Sen. Janet Petersen

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the 150th anniversary of the University of Northern Iowa, which was established in 1876. The bill directs the Senate to commend the university for its historical contributions to education and community service across Iowa. It also calls for a copy of the resolution to be presented to university leadership as a gesture of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa county treasurers to accept partial payments for property taxes as an alternative to annual or semiannual payments, rather than having the option to do so. It specifies that partial payments must be applied to each semiannual tax installment before due dates, with unpaid balances accruing interest and remaining balances carried forward. Taxpayers must request this option, and any interest earned on partial payments funds county administrative costs. The change applies to property taxes due in fiscal years starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create a searchable online database of public water sample data. The database must allow users to filter results by contaminant type (including nitrates), location, water supply system, and sampling date. It mandates that all water testing results from public water systems be publicly accessible in this format, including contaminant levels. The department must have the database operational within six months of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates nonmedical pregnancy resource centers in Iowa, which provide pregnancy counseling without medical services or abortion referrals. It requires these centers to visibly disclose they are not licensed medical providers, include nearby hospital information in all materials, ensure ultrasounds are performed by licensed providers, and comply with HIPAA confidentiality rules. The bill terminates the existing "More Options for Maternal Support" (MOMS) program by August 2026, redirecting unspent funds to increase reimbursement rates for labor and delivery services under Iowa's medical assistance program. A $1 million appropriation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year supports this reimbursement increase.

Maddy summarySF 2350 regulates Iowa law enforcement's use of automatic license plate readers (LPRs). It requires officers to obtain a warrant before searching LPR data, reduces data retention from 30 to 7 days, mandates detailed usage logs, and prohibits sharing LPR data with third parties without a warrant. The bill also creates public transparency portals showing what plates are scanned, how many searches occur, and retention statistics. Violating these rules constitutes a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine.

Maddy summarySF 2244 amends Iowa's education savings account program to establish clearer rules for qualified nonpublic schools and increase transparency. It requires these schools to meet accreditation standards, adhere to teacher licensing rules, and report student admissions/denials confidentially. The bill also mandates third-party administrators to submit detailed annual reports on fund spending (including educational materials and services) and undergo annual audits. School districts must notify families of approved students and report enrollment data, while contracts with vendors must include competitive bidding and limit fees to 3% of funds. These changes directly affect families using savings accounts, participating nonpublic schools, and third-party program administrators.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2241) sets new requirements for Iowa charter schools, directly affecting charter schools and their relationships with school districts. Key provisions include limiting charter schools to one per 10,000 students statewide per grade level (elementary/middle/high), mandating that governing boards include at least 50% parents of enrolled students and a school district representative, and requiring detailed annual reports on student enrollment, withdrawals, finances (including management fees), and academic performance. Charter schools must also comply with public fund restrictions and assessment reporting similar to traditional public schools. The state board of education will develop oversight standards to monitor academic, financial, and operational performance, with enhanced monitoring for underperforming schools.

Maddy summarySF 2261 requires owners of larger confinement feeding operations (excluding small animal feeding operations) to install and operate water pollution monitoring systems that track pollutants discharged to groundwater or surface water. These operators must report the collected data to Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) every 90 days, with the DNR publishing the data online and sharing it with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill applies to operations exceeding 500 animal units (e.g., large swine or cattle facilities), which are currently subject to less stringent regulation under Iowa law. Violations could result in daily civil penalties of up to $10,000.

Maddy summarySF 2243 modifies Iowa's audit and transparency rules for state government. It clarifies that the auditor of state may access confidential agency information (like health records or tax data) but must maintain confidentiality and cannot access individual tax returns or disease reports identifying specific people. The bill requires audit reports to be public unless they contain protected information (like personal health data), and replaces previous dispute resolution rules between agencies with a new arbitration process requiring a 3-member board appointed by the involved agencies. It also repeals outdated provisions about when audits begin and removes a 60-day deadline for arbitration decisions. The changes primarily affect state agencies, the auditor's office, and the public's access to government financial information.

Maddy summarySF 2266 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality to publish disaggregated water quality data online, specifically showing contributions from nonpoint sources like agricultural runoff to designated water bodies. This affects agricultural landowners and operators near water sources, as the bill removes confidentiality protections for data identifying their operations that contribute to water quality issues. The key mechanism mandates agencies to break down aggregated monitoring data into detailed reports by water classification, updating these publicly on a shared website. This change makes previously confidential data about farm-related water pollution contributions publicly accessible.