Rep. Chad Behn

Maddy summaryHF 2303 requires promoters of professional or amateur kickboxing matches (defined as public events with admission fees, donations, or merchandise sales) to obtain a license from Iowa's state commissioner of athletics. It mandates that promoters report ticket sales and gross receipts within 20 days after an event and pay a 5% tax on those receipts (after deducting state sales tax). The bill applies the same licensing, reporting, and tax rules to kickboxing that currently govern mixed martial arts events under existing Iowa law. This formalizes kickboxing regulation under the commissioner’s authority, aligning it with current administrative practices for similar combat sports.

Maddy summaryHR 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.

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 2277 creates a framework for voluntary arbitration in specific family law disputes in Iowa, directly affecting individuals involved in custody, visitation, or support issues who choose this alternative to court. The bill requires written, signed agreements specifying the dispute and arbitrator, mandates arbitrators be qualified attorneys or retired judges with specialized training, and allows courts to compel or halt arbitration. It explicitly excludes divorce, termination of parental rights, adoptions, child dependency determinations, and certain child support cases from arbitration. The law aims to provide a faster, less adversarial process for eligible disputes while maintaining court oversight for enforcement and validity.

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 2439 clarifies that motorcycles assembled by individuals (not manufacturers) without federal certification labels - required under 49 C.F.R. § 567 - are classified as "specially constructed vehicles" for Iowa registration. This specifically affects DIY motorcycle builders who cannot meet federal labeling rules, regardless of whether their bikes have distinctive names or models. The bill removes ambiguity in current law, ensuring such vehicles remain subject to existing registration rules, including a DOT inspection to verify safety and ownership. It explicitly excludes street rods, replicas, and glider kits from this definition.

Maddy summaryHR 110 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for the "Phoenix Declaration," a set of educational principles. It does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses the declaration's emphasis on parental choice in education, transparency in schools, teaching foundational American history and values, and curricular focus on core subjects and character development. The resolution directly affects congressional record-keeping and symbolic recognition, not actual school operations or funding. It has no concrete policy impact beyond stating the House's belief in these educational principles.

Maddy summaryHF 2109 redirects 7% of criminal case fines collected within a county to a new victim restitution fund, instead of allocating it to county general funds. The bill establishes this fund in the state treasury, with funds administered by the Department of Justice to cover financial damages victims incur from crimes (like medical costs or lost wages), as defined by existing law. It changes the current 91% to state court administrator and 9% to county funds to an 85% to state, 8% to county, and 7% to the victim fund. Unspent funds in the victim restitution account will carry over annually instead of reverting. This directly affects victims of crime who receive restitution payments and alters how criminal fines are distributed.

Maddy summaryHF 2160 allows Iowa political candidates and their committees to use campaign funds for reasonable personal and home security expenses, including costs for firearms, equipment, and training. Candidates must maintain detailed logs of each expense (date, provider, cost) and include total security costs in campaign finance reports, preserving these records for five years. Violations of this rule could result in civil penalties up to $2,000 or criminal charges for willful breaches. The bill directly affects candidates and their committees managing campaign finances in Iowa.

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.