HF 849 expands the definition of harassment to include the unauthorized sharing of personal information. The bill makes it an offense to purposefully disseminate, publish, distribute, or post another person's personal information without their consent, with the intent to threaten, intimidate, annoy, or alarm them or encourage others to do so. "Personal information" is defined to include contact details like home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, places of employment, and photographic or film depictions. A violation of this provision is classified as harassment in the first degree, an aggravated misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of confinement and fines.
This bill updates Iowa's emergency 911 systems to align with federal requirements for next-generation 911 (NG911) technology. It directly affects phone companies, 911 service boards, and public safety agencies by requiring phone companies to share subscriber data with NG911 providers and changing funding allocations: reducing the share for joint 911 service boards from 60% to 46% of surcharge funds until federal transition phases (phases 1 and 2) are complete. Key provisions include mandating quarterly reimbursements for NG911 network maintenance, requiring data confidentiality, and directing a study on shared public safety answering point management. The bill aims to modernize 911 infrastructure while ensuring continued emergency call handling during the federal transition.
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Public Safety
This bill establishes a dedicated "technology reinvestment fund" to support state IT projects, appropriating $17.5 million annually starting in 2025 plus prior-year infrastructure funds. It requires the Department of Management to prioritize projects based on strategic alignment, ROI, rural access improvements, scalability, and sustainability - excluding routine maintenance. State agencies receiving fund money must submit annual reports detailing project progress, costs, and funding sources to the legislature. Additional provisions include background checks for IT staff and restrictions on contract terms that violate state law or constitution.
This bill prohibits courts from issuing subpoenas or search warrants to obtain menstrual health data. It directly affects individuals whose menstrual health data - defined as any information created or received by an entity about a person's menstrual health, status, or predictions - might otherwise be sought in legal proceedings. The key provision amends Iowa law to explicitly ban subpoenas for such data under Section 622.63 and prohibits search warrants for digital menstrual health data under Section 808.2. These changes prevent law enforcement or courts from accessing this sensitive personal information through legal process. The bill focuses solely on restricting data collection methods, not on broader health policies.
SF 143 strengthens Iowa's consumer data protection laws by granting individuals new rights regarding automated data processing. It defines "profiling" as automated analysis of personal data to predict factors like health or behavior, requiring businesses to notify consumers and allow opt-outs for decisions affecting housing, employment, health care, or financial services. The bill expands "health data" protections and clarifies exemptions for entities already regulated under federal laws like HIPAA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. It applies retroactively to January 1, 2025, affecting businesses handling consumer data in Iowa.
SF 160 modifies Iowa's election equipment rules by requiring counties to use optical scan voting systems for all elections starting July 1, 2025. It allows small cities (under 3,500 population) and school districts to count ballots manually if election officials determine turnout will be low, but voters can petition to override this choice with 100 signatures. The bill ensures voting systems meet federal accessibility standards for disabled voters through compatible electronic ballot marking devices. It directly affects local election officials in small jurisdictions and county election administrators.
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Elections
HSB 130 creates a tax credit for Iowa businesses and nonprofits investing in quantum technology infrastructure. It allows eligible applicants (including consortia) to claim credits against individual or corporate income taxes for qualifying capital investments - like lab equipment and software - used to build shared quantum facilities, provided they secure at least $2 million in federal grants. The credit is available for tax years 2026-2032, with annual funding capped at $24 million and a total program limit of $44 million. To qualify, projects must be completed before 2031 and approved by Iowa’s authority, with credits refundable if exceeding tax liability.
SF 61 requires Iowa's Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts for starting robotics-focused career and technical student organizations. It also authorizes high school athletic organizations (that receive school district funding) to sponsor or host robotics competitions. The bill specifically supports schools in creating robotics teams and competitions that align with federal career education standards. This directly affects public and nonpublic high schools, students participating in robotics, and athletic organizations seeking to expand their programs. The policy change focuses on enabling school-based robotics activities through existing educational and athletic structures.
This bill creates a dedicated $17.5 million annual technology reinvestment fund for Iowa state IT projects, plus additional funding from infrastructure reserves for 2023-2025. It requires the Department of Management to prioritize projects based on strategic alignment, return on investment, rural access benefits, sustainability, and scalability. State agencies receiving funds must report annually on project progress, costs, and outcomes. The bill also adds background check requirements for IT staff and prohibits certain contract terms that could increase state liability.
HF 503 amends Iowa's consumer data protection law to give residents greater control over how personal data is used, particularly regarding automated profiling that affects major life decisions like loans, housing, jobs, or healthcare. It defines "profiling" as automated analysis of data to predict factors like health or behavior, requiring businesses to notify consumers in plain language and allow them to opt out of such profiling. The bill exempts health data already covered by federal HIPAA rules, financial institutions under federal law, government entities, and public health activities using de-identified data. It applies retroactively to January 1, 2025, affecting businesses handling consumer data in Iowa.
