Technology

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SSB 3176: A bill for an act establishing continuing appropriations in fiscal years for which the general assembly does not pass an annual budget.

SSB 3176 ensures Iowa state agencies continue receiving funding at the previous fiscal year's level if the legislature fails to pass a new annual budget by July 1. It automatically applies the prior year's appropriations for ongoing operations, excluding one-time projects like infrastructure or technology funds. The bill prevents funding gaps by maintaining existing spending levels without new legislative action, while preserving existing budget rules, allocations, and staffing authorizations from the previous year. This procedural measure applies only to fiscal years without a passed budget and does not create new spending.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly excludes technology funds from automatic funding continuation, preventing ongoing support without new legislative action.90% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2026

HSB 636: A bill for an act prohibiting school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from entering into certain specified contracts with public libraries and hosting mobile libraries.

This bill prohibits Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from entering agreements that would allow students to use their school-issued ID cards to access public library resources (like books or digital materials). It also bans these schools from permitting mobile libraries - vehicles owned/operated by public libraries that transport books - to access school property for events where students check out books. The law defines "public library" as city-ordained or chapter 336 library districts and "mobile library" as a vehicle used for transporting educational materials. These provisions apply directly to all covered schools and public libraries in Iowa.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits school districts from allowing student ID access to public libraries and banning mobile library visits, restricting student access to educational resources.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts school-issued ID access to library digital resources, limiting student access to online materials and digital services provided by public libraries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SF 2106: A bill for an act relating to residential rental property price fixing, and providing civil penalties.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prohibits landlord price coordination and algorithmic rent-setting using secret data, preventing artificial rent inflation and protecting tenants from unfair pricing, directly supporting affordable housing and tenant rights.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBans AI/algorithmic rent-setting tools using secret competitor data, restricting tech use in price collusion per bill's explicit prohibition of 'automated tools' and 'AI' for rent coordination.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SF 2159: A bill for an act relating to materials used for prurient purposes, including age verification requirements for certain commercial entities, prohibitions on the publication, distribution, creation, or development of prohibited material, and prohibitions on child sexual exploitation material, and providing civil penalties.

This Iowa bill (SF 2159) requires commercial online platforms (like social media) to implement age verification for users under 18 when hosting content deemed "harmful to minors" or prohibited material. It defines prohibited material as child sexual abuse material, obscene content, and content harmful to minors that lacks age verification. Platforms must use approved methods (e.g., digital ID checks or third-party verification) to block minors from accessing such content, with strict rules against retaining user data after verification. Violators face civil lawsuits by minors or their guardians for actual damages, attorney fees, and minimum $5,000 penalties per violation.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyMandates age verification systems for platforms, imposing new compliance burdens that restrict how tech companies operate regarding content access for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2150: A bill for an act relating to the use of artificial intelligence for purposes associated with elections, ballot issues, and public officials, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2150 requires AI-generated content advocating for or against election candidates or ballot issues to clearly disclose it was created using artificial intelligence (e.g., "this material was generated using AI"). It prohibits AI from creating fake endorsements of candidates or ballot measures and bans using AI to depict candidates engaging in unlikely behavior, staging non-existent events, or manipulating depictions of major events to influence elections or public opinion. The bill also restricts sharing third-party AI content without making a good-faith effort to remove it and disclose its AI origin. Violations can result in fines up to $50,000 for political committees or $5,000 for candidates/public officials, with penalties deposited into the state general fund.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI misuse in elections via disclosure mandates and bans on deceptive content, limiting unregulated AI use in political contexts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SSB 1142: A bill for an act relating to digital financial asset transaction kiosks.

This bill regulates digital financial asset transaction kiosks in Iowa, directly affecting kiosk operators and consumers using these machines to exchange cash for digital assets like cryptocurrency. It limits daily transactions to $1,000 per consumer and caps fees at either $5 or 15% of the transaction value, whichever is higher. Operators must provide clear written disclosures before transactions - including fees and a finality warning - and issue detailed receipts showing all charges, asset amounts, and the licensed exchange used. Additionally, operators must report all kiosk locations to the banking division for public online access and ensure any third-party operators using their kiosks hold proper money transmission licenses.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRegulates cryptocurrency kiosks with transaction limits ($1,000/day) and fee caps, restricting digital asset transactions per bill provisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SF 205: A bill for an act modifying the earliest possible start date of the school calendar for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools.

SF 205 modifies Iowa's school calendar start date requirement for public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools. It changes the earliest possible start date from "no sooner than August 23" to "no sooner than the Monday immediately preceding the last Monday in August." The bill maintains existing requirements for a 180-day school year (or 1,080 hours), limits internet instruction to 5 days/30 hours, and mandates public hearings for calendar changes. This directly affects all Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools by altering their permitted calendar start timing.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly limits internet instruction to 5 days/30 hours, restricting internet access in schools per summary.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SF 409: A bill for an act relating to the recording and redistribution of board of parole interview proceedings, and providing penalties.

SF 409 prohibits recording or redistributing electronic board of parole interview proceedings in Iowa. It directly affects parole boards, the Department of Corrections, and individuals participating in parole interviews, requiring the Department to make inmates available for interviews and banning any recording or online sharing of electronic interviews. Violating this prohibition is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $430-$2,560 fine. The bill does not alter interview scheduling or in-person interview rules, focusing solely on electronic interview recording and distribution.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits recording of electronic parole interviews, restricting technology use in proceedings80% confidence

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 6, 2025

SF 146: A bill for an act relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase event tickets on the internet, and providing civil penalties.

This bill makes it illegal to use automated software (bots) to purchase event tickets online. It directly affects consumers who use such bots to buy tickets and ticket sellers who enable or facilitate automated purchases. Violators face civil penalties, meaning they could be fined for breaking the law. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor in June 2025.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts use of bots (technology) for ticket purchasing, limiting a technology application per bill's explicit ban on automated software.85% confidence

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HF 273: A bill for an act relating to student access to personal electronic devices in schools.

HF 273 requires Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy by December 31, 2025, prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices (like cell phones or smartphones with internet access) during classroom instruction. The policy must allow exceptions for educational use by teachers, emergencies, health management, and students with IEPs or 504 plans. Schools must make the policy publicly available online, include it in student handbooks, and notify parents through email, mail, or a note. This bill directly affects all public and accredited nonpublic schools, students, and their families by establishing clear rules for device use during learning time.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts student device use during class, limiting technology access in learning environments despite limited exceptions.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student use of personal internet-capable devices during class, directly limiting technology access in educational settings per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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