Technology (Artificial Intelligence) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2278: A bill for an act prohibiting personalized algorithmic pricing and surveillance pricing at certain food retail establishments, and providing civil penalties.

SF 2278 prohibits large food retail stores (over 15,000 sq ft selling primarily food) from using personalized algorithmic pricing or surveillance pricing based on consumer data. It requires clear disclosure ("THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA") when algorithmic pricing is used, bans electronic shelf labels for personalized pricing, and prohibits using data about minors (<17) or protected class characteristics (like race or gender) to set prices. Retailers must use physical price tags instead of digital displays for non-promotional pricing and cannot withhold discounts based on protected class data. The law applies only to qualifying food retailers, excluding financial services and insurers.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2200: A bill for an act relating to school email security by requiring school districts, charter schools, and area education agencies to implement certain email security standards.

SF 2200 requires all Iowa school districts, charter schools, and area education agencies to implement specific email security standards by January 1, 2027. The law mandates email security solutions that filter spam/malware, use AI for threat detection, block impersonation attacks, prevent data leaks of student information, and encrypt sensitive emails. Key provisions include scanning for personally identifiable information in emails, automatic encryption for confidential content, and comprehensive logging for compliance. Costs will be covered using existing state school foundation aid, with noncompliance defined as failing to meet all technical requirements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

signed · Iowa · Senate May 2, 2026

SF 2417: A bill for an act establishing requirements and guidelines for conversational AI services, and providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.

Iowa's SF 2417 establishes rules for conversational AI services - like chatbots that simulate human interaction - to protect users, especially minors. It requires operators to clearly disclose when users interact with AI (not humans), prevent harmful content (such as sexually explicit material or false romantic interactions), and provide privacy tools for minors and their parents. The law also mandates suicide crisis response protocols and bans AI from misleadingly claiming to offer professional mental health services. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $500,000 per operator, enforced by the Attorney General, with the law taking effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 2414: A bill for an act relating to automated decision systems used by employers.

Iowa's SF 2414 requires employers to provide written notice to employees (or their authorized representatives) about automated decision systems used in employment-related decisions - excluding hiring - before deployment or by January 1, 2027. The notice must explain the types of decisions affected (e.g., promotions, discipline, work assignments), describe the employee data used, and disclose key parameters that may disproportionately impact outcomes. It applies to employers in Iowa who use such systems to make decisions materially affecting wages, benefits, work conditions, or opportunities. The bill defines "automated decision systems" broadly but excludes tools like spam filters or basic databases. This is a transparency measure, not a restriction on system use.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

passed · Iowa · House Mar 17, 2026

HF 2609: A bill for an act relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2609 requires political campaign materials containing synthetic media - digitally altered images, audio, or video that falsely mimic real people - to include a clear disclosure: "THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA." It directly affects political advertisers, including websites, social media, TV ads, and printed materials like campaign signs. The law mandates this disclosure be prominently displayed, places sole responsibility on the publisher for compliance, and imposes penalties for willful violations (up to a year in jail or fines of $430-$2,560). The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board must create implementing rules, and the disclosure does not prevent other legal actions against harmful synthetic media use.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Media

signed · Iowa · House May 13, 2026

HF 2635: A bill for an act relating to health carriers standards of conduct; utilization review organizations, artificial intelligence, audits, and prior authorizations; certificate of need processes; and including applicability provisions.

HF 2635 sets new rules for health insurance companies and claim review organizations (utilization review organizations) in Iowa, directly affecting health care providers and patients. It prohibits using artificial intelligence as the sole method to deny, delay, or downgrade prior authorizations for medically necessary services, requiring instead a qualified physician review. The bill also establishes strict timelines for audits (45 days to complete after receiving documents) and appeals (30 days for a final decision), with penalties including 10% interest for violations. These changes apply to most health insurance plans in Iowa starting January 1, 2027, but exclude certain coverages like dental, Medicare supplements, and short-term policies.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Artificial Intelligence

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2540: A bill for an act relating to computer science and artificial intelligence education, including high school curricula and graduation requirements, and practitioner preparation programs, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2540 requires Iowa high schools to offer at least one semester of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) instruction to satisfy graduation requirements, beginning with the 2030-2031 graduating class. The bill mandates that all courses include foundational AI concepts, how AI works, and its societal and ethical impacts. Schools must provide this instruction starting in 2022 (for grade-level offerings), and the state must publish approved course lists and a teacher-training plan by 2027, with special support for small schools. This directly affects all Iowa public and accredited nonpublic high schools and their students, integrating AI education into graduation standards.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers Artificial Intelligence

introduced · Iowa · House Mar 19, 2026

HF 2691: A bill for an act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence.

HF 2691 clarifies ownership rights for artificial intelligence (AI) content and trained AI systems in Iowa. It states that users who provide input to an AI to generate content (like text, images, or predictions) own that output unless the AI's terms of service or a separate contract specifies otherwise. The bill also grants ownership of the trained AI system itself to the person who legally trained it with their own data, provided they haven't transferred that ownership via contract. These rules apply directly to Iowa residents and businesses using AI tools or developing AI systems.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

passed · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SF 2224: A bill for an act relating to computer science education, including by modifying provisions related to standards for computer science education, the curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and practitioner preparation programs, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2224 requires all Iowa public high schools (grades 9-12) to include artificial intelligence fundamentals in computer science courses, mandating instruction on what AI is, how it works, and its societal impacts. It updates graduation requirements to mandate a half-unit of computer science starting in 2022, allowing schools to fulfill part of this requirement through applied science, technology, engineering, or manufacturing courses. The bill also adds new standards for teacher preparation programs, requiring future educators to complete training in AI and computational thinking relevant to their grade level. These changes apply to all Iowa public schools and teacher training institutions, directly affecting students, educators, and curriculum developers. The law modifies existing education codes (sections 256.7, 256.11, and 256.16) to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SF 2199: A bill for an act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence.

SF 2199 clarifies ownership rights for artificial intelligence (AI) output and trained AI models in Iowa. It states that a person who provides input to an AI owns the resulting output (like text or images) they create, as long as it doesn't infringe on others' copyrights. The person who trains an AI model using lawful data owns the trained AI, unless they've already sold those rights. If an employee uses AI for work within their job duties under employer direction, the employer owns the output or trained AI, provided it doesn't violate existing copyrights. The law explicitly states it doesn't override preexisting copyright or intellectual property rights.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

All technology bills