Rep. Carter Nordman

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 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 summaryThis bill is a resolution that formally recognizes the 150th anniversary of the University of Northern Iowa's establishment in 1876. It directly affects the university by having the House of Representatives present a copy of the resolution to its leadership as a commemorative gesture. The bill does not change any laws or policies but instead serves to celebrate the institution's history and contributions to Iowa's education and economy.

Maddy summaryHF 2579 prohibits intentionally disrupting religious services through persistent noise, physical obstruction of entrances, or causing reasonable fear among attendees. It directly affects individuals who interfere with the orderly conduct of worship gatherings. Violators face a class "D" felony charge, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1,025-$10,245 fine. This bill raises penalties for such disruptions from current misdemeanor levels to felony status under Iowa law. The measure is currently in committee review after its February 2026 introduction.

Maddy summaryHF 2086 amends Iowa's child endangerment law to clarify that "child" means anyone under 18, removing prior references to "minors." It defines specific actions that constitute endangerment, such as knowingly creating substantial health/safety risks, using unreasonable force, depriving necessary care (with a religious exemption for medical treatment), permitting abuse, abandoning a child, or allowing children in drug manufacturing areas. The bill also adds that registered sex offenders face endangerment charges for unsupervised access to minors, except for parents/guardians or spouses living with them. Penalties range from aggravated misdemeanor for lesser violations to class B felony for endangerment resulting in death.

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 95 removes a prohibition on vessels displaying solid blue lights while operating on Iowa waters under the Natural Resource Commission's jurisdiction, while maintaining the ban on flashing blue lights. This change directly affects vessel operators, including recreational boaters and non-emergency commercial vessels, who can now use solid blue lights without violating state law. The bill amends existing code to clarify that only flashing blue lights remain restricted, unless the vessel is an authorized emergency vehicle. The policy change eliminates a $35 fine for displaying solid blue lights, which was previously prohibited under current law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Staff Sergeants William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard members killed in action during a December 13, 2025, enemy attack in Palmyra, Syria. It recognizes their service, sacrifice, and posthumous promotions to staff sergeant, while also acknowledging three wounded Iowa National Guard soldiers from the same incident. The resolution formally expresses the House of Representatives' respect for their lives and sacrifice, and directs copies to be sent to their families as a gesture of recognition. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy or funding changes, solely intended to honor the fallen service members and their families.

Maddy summaryHF 965 increases the state adoption tax credit available against the individual income tax. It raises the maximum credit for qualified adoption expenses from $5,000 to $20,000 per adoption, directly affecting taxpayers who adopt a child. The credit is refundable, meaning any amount exceeding a taxpayer's liability can be returned. This bill takes effect upon enactment and applies retroactively to adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHF 328 modifies the responsibilities of county recorders regarding land record information systems and related fees. It requires counties to upload data and images of recorded documents to the county land record information system, ensuring compatibility with their recording software. The bill also redefines the purposes for which an existing $1 fee on recorded transactions can be used. Furthermore, it allows county boards of supervisors to adopt an additional fee, not exceeding $10 per transaction, for filing or recording instruments.