HF 2110 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation to issue driver's licenses and nonoperator ID cards that do not comply with federal REAL ID standards upon applicant request. The bill prohibits the department from collecting or storing biometric data (like fingerprints or facial scans), retaining supporting documents (such as birth certificates or utility bills), or sharing applicant information in federal databases. It mandates that applicants be informed about the option to obtain a noncompliant license and ensures that noncompliant IDs remain valid for state driving and identification purposes. This directly affects Iowa residents who choose not to obtain REAL ID-compliant identification.
This Iowa bill (5534XD) creates a process for removing unauthorized personal information from business filings. It allows individuals whose name, address, or email was used without permission as a business's registered agent or office to submit a sworn affidavit, prompting the Secretary of State to remove that information from public records. The bill also grants the Secretary authority to investigate suspected fraudulent filings by sending written questions (interrogatories) to businesses, with non-response or admission of violations leading to administrative dissolution. It directly affects business entities (specifically partnerships and limited partnerships) and individuals whose personal data was misused in filings.
SF 2106, the "Iowa Residential Rent Fairness and Anticollusion Act," prohibits landlords managing five or more properties from coordinating rent prices with other landlords or using algorithmic rent-setting systems that rely on nonpublic competitor data. It specifically bans software, AI, or automated tools that set rent based on secret data from other landlords without human review, treating this as price fixing. Violators face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per rental unit per month, injunctions, and restitution for tenants overcharged. The bill also requires landlords and algorithm providers to maintain records for five years and allows tenants to sue for damages if harmed by violations.
HF 2136 strengthens privacy protections for minors' library records in Iowa. It requires libraries to keep records revealing a minor's library use confidential, except when: (1) a court grants strict approval for law enforcement access based on a clear connection to a specific crime investigation, or (2) parents or guardians request their minor child's records. The bill directly affects minors using Iowa public libraries, parents/guardians seeking access to their child's records, and law enforcement agencies seeking library data. It clarifies that libraries cannot disclose these records without a judicial order for law enforcement or a parent's request, reinforcing existing confidentiality standards under Iowa Code 22.7.
Iowa's HSB 643 requires political campaigns and advertisers to clearly disclose when campaign materials (like ads, social media posts, or videos) use digitally manipulated content that falsely mimics a person's appearance or voice. It mandates that such materials prominently display "THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA," with the publisher solely responsible for compliance. The law applies to all political advertising formats, including online content, print, and broadcast media, directly affecting campaigns and media producers. Violations are classified as a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,560.
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.
HF 2118 establishes a pilot program allowing Iowa voters with disabilities that prevent hand-marking of ballots to independently mark absentee ballots by mail using assistive technology (such as nonvisual or low-vision access tools). It requires the state election commissioner to create rules for the program, including a mail request method for eligible voters. The program must test feasibility across enough counties if not statewide, with annual reports to the legislature. The pilot expires on July 1, 2029.
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Elections
This bill reclassifies violations involving digital financial asset transaction kiosks as consumer fraud under Iowa's existing consumer protection law. It grants the Iowa Attorney General sole authority to enforce compliance, seek injunctions, and impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for kiosk-related misconduct. For violations of court orders issued under this law, penalties can reach $100,000. The bill directly affects operators of digital financial kiosks and streamlines enforcement by applying established consumer fraud remedies to these new kiosk-specific violations.
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Consumer Protection
This bill adds career and technical education (CTE) instructors to the list of shared operational roles eligible for additional state funding. School districts in Iowa that share CTE instructors (licensed for grades 5-12 in fields like agriculture, business, or IT) with other districts or political subdivisions for at least 20% of the school year will receive a supplementary weighting of two pupils per shared function. This supplemental funding aims to increase resources for student programming by encouraging shared staffing. The bill specifically defines CTE instructors as those holding a valid endorsement or authorization for grades 5-12.
HF 2204 regulates chatbot developers and companies (called "deployers") that make AI chatbots publicly available. It requires deployers to implement safety protocols to detect and mitigate harm, limit user data collection to what's necessary, and verify users' ages to prevent minors from accessing certain chatbots. Specifically, it bans AI companions that simulate emotional bonds from being used by minors without age verification, prohibits impersonating people without permission (with limited exceptions), and sets strict rules for therapeutic chatbots (like mental health tools) to include disclaimers, professional recommendations, and safety testing. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $2,500 per incident or allow minors to sue for damages. The law does not apply to generic chatbots offering only basic responses without creating emotional connections.
