Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HSB 289: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa law enforcement academy council including the revocation or suspension of certifications of law enforcement officers and reserve peace officers, and administrative investigations under the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill updates Iowa's law enforcement certification standards and complaint procedures. It directly affects active law enforcement officers and reserve peace officers by expanding the grounds for certification revocation or suspension (including convictions for sex offenses, domestic violence, false testimony, or refusal to complete required training) and strengthening the council's role in reviewing complaints about agency training. The law requires police departments to notify the council within 10 days of officer terminations or resignations related to pending misconduct investigations, and grants the council authority to order remedial training or take disciplinary action. Key mechanisms include new administrative review processes for certification issues and updated definitions for "final" employment decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HSB 292: A joint resolution designating the American cream draft horse as the official state horse of the State of Iowa.

This bill designates the American cream draft horse as Iowa's official state horse. It requires the state records commission to display images of the breed in the state historical museum and mandates that the Iowa official register include a picture and description of the horse alongside other state symbols. The bill directly affects state institutions responsible for public displays and official publications, with no impact on citizens or regulations. It is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the breed's historical ties to Iowa, not a substantive policy change.

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 73: A bill for an act requiring persons to pass a written test and obtain an education certificate prior to operating an all-terrain vehicle, off-road motorcycle, or off-road utility vehicle on certain land, ice, and trails, providing fees, and making penalties applicable.

HF 73 requires all operators aged 12-17 to pass a written test and obtain an education certificate before operating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-road motorcycles, or off-road utility vehicles (UTVs) on public land, ice, or designated trails in Iowa. The certificate costs $5 and remains valid until revoked, replacing the previous option to demonstrate riding skills. Operators without a certificate face a $70 misdemeanor fine. This bill removes existing exemptions that previously allowed off-road motorcycles and UTVs to skip the education requirement, aligning their rules with ATVs. The certificate is not required during supervised training courses.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 551: A bill for an act relating to the advertised and delivered speeds of broadband services provided by communication service providers, and providing civil penalties.

HF 551 requires Iowa broadband providers to report quarterly on actual internet speeds compared to advertised and contracted speeds for each customer. If a provider delivers slower speeds than promised, they must issue refunds proportional to the time the speeds were below contract terms. The bill also imposes civil penalties (equal to twice the refunds owed) for non-compliance, with funds directed to economic development programs and the state public defender office. This directly affects all broadband customers in Iowa and the state's communication service providers.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SF 415: A bill for an act relating to false accusations of a criminal act, and providing penalties.

SF 415 makes it a class D felony (up to 5 years in prison and a $10,245 fine) for anyone who knowingly reports false information about specific serious crimes to police or fire departments, including forcible felonies, terrorism, or arson. It also increases penalties for continuing to make false accusations after being proven wrong, changing malicious prosecution charges from a serious misdemeanor to an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years in prison and an $8,540 fine). The bill directly affects individuals who falsely report certain high-level criminal acts, such as terrorism or violent offenses. Key provisions clarify that false reports about these specific crimes - rather than all criminal accusations - trigger the felony charge, and require proof the report was known to be false. The bill aims to deter false reports that waste public safety resources and harm innocent people.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SSB 1194: A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the department of insurance and financial services including financial literacy and exploitation, tax confidentiality, health insurance rates, health savings accounts, insurer withdrawals, property insurance, and service contracts, and including penalties.

SSB 1194 establishes two new state funds to improve financial education and combat financial exploitation. It redirects $10 from each $40 insurance agent registration fee into these funds - $5 for public financial literacy programs and $5 for prevention initiatives targeting vulnerable individuals. The bill also allows transfers from the commerce revolving fund and civil penalties to support these efforts, with funds used for public education, victim assistance, and investigations. These changes directly affect Iowans through expanded access to financial education resources and enhanced protections against financial exploitation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HSB 288: A bill for an act relating to civil procedure, including disclosures that may be made to the jury and the availability of certain medical records.

This Iowa bill (HSB 288) modifies civil procedure rules for personal injury lawsuits involving medical records. It limits evidence of medical expenses to amounts actually paid or necessary (not billed amounts) and requires plaintiffs claiming physical pain, mental suffering, or emotional distress to provide a written waiver allowing defendants to access their medical records within 60 days. If plaintiffs fail to comply, defendants can request court-ordered disclosure, and plaintiffs must prove the records aren't relevant to the case. The bill also expands jury evidence to include past/future lost wages, workers' compensation, and disability benefits as part of economic loss claims. It directly affects plaintiffs in injury cases who seek compensation for pain or emotional harm.

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 238: A bill for an act relating to pipelines transporting liquefied carbon dioxide, including permit renewal and operation limitations.

HF 238 prohibits the Iowa Utilities Commission from renewing permits for pipelines transporting liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2). It sets a strict 25-year maximum operational limit for all CO2 pipelines, meaning they cannot operate beyond this period even if initially permitted for less time. This bill specifically targets CO2 pipelines, reinforcing a 25-year cap that already applies to other pipelines under current law but explicitly prevents renewal for CO2-specific projects. The bill directly affects CO2 pipeline operators and the commission responsible for issuing and reviewing permits.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 459: A bill for an act concerning native distilled spirits listed and sold by the department of revenue.

HF 459 prevents Iowa's Department of Revenue from removing a native distillery's spirits from the state's approved list solely due to low sales after the spirits have been initially listed. It directly affects native distilleries (local businesses producing distilled spirits) and the Department of Revenue, which acts as the sole wholesaler. The bill amends existing law to ensure that once the Department lists a native distillery's spirits for sale to Class "E" licensees (businesses selling alcohol for off-premises consumption), sales performance cannot be used as a reason to delist them. This change provides stability for small, local distilleries by protecting their product listings from removal based on market demand fluctuations. The bill does not alter how spirits are sold or the Department's broader regulatory authority.

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 587: A bill for an act requiring schools to establish and offer a junior fire fighter program to high school students.

HF 587 requires all Iowa public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to offer a junior firefighter program to students in grades 9-12. The program must teach about firefighting work safely, build life skills like teamwork, and connect students with emergency services providers. Schools can implement this through new programs or by partnering with national organizations, offering it as an extracurricular activity or part of career education. The bill specifies that existing state school foundation aid will cover implementation costs, with no new state funding required. This directly affects high school students and school districts across Iowa.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 89: A bill for an act relating to reasonable and prudent following distances while a person is operating a motor vehicle, and making penalties applicable.

This bill sets specific minimum following distances for drivers based on highway speed limits: 50 feet for speeds of 35 mph or less, 100 feet for 35-55 mph, 150 feet for 55-65 mph, and 200 feet for speeds over 65 mph. It directly affects all drivers operating vehicles on Iowa highways under clear conditions, replacing the general "reasonable and prudent" standard with defined distances. Violating these rules is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $135 fine, with additional penalties of up to $1,000 or license suspension if injury or death occurs. The bill updates existing traffic law to clarify safe following distances through clear, speed-based thresholds.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SSB 1181: A bill for an act prohibiting franchise fees imposed by cities and counties.

This bill prohibits cities and counties in Iowa from imposing or collecting franchise fees on businesses providing essential services (like utilities) starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects all cities and counties that previously collected such fees, which were typically based on a percentage of a business's gross sales. Key provisions eliminate the ability to charge these fees entirely after the effective date, while existing franchise agreements remain valid under current terms. The law specifically bans new franchise fees from being assessed or collected by any city or county on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

Bill results