SF 232 appropriates $1 million from Iowa's general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support the Double Up Food Bucks program. This funding will be granted to the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to expand access to fresh produce for eligible residents. The program directly helps Iowa households receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by providing matching funds to buy fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets and grocery stores. The bill enables continued operation of this specific nutrition assistance mechanism without altering SNAP eligibility or benefits.
HF 338 removes a prohibition in Iowa law that previously prevented the dental board from creating rules allowing registered dental assistants to administer local anesthesia. The bill directly affects dental assistants who complete required training and the Iowa dental board, which would now have the authority to establish rules for this expanded practice. Key provisions eliminate the specific language blocking the board from delegating local anesthesia administration, though it does not automatically grant this authority - it requires the board to adopt new rules first. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Human Services committee after introduction on February 12, 2025.
HF 351 removes psilocybin and psilocin from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list under the state's Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This change would reclassify these substances, meaning they would no longer be legally classified as having "high potential for abuse" with "no accepted medical use" under Iowa law. The bill directly affects individuals in Iowa who currently face legal restrictions related to these substances, including potential users and researchers. The key mechanism is amending the statute to delete psilocybin and psilocin from the Schedule I listing, altering their legal status without specifying a new classification. This is a direct policy change to the state's drug scheduling framework.
HSB 160 requires Iowa physicians to discuss specific risks and alternatives before prescribing opioid pain medications for acute or chronic pain, both for the initial prescription and the third prescription in a treatment course. Doctors must cover addiction risks, dangers of mixing opioids with alcohol/benzodiazepines, necessity of the prescription, and alternative treatments, then document this discussion in the patient’s medical record. The law excludes prescriptions for terminal illness comfort care (like hospice) or medications treating substance use disorders. It directly affects physicians prescribing opioids and their patients, aiming to improve informed consent around high-risk medications. The bill amends existing medical practice standards to mandate these patient discussions.
SF 111 requires Iowa schools to ensure staff are trained to assist students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, each school must have at least one trained employee (or full-time school nurse) capable of administering approved seizure medications or medical devices. Schools must provide all staff with seizure recognition and first aid training by December 2026, and obtain annual parent authorization for medication administration. The bill also mandates seizure action plans for affected students and provides liability protection for school staff acting in good faith under these plans. These requirements apply only to schools with students diagnosed with epilepsy or currently taking FDA-approved seizure medication.
SF 380 prohibits noncompete agreements for nurses in Iowa, directly affecting registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners. It makes noncompete clauses void if a nurse earns under 150% of the minimum wage, and requires employers to prove such agreements are narrowly tailored to prevent unfair competition for higher-earning nurses. Violations entitle nurses to recover lost wages, attorney fees, and up to triple damages for willful violations, with employers facing $5,000 fines per violation. The law applies to agreements entered into on or after its effective date.
This bill removes the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically COMP 360, a crystalline polymorph) from Iowa's Schedule I list of controlled substances once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It would make it legal to prescribe, distribute, and market this FDA-approved pharmaceutical version, but only after federal rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act. The bill does not affect natural psilocybin or other forms of the substance, which remain illegal under current law. It directly impacts medical providers and pharmaceutical companies seeking to offer this specific FDA-approved treatment.
HF 588 prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of consumer products containing PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting January 1, 2026. It specifically targets food packaging, Class B fire fighting foam, and fire fighting personal protective equipment, with exceptions for products purchased before 2026 or required by federal law. The law applies to manufacturers, retailers, and distributors within Iowa, imposing penalties for violations after the effective date. Additional provisions address products like mattresses, air care items, and automotive maintenance products, but the core restrictions focus on the three primary categories.
HF 660 requires Iowa's Medicaid program to cover dental treatment for children with specific genetic dental conditions under the "Dental Wellness Plan Kids." It directly affects Medicaid-eligible children in Iowa diagnosed with conditions like cleft lip/palate, missing teeth (anodontia/hypodontia), enamel defects (amelogenesis imperfecta), or other genetic mouth abnormalities causing oral health issues. The bill defines covered "congenital dental abnormalities" to include conditions such as supernumerary teeth, misaligned bites (malocclusion), and gum diseases originating from genetic factors. The Department of Health and Human Services must implement this coverage requirement within the existing Medicaid dental plan.
HF 664 allows nursing home residents or their representatives (such as family members or legal guardians) to use electronic monitoring devices (like cameras) in their rooms, with strict consent requirements. Residents must provide written consent or have their representative consent if they lack capacity, and roommates in shared rooms must also consent in writing. If a roommate objects, the facility must try to move one resident to an available shared room (with the resident paying a private room rate if they choose a private space). The bill requires facilities to document consent and allows residents to withdraw consent or adjust monitoring conditions at any time.
