Veterans (National Guard & Reserve) in Iowa

passed · Iowa · House Apr 8, 2026

HR 114: A resolution honoring the Iowans who were killed in or survived the attack on the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945.

HR 114 is a resolution that formally honors the 30 Iowans who died and the four Iowans who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. The bill recognizes the service of these individuals and the ship, which delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian before being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to the men who served from Iowa.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 2, 2025

HF 117: A bill for an act establishing the national guard service professional qualification scholarship program.

House File 117 establishes the National Guard Service Professional Qualification Scholarship Program, directly affecting members of the Iowa National Guard. This program provides scholarships to eligible Guard members pursuing specific educational programs at community colleges, state universities, or accredited private institutions. The scholarships are for programs leading to a "credential," such as a postsecondary certificate or competency-based qualification, but do not cover associate or higher degrees. The Adjutant General approves eligible educational programs and determines individual eligibility, with the College Student Aid Commission administering the scholarship payments, which cannot exceed the total program cost.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

signed · Iowa · House May 2, 2025

HF 118: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the national guard service scholarship program.

This bill modifies the Iowa National Guard service scholarship program, which helps eligible Iowa National Guard members pay for college tuition. It establishes that scholarship awards cannot exceed the difference between a student's tuition and any financial aid they receive under specific federal military programs (10 U.S.C. §2007). Additionally, the bill removes a provision that previously prohibited scholarship eligibility or award determinations from being based on a National Guard member's unit, drill location, or whether they are in the Army or Air National Guard.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid National Guard & Reserve

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2479: A bill for an act relating to driver’s licenses marked to reflect veteran status.

HF 2479 allows Iowa drivers who are honorably discharged veterans to request that their driver's license include the word "VETERAN" prominently displayed. It directly affects veterans, including National Guard members regardless of their active duty service days (removing a current requirement of at least 90 days). To qualify, applicants must provide proof of service, such as a DD-214 form showing honorable discharge, and the Department of Transportation will notify local veteran affairs commissions. The bill clarifies the definition of "veteran" for license marking purposes, aligning with broader state veteran status definitions.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Tags Licensing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2279: A bill for an act relating to driver’s licenses marked to reflect veteran status.

HF 2279 allows honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. armed forces to have "VETERAN" prominently marked on their Iowa driver's licenses. It expands eligibility to include National Guard members regardless of their active duty service days (previously requiring at least 90 days), directly affecting veterans seeking this designation. To qualify, licensees must provide proof like a DD-214 showing honorable discharge; the Department of Transportation will then mark the license and notify the local veteran affairs commission, which will contact the veteran. The bill clarifies that "veteran" includes National Guard service without minimum active duty requirements.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education Tags Licensing

passed · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HR 106: A resolution urging the members of Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act to allow medically retired service members to receive full access to their much-deserved retirement pay and benefits.

This resolution (HR 106) urges Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act, which would change current rules affecting medically retired veterans. It directly impacts approximately 50,000 service members who retired before completing 20 years of service due to medical conditions and have a disability rating below 50% - they currently lose $1 of retirement pay for every $1 of disability pay received. The resolution does not change the law itself but calls for Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which would eliminate this offset and allow these veterans to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits. It is a symbolic action, not a policy change, referencing the case of Major Richard Star, an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran who died of burn pit-related lung cancer.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2026

HF 2478: A bill for an act relating to the staff sergeant William Nathaniel Howard highway, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2478 designates a 5-mile segment of U.S. Highway 30 within Marshalltown's corporate limits as the "Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard Highway" in honor of an Iowa Army National Guard veteran who died in Syria in 2025. The bill permanently applies this designation to that specific highway segment, regardless of future changes to the highway's federal designation. This is a naming resolution with no new funding or regulatory changes, solely recognizing the veteran through official highway signage.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve

introduced · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2026

HF 2656: A bill for an act relating to the staff sergeant William Nathaniel Howard highway, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2656 designates a segment of U.S. Highway 30 within Marshalltown's city limits as the "Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard Highway" to honor Staff Sergeant William "Nate" Howard, who died in action in Palmyra, Syria, while serving in the Iowa Army National Guard. The bill applies permanently to this specific highway segment, regardless of any future changes to the highway's official designation by the U.S. government. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or funding impacts beyond standard signage costs paid from the primary road fund.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 4, 2026

HR 105: A resolution urging the members of Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act to allow medically retired service members to receive full access to their much-deserved retirement pay and benefits.

This resolution (HR 105) urges Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act, which would remove a rule affecting medically retired veterans. Specifically, it targets veterans with less than 20 years of service and a disability rating under 50%, who currently lose $1 in retirement pay for every $1 in disability benefits they receive. The resolution does not change law itself but calls for Congress to back legislation that would allow these veterans - estimated at 50,000 - to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits simultaneously. The bill text notes this rule costs veterans an average of $1,900 monthly in reduced benefits.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

passed · Iowa · House Apr 1, 2026

HR 103: A resolution calling upon the United States Congress to support efforts to recognize all United States troops who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992.

This resolution (HR 103) asks Congress to support granting an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or similar recognition to U.S. troops who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992. It specifically cites their presence as a deterrent to regional aggression, their exposure to hostile fire (including one Purple Heart recipient), and their role in military training and civil support. The resolution does not create new benefits but urges Congress to endorse efforts to formally recognize these veterans. It directly affects veterans of that specific Honduras deployment period.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits

All veterans bills