Rep. Samantha Fett

Maddy summaryHF 458 establishes a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Justice to fund nonprofit organizations operating sexual assault forensic examination centers. Eligible nonprofits must be state-incorporated, employ sexual assault nurse examiners, maintain dedicated treatment facilities for survivors, and prioritize sexual assault care as their primary mission. The program requires grantees to provide medical forensic services to all survivors - including adults, children, rural residents, and people with disabilities - and conduct mandatory trainings for medical staff, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the public on sexual assault services and prevention. Grantees must submit annual reports on services delivered but may seek additional funding from other sources, with the contract structured as general reimbursement for operating costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for approaching or staying within 25 feet of first responders after they have issued a verbal warning not to approach. It directly affects individuals who might interfere with law enforcement officers, probation or parole officers, firefighters, or emergency medical providers performing their duties. The law prohibits approaching within the specified distance with the intent to impede the responder's work, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. Violating this provision is classified as a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine between $430 and $2,560. The bill defines harassment as conduct that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress without a legitimate purpose.

Maddy summaryHF 2308 would allow Iowa to join a federal tax credit program, enabling Iowa residents who donate to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) to claim a state tax credit. The bill requires the governor to elect participation in the federal tax credit (under IRS Section 25F) and mandates the departments of Revenue and Education to follow federal rules to administer the program starting tax years after January 1, 2027. This would let SGOs provide scholarships of up to $1,700 per year per student for eligible elementary and secondary school expenses, directly benefiting families using nonpublic schools.

Maddy summaryHF 2209 requires Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to admit at least 80% of students who are Iowa residents or attended eligible Iowa colleges. It prioritizes applicants planning to work in Iowa rural communities (under 25,000 people) and specialize in mixed-animal veterinary care. Applicants must disclose their Iowa background and career intentions in their applications. The university must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing admission statistics and reasons for rejections.

Maddy summaryHF 2298 requires pet shops, breeders, kennels, and shelters to obtain state licenses to operate. These businesses must maintain records and cannot purchase dogs or cats from unlicensed facilities. The state will inspect facilities based on risk levels, with licenses subject to suspension for violations. This directly affects all commercial animal businesses in Iowa that handle nonagricultural animals.

Maddy summaryHF 2145 prohibits the Iowa governor from closing, mandating restrictions on, or regulating places of worship during any emergency, including disaster declarations or public health crises. It directly affects all religious buildings in Iowa with an active congregation, ensuring they cannot be subject to executive orders under emergency powers. The bill explicitly defines "place of worship" as a building where a congregation regularly gathers for religious practice, blocking any governor-led restrictions during emergencies. This is a procedural measure limiting executive authority, not creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 2016 requires owners of dogs over six months old to provide proof of ownership, such as a microchip, rabies tag, vet records, receipt, or documented history, to be recognized as the legal owner. Shelters must scan dogs for microchips upon intake and before adoption or transfer to locate owners. In ownership disputes, the person presenting valid proof is presumed to own the dog unless proven otherwise, and falsely claiming ownership is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine. The bill does not change existing rabies vaccination requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2106 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools (under chapters 256E and 256F), and innovation zone schools to annually distribute U.S. Department of Education guidance on constitutionally protected religious expression to staff and students. It mandates schools to adopt model policies ensuring compliance with federal religious expression standards, provide staff training on these standards, and publish the guidance online. The bill prohibits schools from discriminating against students based on religious, political, or ideological speech in activities like classroom discussions, assignments, clubs, or clothing, as long as it follows the same rules as other student expression. Schools failing to comply face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation, payable to the affected student or club. This law directly affects all K-12 public schools in Iowa and their policies regarding student speech rights.

Maddy summaryHF 557 upgrades penalties for animal torture in Iowa from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class "D" felony for first offenses. It defines animal torture as intentionally causing severe pain through actions like crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, or impaling an animal, or directing others to do so. For individuals with prior convictions for related offenses - such as animal abuse, bestiality, or animal contests - the penalty escalates to a class "C" felony. These changes increase maximum penalties to up to 5 years in prison and $10,245 in fines for class "D" offenses, or up to 10 years and $13,660 for class "C" offenses. The bill directly affects those committing intentional animal cruelty, with penalties applying to both first-time and repeat offenders.

Maddy summaryHF 463 creates two specialized human trafficking prosecution units within Iowa's Department of Justice, one serving western Iowa and the other eastern Iowa (divided by Interstate 35). These units will bring together prosecutors, investigators, law enforcement, victim services, healthcare professionals, and community advocates to investigate, prosecute human trafficking cases, and support victims. The units will also provide community training and technical assistance to raise awareness. The bill directly affects victims of human trafficking and requires coordination between the Attorney General's office, public safety, and health agencies. It defines "human trafficking" using the existing legal standard from Iowa Code section 710A.1.