement security measures to protect data and face civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation for breaches or noncompliance. The bill applies to commercial data processing but exempts law enforcement, de-identified data, and public information.
HF 2039 caps the annual interest rate for delayed deposit services (like check-cashing loans) at 10% and creates a repayment option for borrowers. It requires providers to offer an extended repayment plan if a borrower gets more than four loans from the same provider within two months, allowing them to pay in at least four equal installments. During this plan, providers cannot collect debt, charge penalties, or add fees, and must return postdated checks. Violations could result in administrative fines of up to $5,000 per incident. This bill directly affects borrowers using delayed deposit services and the providers offering them.
This bill requires both assessors and recorders (not just assessors) to hide participants' names from public online documents in Iowa's address confidentiality program upon request. It mandates that these officials implement a system to handle such requests without charging participants any fees. The law directly affects individuals enrolled in the program, such as victims of domestic violence, who use it to protect their home addresses. The change clarifies and expands existing requirements to ensure consistent privacy protections across all relevant state offices.
SF 636 expands Iowa's sales tax exemption to include all purchases of central office or transmission equipment used by telecommunications providers in their commercial services, removing the previous requirement that such equipment be "primarily" used for telecom purposes. This directly affects local exchange carriers, cable operators, municipal utilities, cooperatives, and other non-regulated telecom service providers. The key change modifies Code Section 423.3(47A) to make all qualifying equipment purchases tax-exempt, aligning with existing use tax exemptions under Section 423.6. The bill does not create new taxes or alter service requirements, only broadening the existing sales tax exemption scope.
