Rep. Megan Jones

Maddy summaryHF 2161 regulates the use of automatic license plate readers (APRs) by requiring local governments to first adopt an ordinance authorizing their use. It prohibits accessing captured license plate images or data more than 24 hours after capture without a warrant or subpoena, except for specific cases like stolen vehicles, Amber Alerts (child abductions), or human trafficking investigations. The bill bans using APRs for facial recognition and prohibits placing readers near religious sites, while requiring access logs and banning sharing data with non-governmental third parties. These rules apply to local authorities, law enforcement, and any entity operating APRs in Iowa, with violations punishable as misdemeanors.

Maddy summaryHF 2138 clarifies how Iowa law enforcement must handle forfeited weapons and ammunition. It requires that all seized weapons and ammunition be deposited with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, which may use them for law enforcement, testing, or destroy them, or sell non-illegal weapons (not classified as offensive weapons) to other agencies. The bill also mandates an annual audit by the Department to track all forfeited weapons, documenting their use and location. This affects law enforcement agencies and the Department of Public Safety in managing seized items. The changes update current procedures for disposal and reporting of forfeited weapons.

Maddy summaryHF 2140 requires anyone distributing nitrous oxide in Iowa to obtain a permit from the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Permit holders must maintain a detailed log of every nitrous oxide sale. This bill directly affects businesses selling nitrous oxide (such as whipped cream chargers or recreational products) and the state agency responsible for enforcement. The law creates a regulatory framework to track nitrous oxide distribution, with the department adopting implementing rules under existing state procedures.

Maddy summaryHF 2369 requires law enforcement to obtain a search warrant before using reverse-location searches (like tracking all devices in a crime area or cell tower locations) for violent felony investigations with an imminent public safety threat. Warrant applications must include a map of the area, evidence of probable cause, and a notice that the search may capture innocent people's devices. Courts must order all collected location data to be anonymized before sharing it with police. This bill directly affects how law enforcement gathers location data and protects the privacy of individuals not suspected of a crime.

Maddy summaryHF 2112 allows licensed deer hunters in Iowa to use a registered drone to locate and retrieve a deer they have wounded while hunting. The hunter must dispatch the deer using their legal hunting method (as permitted by their license) and cannot use the drone to hunt other animals. Drones must be registered with both the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Aviation Administration, and drone use on private property requires the landowner's consent. Violating these rules incurs a $250 fine. The bill specifically applies to hunters who have wounded a deer during a legal hunt.

Maddy summaryHF 2341 creates a partial property tax exemption for residential properties sold by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in areas declared major disaster zones by the president or state disaster emergencies by the governor. It applies specifically to properties sold to owners already receiving Iowa's homestead tax credit, providing a phased tax reduction over four years: 80% exemption in the first assessment year, 60% in the second, 40% in the third, and 20% in the fourth. The exemption expires after the fourth year, meaning homeowners pay full property tax starting in the fifth year. This bill directly affects HUD-sold homeowners in disaster-affected areas who qualify for the homestead tax credit.

Maddy summaryHF 2302 creates a public registry for "persistent domestic abuse assault offenders" in Iowa - defined as individuals convicted of domestic abuse assault (under §708.2A) with at least one prior similar conviction. The registry, maintained by the Department of Public Safety, will include offenders' names, birth dates, conviction dates, counties, and photos, but exclude addresses, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license details. Courts must report qualifying convictions to the Department within seven days, and offenders must pay a $150 registration fee ($50 to the court, $100 to the Department). Offenders are removed from the registry after 2, 5, or 10 years, depending on prior convictions, with the registry applying only to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 2130 strengthens penalties for drivers required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) after DUI convictions. It creates a simple misdemeanor offense for operating a vehicle without an approved IID installed or removing it without authorization, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $105-$855 fine. The bill also elevates tampering with or circumventing an IID to a serious misdemeanor and mandates automatic revocation of a temporary restricted license (TRL) for both violations. This directly affects individuals with DUI-related license restrictions who fail to comply with IID requirements.

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 summaryThis Iowa bill (HF 2159) reclassifies kava - a plant substance used recreationally - as a Schedule I controlled substance under state law. It directly affects anyone possessing kava in Iowa, with penalties escalating based on prior offenses: a first-time offense is a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and $2,560 fine), subsequent offenses are aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years, $8,540 fine), and three or more prior convictions make it a class D felony (up to 5 years, $10,245 fine). The bill defines kava broadly to include all parts of the *piper methysticum* plant and synthetic equivalents. It does not change federal scheduling but imposes state-level criminal penalties for possession. The bill was introduced to the Public Safety committee on January 26, 2026.