Sen. Adrian Dickey

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 2157 creates a legal pathway for private individuals to sue others who file lawsuits against them with malicious intent. To win such a case, a plaintiff must prove the original lawsuit was dismissed or decided in their favor, the defendant lacked reasonable legal/factual justification for filing it, the defendant acted with improper purpose (like harassment), and the plaintiff suffered actual financial harm directly from the case. The bill clarifies that plaintiffs don’t need to prove special harms like arrests or property seizures - only the normal stress and costs of defending a civil lawsuit. This applies solely to disputes between private parties, not to challenges against government actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Iowa taxpayers to voluntarily contribute $1 or more from their individual income tax return to a public school checkoff fund. The fund, managed by the state department of management, collects these contributions annually and distributes them to school districts starting in 2027 based on each district's budget enrollment. School districts receive these funds as general revenue (not counted toward district costs) and may use them for any school purpose. The checkoff will appear on tax forms for the 2026 tax year, with contributions becoming available for school funding beginning July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local authorities from issuing citations based on noise detected by automated systems when a vehicle's brakes or exhaust are used while slowing down. It defines "automated vehicle noise enforcement systems" as cameras paired with noise sensors that capture vehicles exceeding noise limits. Citations issued in violation of this rule would be void and unenforceable. The bill directly affects how cities enforce noise ordinances on moving vehicles, specifically preventing penalties for normal deceleration sounds.

Maddy summarySF 2078 restricts foreign nationals from influencing Iowa ballot issue campaigns. It defines "foreign national" broadly (including foreign governments and entities) and requires political committees to obtain donor affirmations confirming they are not foreign nationals and have not received over $100,000 in foreign funds in the past four years. The bill prohibits foreign nationals from directing campaign decisions or soliciting contributions for ballot issues and imposes civil penalties of up to $10,000 or three times the contribution amount for violations. This directly affects political committees, donors, and foreign entities seeking to influence statewide ballot measures through campaign contributions or expenditures.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 2053) helps military parents with court-ordered visitation rights during short military deployments. It allows a deploying parent (a uniformed service member with a deployment under 30 days that prevents family travel) to make up missed visitation time within 30 days before or after deployment, without exceeding the actual missed days or a 30-day total. The bill requires the deploying parent to notify the other parent in writing within seven days (or as soon as possible if service prevents it) and provide a written plan for the make-up time, which must also be filed with the court overseeing the child custody arrangement.

Maddy summarySF 2101 requires Iowa gambling and sports wagering licensees to distribute at least 3% of gambling game receipts and 0.75% of sports wagering net receipts for nonprofit purposes (like education, charity, or civic projects). It mandates that these funds be allocated proportionally to Iowa counties based on where contributors reside, using data from player rewards programs. Licensees must report contributor locations to the Department of Revenue, which calculates each county’s share; if a county receives less than 3% or no nonprofit applies, funds may be held for up to three years before being transferred to a county endowment fund. The bill applies to receipts collected in fiscal years starting after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard members killed in action during a December 2025 attack in Syria. It recognizes their military service, posthumous promotions, and sacrifices, while also acknowledging three wounded Iowa Guard soldiers from the same incident. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to the families of the two fallen soldiers as a formal tribute. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy or legal effect but serves to memorialize their service.

Maddy summarySF 96 allows eligible volunteer emergency services providers to request a reduction in property taxes and special assessments on their homesteads. To qualify, a volunteer must have served for at least five years, earn under $5,000 annually from their volunteer service, be in good standing, and reside in the service area. Volunteers submit a petition to their county board of supervisors, which reviews the request and can approve an abatement unless a local taxing authority objects. The abatement can be up to 10% of applicable taxes and special assessments, not exceeding $500 per year. For volunteers with ten or more years of service, this benefit can continue for life under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits legal liability for food dealers (like restaurants and processing plants) and commercial vehicle owners who donate "evidently safe food" to Iowa food banks. It protects them from lawsuits if the donated food is deemed "evidently safe" (meaning a reasonable person would consider it safe despite not meeting retail standards) and they had no actual knowledge the food would cause harm. The protection applies only if donors operated under valid licenses, followed required food safety handling (like temperature controls), and did not declare the food unsafe or falsely advertise it. It does not cover food regulated as alcohol, under a government stop order, or if the donor knew the food was unsafe.