Rep. Brett Barker

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 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 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 2033 requires pharmacies in Iowa to provide free accessible prescription information (including labels, bag tags, and medical guides) in formats like braille or audio to people who are blind, visually impaired, or have other print disabilities. Pharmacies must offer this directly or refer patients to an accessible location within a reasonable distance, with information provided in a timely manner comparable to non-disabled patients. Health insurers must reimburse pharmacies through an enhanced dispensing fee, and the pharmacy board must publish an annual list of compliant pharmacies online. The law excludes institutional pharmacies (e.g., hospital pharmacies) and certain correctional or donation-based settings, with rules to be adopted by January 1, 2027, and a progress report due by January 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 2323 creates two new Iowa tax credits for donations to specific community organizations. The "maternity group home tax credit" allows taxpayers to claim a 100% credit against state taxes for donations to qualifying maternity group homes (defined in existing law), capped at $3.5 million annually statewide and $500,000 per organization. The "strong families tax credit" provides a 100% credit for donations to 501(c)(3) organizations offering comprehensive case management for at-risk families or fatherhood parenting services, with eligibility requiring the organization to not receive over 50% of revenue from government sources and not provide abortion counseling. Both credits are non-refundable but can be carried forward for up to five years if they exceed tax liability.

Maddy summaryHF 327 creates a tax credit for Iowa residents who serve as clinical preceptors for advanced registered nurse practitioner students. The credit provides $1,000 per clinical preceptorship (involving at least 100 hours of supervised learning) with a maximum $2,000 annual credit, directly affecting licensed nurse practitioners who mentor students without compensation. To qualify, preceptors must be employed at the clinical site, selected by the nursing program, and have at least one year of mentoring experience. The credit is refundable if it exceeds tax liability, and preceptors must document student details including hours and program information. The bill applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 2036 protects foster parents' residential address privacy by prohibiting agencies from sharing a foster parent's full address with a biological parent unless the foster parent provides written consent. The bill defines key terms like "foster parent" and "foster child," and explicitly states that documents containing unredacted addresses cannot be given to biological parents without consent. This directly affects foster parents (who control address disclosure), biological parents (who may request addresses only with consent), and child welfare agencies (which must comply with the confidentiality rule). The law aims to prevent unauthorized access to foster parents' homes while allowing voluntary disclosure when foster parents agree.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 2157) amends Iowa law to clarify that surrendering a cat or dog to an animal shelter or pound only avoids abandonment charges if a shelter employee or volunteer physically accepts the animal. It requires shelters to actively take custody of surrendered animals for the surrender to be valid, preventing owners from leaving pets unattended at facilities. This directly affects people who might abandon pets and animal shelters, as failure to meet this physical acceptance requirement could still result in criminal charges (misdemeanor or aggravated misdemeanor) for abandonment. The change ensures that shelters must formally take responsibility for surrendered animals to legally exempt the surrender from abandonment penalties.

Maddy summaryHF 2158 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create a statewide resilience plan by December 2027, focusing on preparing for natural disasters like flooding and water quality changes. The plan must include detailed risk assessments, an inventory of critical infrastructure (such as hospitals, roads, and water systems), and strategies for prioritizing projects that protect communities and natural resources. It mandates specific elements like 30-year projections of hazards, analysis of economic impacts on agriculture and infrastructure, and methods for allocating state and federal funds. The department must update the plan every two years, reporting progress to the governor and legislature on implemented projects and funding needs. This bill directly affects state agencies and local governments by establishing a structured framework for long-term disaster preparedness.