SF 399 increases Iowa's maximum number of licensed medical cannabidiol dispensaries from five to ten. It removes a requirement that dispensaries must begin operations by December 1, 2018, and specifies that the Iowa Department of Health will accept applications for new or renewed licenses by April 1 each year, with final licensing decisions by December 1. This bill directly affects medical cannabis dispensaries seeking to operate in Iowa and the state department responsible for issuing licenses. The changes simplify the licensing process by expanding capacity and eliminating a specific start-date deadline.
SJR 7 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Iowa's Constitution that explicitly guarantees residents the right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife using traditional methods. This right would be subject to state laws and rules focused on wildlife conservation, resource management, and preserving hunting/fishing opportunities. The amendment also designates public hunting and fishing as a "preferred means" for managing wildlife populations, while clarifying it does not affect existing laws on property rights, trespass, or water resources. If approved by voters, this would amend Iowa's Constitution, requiring legislative referral and public ratification after its current legislative process.
SF 422 clarifies and regulates two deer hunting practices in Iowa. It defines "group hunting" (multiple hunters on one parcel, using only the tag of the hunter who takes the deer) as allowed for both residents and non-residents. It permits "party hunting" (sharing all tags among a group) only for resident hunters, subject to rules set by the Natural Resources Commission, and prohibits it entirely for non-resident hunters. Violating these rules is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $35 fine. The bill formalizes existing seasonal allowances for resident party hunting during specific deer seasons.
This bill (HF 2008) amends Iowa's child care assistance program to ensure child care providers receive payments for foster children who miss scheduled care days. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to allow payments for up to 16 half-days per year when a foster child is absent from their regularly scheduled child care, provided the provider also charges families not in the assistance program for similar absences. The policy directly affects child care providers serving foster children in Iowa and ensures consistent reimbursement for approved absences. It does not change eligibility for foster care itself but adjusts payment rules within the existing child care assistance program.
HF 2010, the "Iowa Pharmaceutical Advertising Transparency and Consumer Protection Act," requires pharmaceutical companies and government entities to disclose key information in television advertisements for prescription drugs and vaccines starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, ads must clearly state the highest cost (either a 30-day supply or full treatment) and list all common and serious side effects in plain language with equal visual and auditory emphasis. Pharmaceutical companies must also wait 12 months after FDA approval before advertising. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation (with daily violations counting separately), enforced by the Attorney General and paid into a consumer protection fund. This bill directly affects drug manufacturers and government health campaigns advertising in Iowa.
This bill requires Iowa's Utilities Commission to adopt rules prohibiting gas and electricity disconnections from homes during severe cold or severe hot weather, as defined by those rules. It directly affects residential utility customers by preventing service cutoffs during extreme temperature events. The key provision mandates the Commission to establish specific definitions for "severe cold weather" and "severe hot weather" in its rules, building on existing protections for severe cold. The bill does not create new penalties or funding but modifies the Commission's rulemaking authority to cover both temperature extremes.
HJR 2001 proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Iowa legislators to sponsoring no more than 10 bills as lead sponsor per legislative session. It does not restrict additional sponsorships or apply to resolutions, appropriations bills, Iowa Code editor bills, or emergency legislation certified by specific committees. The amendment would require the next general assembly to adopt it before submitting to voters for ratification. This change directly affects Iowa state legislators' ability to introduce new bills as primary sponsors during a single session.
HF 2001 requires new data centers (permit applications on or after January 1, 2026) and existing data centers expanding or renovating after that date to use cooling technologies that limit water consumption to a maximum of 0.2 liters per kilowatt-hour of energy used. It mandates data centers to submit water usage plans before construction and provide annual compliance reports for five years, while encouraging the use of nonpotable or recycled water sources like treated wastewater or stormwater for cooling. Violations may result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, corrective action orders, or permit suspension. The bill directly affects data centers consuming at least one megawatt of electricity annually, aiming to reduce strain on Iowa’s freshwater resources.
This proposed constitutional amendment would change Iowa House of Representatives terms from two to four years, requiring half the members to be elected every two years instead of all members at once. Current members would be split into two classes based on district numbers: those in odd-numbered districts would serve two years after adoption, while those in even-numbered districts would serve four years. The amendment must be approved by the legislature and voters before taking effect, and it modifies how districts are redrawn following the census. It aims to create more stable representation by reducing the frequency of full elections.
SF 2008 requires nonpublic schools receiving tuition payments through Iowa's education savings account program to meet specific accountability standards. The bill mandates that these schools must follow the same accountability, data reporting, and auditing rules as public school districts. This applies to all nonpublic schools that accept payments from parents using savings account funds for tuition. The law directly affects participating nonpublic schools by requiring compliance with these district-level requirements to continue receiving program payments. It modifies the definition of "qualified educational expenses" to include these new conditions.
This bill amends Iowa Code section 708.6 to clarify and strengthen penalties for intimidation involving dangerous weapons. It creates two felony classifications: a class "C" felony (up to 10 years in prison, $1,370-$13,660 fine) for intentionally discharging a weapon to provoke fear or anger in others, and a class "D" felony (up to 5 years, $1,025-$10,245 fine) for similar acts without that specific intent. The law applies when someone shoots, throws, or launches a weapon at or near occupied buildings, vehicles, or assemblies, causing reasonable fear of serious injury. It directly affects individuals who threaten or carry out such acts, updating existing penalties to address specific scenarios.
SF 2018 requires accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa to directly provide special education services to students with disabilities enrolled in those schools, including identifying needs, developing written plans similar to federal Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and employing licensed staff. Previously, area education agencies provided these services, but the bill shifts this responsibility to nonpublic schools, which must now cover all associated costs and cannot use agency funding for this purpose. The bill ensures students in nonpublic schools receive services comparable to those in public schools, while area education agencies must continue making such services available in the same manner. These changes align with federal special education requirements and update how services are delivered to students in nonpublic settings.
