HF 2328 amends Iowa law to change how the state distributes its annual report on employee salaries. The bill requires the Department of Administrative Services to make the report available online and provide electronic copies to anyone who requests it for a fee covering costs (previously, legislative bodies received free copies). It removes the requirement to distribute the report without charge to legislative caucuses, the legislative services agency, and certain officials. The report must include employee names, titles, salaries, residence, and other specific data for state employees earning over $1,000 annually. This change affects all state employees whose salaries are reported and anyone seeking the document, shifting distribution from free access for lawmakers to a fee-based model for all requesters.
HF 2336 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to comply with federal standards for student religious, political, and ideological expression. The bill mandates that schools annually distribute federal guidance on religious expression to all staff, offer related professional development, adopt model policies, and certify annual compliance. Schools that fail to follow these requirements face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation. This legislation directly affects all public K-12 schools in Iowa by establishing specific administrative duties to ensure student speech rights align with federal law.
Iowa's SF 2283 restricts law enforcement use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) for general traffic enforcement, prohibiting state or local police from using them except in specific situations. The bill allows certified officers to operate drones only to assist in apprehending drivers fleeing police during a pursuit under Iowa Code §321.279, and to cite traffic violations committed during that pursuit. Operators must hold FAA certification, register drones with the FAA, avoid controlled airspace, and follow aviation notices, with noncompliance making them liable for damages. Evidence collected by drones under this exception is admissible in criminal cases against fleeing drivers, but otherwise drone-collected information is inadmissible in court unless obtained with a search warrant.
HF 2492 adds career and technical education (CTE) instructors to the list of positions eligible for shared operational functions that qualify for extra school district funding. School districts sharing CTE instructors (defined as licensed teachers with specific endorsements in grades 5-12) with other districts or political subdivisions for at least 20% of the school year will receive a supplementary funding boost of three pupils per shared function. This change expands existing funding rules, which previously covered roles like counselors and special education directors, to specifically include CTE instructors. The bill aims to redirect resources toward student programming by incentivizing shared staffing arrangements.
This bill modifies Iowa's adoption of the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) to exclude specific sections and add exemptions. It exempts kitchen countertop outlets from ground-fault protection requirements (unless serving countertops), removes arc-fault circuit breaker mandates for single-family homes and townhouses, and prohibits outlets near bathtubs/showers. Local governments cannot adopt stricter electrical codes, and future code changes must include cost analyses for consumers. The bill expires upon Iowa’s adoption of the 2026 NEC edition.
HF 2487 restricts state entities and public higher education institutions in Iowa from requiring content related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in undergraduate general education courses. It mandates that the state board of regents review all such required courses by fall 2028, identify those containing this content, and have discretion to direct institutions to eliminate them. The bill empowers the attorney general to investigate alleged violations, issue subpoenas for records, and seek enforcement through courts, with institutions required to reimburse legal costs. It also sets a December 2026 deadline for the board to establish required policies.
HF 2361 requires Iowa's regents institutions (like the University of Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI) to mandate that undergraduate students complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government as part of their general education requirements. Each course must be at least three semester hours and fulfill social sciences or humanities requirements, with institutions granting equivalent credit for similar prior coursework. The policy applies to students starting in academic years beginning July 1, 2028, and excludes three-year degree programs. Additionally, three university centers must establish lecture series promoting civil dialogue on American republic issues and submit annual reports to state leaders.
SF 2444 creates an exemption for specific cigar bars from Iowa's Smokefree Air Act, directly affecting establishments that meet strict criteria. To qualify, a cigar bar must generate at least 35% of revenue from premium cigars (defined as handcrafted cigars without filters), prohibit entry to those under 21, hold specific alcohol and tobacco licenses, maintain a minimum humidor capacity, and clearly post smoking policies. The bill requires annual verification of revenue sources to maintain the exemption, with violations subject to civil penalties up to $5,000 for repeat offenses within a year. This policy change allows smoking in these designated venues while maintaining public health protections for other indoor spaces.
HF 2686 authorizes Iowa's Board of Educational Examiners to issue provisional coaching authorizations to individuals who meet specific requirements but lack full coaching credentials. To qualify, applicants must complete background checks, CPR/AED training, youth sports concussion training, and child abuse reporter training. A provisional authorization expires after 180 days or the end of the sport season, whichever comes first, and cannot be renewed. Holders may convert it to a full authorization by completing required coaching courses, higher education coursework, providing prior coaching experience, or completing comparable safety training. This bill affects school coaches seeking temporary authorization while working toward full certification.
HF 2362 requires Iowa's regents institutions to establish a policy preventing tuition increases for resident undergraduate students during their subsequent years of enrollment after the first year, starting with enrollments beginning in 2027 or later. It directly affects in-state undergraduate students who begin their first academic year at a regents institution in 2027 or later, freezing tuition for up to three additional years. Key exceptions include students who transfer to a higher-tuition institution (allowing the new school to charge more) or those who complete their degree in fewer than four years using transfer credits. The policy does not apply to any academic years beyond three consecutive years after the student's first year.
SF 2412 requires all state and local government agencies, as well as professional licensing departments, to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the immigration status and work eligibility of newly hired employees and license applicants. It establishes a 10-day appeal process for individuals who dispute E-Verify results, allowing them to submit documentation to challenge the findings. If an appeal is unsuccessful or not pursued, agencies must report individuals without legal U.S. status to federal immigration authorities. The bill creates a central "SAVE program clearinghouse" within the state department to manage immigration verification for professional licenses and streamline reporting to federal agencies.
This bill requires all Iowa schools serving grades 7-12 (including public districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zones) to provide specific social studies instruction. It mandates at least one-half semester of civics and U.S. government instruction in grades 7-8, and increases required instruction to one full unit (including voting procedures, constitutional study, and the Bill of Rights) for grades 9-12. The bill expands current requirements to cover additional school types and specifies exact curriculum content. It applies to school years starting July 1, 2028.
