SF 255 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to the personal needs allowance under the medical assistance program.

This bill increases Iowa's personal needs allowance for residents in specific long-term care facilities from $50 to $65 per month. It directly affects individuals living in nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual/mental disabilities, or psychiatric medical institutions for children. The allowance helps cover personal expenses not covered by medical assistance, with the state providing supplements to residents earning under $65 monthly. Starting July 1, 2026, the allowance will automatically adjust annually based on the federal consumer price index to keep pace with inflation.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Last action Mar 3, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 476.
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Feb 20, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/24/2025 12:30PM Senate Lounge.
legislature
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Alons, Celsi, and Rowley.
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, referred to Health and Human Services.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Cherielynn Westrich
Cherielynn Westrich
RRepublican
IA
13