HF 919 Iowa House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to children’s specialty hospital designations for certain nonprofit organizations, and including effective date provisions.

House File 919 creates a new "specialty hospital" designation for certain nonprofit organizations in Iowa that were previously licensed nursing facilities. These hospitals must primarily serve individuals aged 30 and younger, with a high percentage of patients receiving Medicaid, and specialize in pediatric rehabilitation or complex medical/behavioral health needs. The bill directs state departments to grant qualifying entities a provisional general hospital license by July 1, 2025, enabling them to receive enhanced hospital-based reimbursement set at their average allowable per diem costs. It also allows for waivers from certain hospital facility requirements, construction standards, and exemptions from providing specific emergency, laboratory, or pathology services beyond what they currently offer. Furthermore, the bill permits the redesignation of nursing facility beds to specialty hospital beds and expansion up to 100 beds.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Signed May 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled with Governor's Action Reprinted · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reprinted from its final enrolled version to a committee reprinted version, primarily changing the formatting and layout to match standard legislative printing conventions. The substantive policy content regarding children's specialty hospital definitions, licensing requirements, and reimbursement rates remains unchanged.
Scope change
No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; only formatting and presentation were modified.
TECHNICAL

Changed the header from 'Enrolled with Governor's Action' to 'House File 919 - Reprinted' with committee attribution and page numbering.

Reformatted the bill text from vertical word-by-word spacing to standard paragraph and line formatting for readability.

Removed the Governor's signature block and certification language, which is expected since this is a reprinted version before final enactment.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 9, 2025 · House Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

480
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 51
Apr 9, 2025
D Democratic16
15 Yea 1
93% Yea
R Republican35
33 Yea 2
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
11
Committee
5
Amendments
5
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 94, nays 0.
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendment H-1225.
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Senate amendment H-1225 filed.
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 47, nays 0.
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment S-3070 adopted.
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Amendment S-3070 filed.
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.
legislature
Mar 27, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/31/2025 4:00PM Senate Lounge.
legislature
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Klimesh, Pike, and Trone Garriott.
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health and Human Services.
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 97, nays 0.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1163 adopted.
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Introduced
Amendment H-1163 filed.
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.