Technology (Artificial Intelligence) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SSB 3013: A bill for an act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence.

Iowa's SSB 3013 defines key terms like "input," "output," and "trained artificial intelligence" to establish ownership rules. It states that a user who provides input to an AI owns the generated output (e.g., text, images) unless it infringes on existing copyrights. A person who trains an AI owns the resulting model if the training data was lawfully acquired and ownership wasn't transferred via contract. If an employee uses AI within their job duties under employer direction, the employer owns the output or trained AI, provided it doesn't violate third-party intellectual property rights.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HSB 635: A bill for an act relating to the ownership of artificial intelligence output and trained artificial intelligence.

This Iowa bill defines key terms like "input" (user-provided data/directions), "output" (AI-generated content like text or images), and "trained artificial intelligence" (the AI model after training). It states that a user who provides input owns the AI-generated output, unless it infringes on third-party copyrights. A person who trains an AI owns the resulting model if the training data was lawfully acquired and ownership wasn't transferred via contract. If an employee uses AI within their job duties under employer direction, the employer owns the output or trained AI, provided it doesn't infringe existing intellectual property rights.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2026

HF 2082: A bill for an act relating to restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence, and creating a civil cause of action.

HF 2082 prohibits using artificial intelligence to intentionally recreate a person's audio or visual likeness without their consent if the result is substantially indistinguishable from them. It specifically bans this use in commercial activity, unsupportive political campaigns, situations meant to make others believe the person engages in offensive acts, or contexts designed to damage their credibility, cause embarrassment, or induce actions/information sharing. The bill creates a civil cause of action allowing individuals to sue for actual damages, punitive damages (capped at $250,000 per violation), attorney fees, and court costs. Violations are considered separate for each day the likeness is used, and the law does not prevent lawsuits under other existing legal provisions.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2026

HSB 647: A bill for an act relating to chatbots, including deployer requirements and interactions with minors.

This Iowa bill regulates chatbot deployers by requiring safety protocols to detect and mitigate user harm, while limiting data collection to what's necessary for the chatbot's purpose. It mandates age verification to prevent minors from accessing chatbots, with exceptions for mental health chatbots that provide clinical evidence, professional recommendations, and clear disclaimers about their non-professional nature. Deployers must document testing and disclose limitations to parents/guardians for minor-accessible mental health chatbots. Violations may result in civil penalties up to $2,500 per incident.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 643: A bill for an act relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable.

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.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Media

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 29, 2026

HF 2204: A bill for an act relating to the requirements for chatbot deployers, including required protocols, limitations on data collection, and requirements for minors to interact with artificial intelligence companions and therapeutic chatbots, and providing civil penalties, punitive penalties, and civil causes of action.

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.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy Online Safety

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 609: A bill for an act modifying the duties of the workforce development board, state board of education, and department of education related to cyber and artificial intelligence.

HB 609 requires Iowa's workforce development board to create a statewide initiative addressing cyber and AI workforce needs, including developing K-12 curriculum standards for AI/cyber literacy, fostering university-industry partnerships for internships and degree programs, and establishing grant programs for training (subject to funding). It mandates the state board of education to set statewide AI/cyber literacy standards for all students from kindergarten through higher education, prioritize federal funding to bridge K-12 and college pathways, and create a voluntary school certification program based on self-attestation and limited department review. The department of education must also develop a community awareness program featuring a digital resource hub for at-risk groups and targeted educational content for demographics like seniors and law enforcement. These provisions apply directly to public schools, colleges, private industry partners, and community education efforts across Iowa.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SF 2094: A bill for an act relating to computer science and artificial intelligence education, including high school curricula and graduation requirements, practitioner preparation programs, and college admissions, and including applicability provisions.

This bill requires all Iowa public and nonpublic high schools to include one semester of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) education in their graduation requirements, beginning with the 2030-2031 graduating class. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, schools must offer AI and computer science courses meeting state standards that cover AI concepts, ethics, societal impact, and foundational skills. The bill also mandates a statewide plan for teacher training by 2027, especially for smaller schools, and establishes online course options for districts. Additionally, it modifies science and math graduation units to allow limited AI instruction to count toward requirements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 406: A bill for an act relating to restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence, and creating a civil cause of action.

HF 406 requires device companies (manufacturers of smart devices) and AI application developers to provide clear, upfront notices when users initialize devices or start apps with AI. These notices must explain exactly what private data the AI accesses, how it will be used, and give users interactive options to refuse specific data access or uninstall the AI before it collects data. The bill mandates that all data usage must align with a "statement of purpose" disclosed to users, prohibiting companies from accessing or using data in ways not previously explained. It directly affects consumers using smart devices (like smartphones or tablets) sold in Iowa after July 2025, as well as manufacturers and developers of AI-enabled products.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 6, 2025

HSB 294: A bill for an act relating to artificial intelligence, including the use of artificial intelligence to create materials related to elections and protections in interactions with artificial intelligence systems, and making penalties applicable.

This bill requires AI-generated election materials (like ads or content advocating for candidates or ballot issues) to include a clear disclosure stating "this material was generated using artificial intelligence." It defines "high-risk AI systems" as those making consequential decisions (e.g., hiring, loans, healthcare access) and prohibits algorithmic discrimination - unfair treatment based on protected characteristics like race or gender. Developers must provide deployers with detailed documentation about AI training data, limitations, bias mitigation, and intended uses. The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability in AI systems used for significant decisions while allowing exemptions for certain technologies like spam filters or basic calculators.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

All technology bills