Sen. Sandy Salmon

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 summarySF 2095 requires Iowa postsecondary schools offering health-related degree programs (like nursing or medicine) to find clinical rotation placements where students can be exempt from vaccination rules during their training, upon student request. This applies specifically to students completing supervised health care training for academic credit. Schools failing to provide such exemptions lose eligibility to receive Iowa tuition grants for their students. The bill amends existing law to link school compliance with vaccination exemption placement to tuition grant eligibility.

Maddy summarySF 2174 requires public schools and colleges in Iowa to ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers avoid teaching, promoting, or acting upon stereotyping or scapegoating based on demographic group membership (like race or gender) in curriculum, materials, or training. It prohibits using public funds or school resources for such content and mandates that school districts provide staff with training on these requirements. The bill also allows parents, employees, or residents to file lawsuits to stop violations without needing to prove personal harm. This affects all public school districts, higher education institutions, and their employees, contractors, and volunteers who create or deliver educational content.

Maddy summarySJR 2008 is a non-binding resolution passed by the Iowa General Assembly supporting the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and the transfer of education authority to state and local governments. It argues that federal education regulations have caused inefficiency and stagnant student reading scores despite high spending, and that states are better positioned to address local educational needs. The resolution urges the U.S. Congress to cooperate with efforts to dissolve the Department of Education, citing the Tenth Amendment as the constitutional basis for state control. This resolution does not change federal policy but formally expresses Iowa's position on education governance.

Maddy summarySF 2177 requires Iowa library providers (like public libraries, schools, or library districts) offering digital services to minors to implement blocking measures preventing access to child pornography, hard-core pornography, obscene material, controlled substance-related content, and visual depictions of minors. If a library contracts with a third-party service provider for digital services, the contract must include specific clauses allowing the library to withhold payments, impose penalties, or terminate the contract for noncompliance after a 30-day notice period. Libraries must also report third-party noncompliance to the attorney general within 30 days. The bill does not apply to digital services used by students at state universities or community colleges.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa motion picture theaters to provide closed captioning for films available with closed captions, directly affecting deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. Large theater chains (5+ locations) must offer specific open captioning screenings based on film release timing (e.g., at least two screenings in the first two weeks, including evening/weekend options), while small chains (1-4 locations) must either provide open captioning within eight days of a patron request or meet large chain standards. Theaters must advertise these screenings using "OC" symbols, maintain compliance records for a year, and post online contact information for captioning requests. These provisions align with federal accessibility standards but apply specifically to Iowa theaters.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Iowa businesses, schools, and government agencies from requiring medical interventions (like vaccines or treatments) as a condition for services, employment, or access to facilities. It specifically bans discrimination against individuals based on medical intervention status, including in hiring, pay, or admission. Limited exceptions apply only for employment requiring travel to foreign countries that mandate specific medical interventions, requiring written contracts or 14 days' advance notice. The law directly affects all public-facing institutions and employers in Iowa, including schools, hospitals, and government services.

Maddy summarySF 2272 requires Iowa employers with 50+ full-time employees to display a veterans' benefits poster in the workplace. The poster, created by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, must include key resources like mental health services, education/training programs, tax benefits, driver’s license assistance, unemployment insurance eligibility, and legal services. Employers must display the poster prominently where employees can easily see it. This bill directly affects businesses meeting the 50-employee threshold and aims to make veterans' support resources more accessible.

Maddy summarySF 2062 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to annually distribute federal guidance on religious expression rights to all staff, develop training programs about protected speech, and adopt model policies to comply with federal standards. It prohibits schools from discriminating against students for religious, political, or ideological speech in classrooms, clubs, homework, or attire, ensuring equal treatment to other student expression. Schools failing to comply face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation, with students or clubs able to sue for enforcement. The bill applies to all public K-12 schools in Iowa and mandates annual policy certifications to the state education department.

Maddy summarySF 2063, titled the "Stop Woke Act," prohibits Iowa regents institutions from including courses or course requirements containing specific diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content in undergraduate general education or core curricula. The bill defines prohibited content as material discussing systemic racism, race-based privilege, or concepts like "critical race theory" or "systemic bias" in contemporary society. It requires the state board of regents to establish policies by December 31, 2026, and review all general education requirements to remove affected courses by the same deadline. The law specifically targets required courses in core curricula, not all courses or extracurricular programs.