HF 2240, the "Tax the Endowments Act," imposes an annual tax of 7.1% on the endowment value exceeding $500 million held by Iowa public universities (governed by the state board of regents) and accredited private colleges. The tax revenue is directed to two specific programs: funds from public institutions support workforce grant programs, while funds from private institutions supplement tuition grants for students in high-wage, high-demand majors. The bill also limits institutions to charging no more than 5% on gift proceeds and 1% annual fees on endowment management. It directly affects large Iowa colleges with substantial endowments, redirecting tax revenue to workforce development and targeted student financial aid.
HF 2241 (Iowa) requires public universities governed by the state board of regents to cover 10% of the amount owed when a student defaults on an educational loan used for tuition during their enrollment. This applies specifically to loans taken out on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affects borrowers who default on these student loans. The bill establishes that the institution’s 10% liability offsets the borrower’s debt under the same terms, unless the institution negotiates different terms. It does not change the borrower’s primary responsibility for the remaining 90% of the debt.
HF 2248 changes how Iowa handles defendants found incompetent to stand trial who pose a public safety risk and are unlikely to regain competency due to cognitive or neurological disabilities. It requires such defendants to be committed to the Iowa Department of Corrections (not mental health facilities) as "safekeepers," with a presumption their confinement continues unless proven otherwise. The bill mandates annual threat assessments by experts, annual facility reports to the court, and annual court reviews to determine if continued confinement remains necessary. Crucially, confinement cannot exceed the maximum sentence for the original criminal charge, after which the case is dismissed. This applies specifically to defendants meeting all these criteria, not all incompetent defendants.
HF 2251 removes Iowa's requirement for fees or licenses for harvesting wild ginseng, beyond what is mandated by the international wildlife trade convention (CITES). It prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from imposing additional state fees or licensing beyond CITES rules for wild ginseng harvesters and dealers. The bill maintains existing rules for harvesting windows (September 1-November 1) and recordkeeping for dealers. This directly affects individuals and businesses harvesting or selling wild ginseng in Iowa.
HF 2015 requires courts to order convicted individuals to pay restitution to law enforcement agencies for the replacement, training, and related costs of police service dogs that are permanently disabled or killed due to intentional harm. It directly affects people convicted of knowingly and willfully torturing, injuring, or killing a police dog. The bill adds this restitution requirement as an additional penalty beyond existing punishments. It does not cover accidental injuries or minor harm, focusing only on severe, intentional acts against working police dogs.
Iowa's SSB 3004 requires the Department of Workforce Development to create an online platform connecting Iowa students with professionals for career exploration. The platform allows educators at participating schools to request virtual sessions with professionals matching students' interests and classroom needs, enabling students to explore careers from their classrooms. Key features include matching professionals' skills to curriculum, hosting live Q&A sessions, sharing recorded industry videos, and allowing industry groups to sponsor school participation. This directly affects Iowa public school students, educators, and professionals seeking to engage with youth.
This bill authorizes the Iowa Economic Development Authority to transfer up to $633,000 annually from the energy and water infrastructure revolving loan fund to Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The funds must be used to provide financial assistance to the state load forecasting center, which supports electricity grid planning. The transfer is required to begin July 1, 2026, and applies to each subsequent fiscal year.
HF 2055 requires schools, food establishments, carnivals, recreational camps, youth sports facilities, and sports arenas in Iowa to maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors. Facilities must obtain a prescription for these devices, store them securely, and replace them after use or expiration. Trained staff authorized to administer epinephrine may use the supply to treat individuals having severe allergic reactions, with liability protection for staff, facility owners, and prescribers acting in good faith. This bill directly affects public venues where large groups gather, ensuring immediate access to life-saving treatment for anaphylaxis.
SF 2006 requires all physically able students in kindergarten through grade five at Iowa public and accredited nonpublic schools to engage in 30 minutes of daily physical activity, separate from physical education classes. The bill specifies that schools cannot prevent this activity unless a student is suspended, absent, poses a safety risk, or circumstances like severe weather or early dismissal occur. Current law allowed physical education to count toward the daily requirement, but this bill explicitly prohibits that. The measure directly affects K-5 students and school districts implementing daily activity plans.
This bill would require couples applying for a marriage license in Iowa to complete one hour of premarriage legal counseling provided by an attorney before receiving their license. The counseling must cover basic legal topics including marriage rights, divorce procedures, and child custody issues, as defined by the judicial branch in consultation with a legal organization. Marriage licenses cannot be issued without documentation proving completion of this required session. The bill directly affects all individuals applying for a marriage license in Iowa.
SF 2007 increases the supplementary funding weight for Iowa school districts that share the operational functions of a school resource officer with a political subdivision (such as a city or county) for at least 20% of the school year. The bill raises the weight from two to five pupils per shared function, providing additional state funding to eligible districts to redirect resources toward student programming. This change applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affects school districts meeting the sharing criteria. The policy clarifies that districts may qualify for this increased funding even if the shared functions differ between the district and the political subdivision.
HF 2003 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create a pilot program where one rural school district and one urban school district (meeting specific population criteria) must establish attendance centers for students needing special education or struggling with behavioral issues that prevent success in regular classrooms. The program mandates annual reporting on student participation, academic progress, and feedback from students, parents, and teachers, with the Department compiling these reports for the legislature. It redirects 48% of a school district's existing special education funds toward this pilot program starting in 2026, instead of using them for standard special education services. The pilot runs until July 1, 2031, and applies only to the designated districts.
