This bill regulates hemp products in Iowa by establishing safety standards and definitions. It prohibits packaging or design features appealing to children (e.g., cartoon characters, candy-like appearances) and sets a THC limit of 0.3% on a dry weight basis or 4mg per serving. The bill defines "consumable hemp products" to include food, topicals, and tinctures (but excludes inhalation products) and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enforce these rules through evidence-based regulations and staff training. These changes aim to protect public health by preventing youth access and ensuring product safety.
This bill (HF 631) changes Iowa's process for bridge construction or repair projects that exceed backwater limits. It requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) director to issue a variance if all affected landowners (who haven't already provided a flooding easement) sign a written acknowledgment that their property will flood during and after construction. Currently, DNR may require landowners to provide a flooding easement for excess backwater; this bill replaces that requirement with the written acknowledgment. The change directly affects state agencies, counties, and cities building or repairing bridges, and the landowners whose properties may flood. It streamlines the process by eliminating the need for easement acquisition in these cases.
This bill allows school districts in Iowa to hire qualified non-traditional instructors for grades 9-12 without standard teaching licenses. It requires the Board of Educational Examiners to issue certificates to individuals with a bachelor's degree and relevant expertise or professional experience in a subject area (like math, science, or career fields), provided school districts verify subject mastery through tests or industry credentials. School districts must conduct background checks, assign supervising teachers, and report certificate usage by subject and grade level. The bill limits core subject instructors to three years of certification (renewable annually if effective) and ensures these instructors have similar rights as licensed teachers. It directly affects school districts, non-traditional educators, and students in affected classrooms.
SF 409 prohibits recording or redistributing electronic board of parole interview proceedings in Iowa. It directly affects parole boards, the Department of Corrections, and individuals participating in parole interviews, requiring the Department to make inmates available for interviews and banning any recording or online sharing of electronic interviews. Violating this prohibition is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $430-$2,560 fine. The bill does not alter interview scheduling or in-person interview rules, focusing solely on electronic interview recording and distribution.
This bill amends Iowa's civil rights law (Code §216.2) to clarify that "sexual orientation" does not include pedophilia or an adult's sexual attraction to minors. It directly affects how the state's civil rights protections apply to claims related to sexual orientation, explicitly excluding such attraction from being considered a protected characteristic. The key provision changes the legal definition within the civil rights statute to prevent adult sexual attraction to minors from being conflated with protected categories like homosexuality or bisexuality. This is a definitional adjustment to the law, not a new criminal prohibition, ensuring that civil rights protections for sexual orientation remain distinct from illegal conduct. The bill focuses solely on clarifying the scope of existing civil rights protections under Iowa law.
HF 732 requires Iowa correctional facilities to pay incarcerated individuals the state minimum wage for labor performed while under custody, replacing current allowance payments. It also automatically restores voting rights to people convicted of felonies upon their release from prison, parole, or work release, without requiring a separate application. The bill establishes an inmate savings fund to hold wages and other funds until release, with interest earned used for inmate benefits. This directly affects all inmates in Iowa's correctional system and changes how they are compensated and regain civic rights after incarceration.
This bill establishes new rules for Iowa's rate-regulated public utilities (like electric and gas companies). It limits rate filings to once every 12 months unless approved early, requires general rate cases by specific deadlines (July 1, 2028, then every three years), and restricts automatic rate adjustments to costs outside the utility's control - capping adjustments within 10% of approved amounts. Utilities must also file integrated resource plans every three years (starting July 2026), including detailed 20-year analyses of energy sources and costs, while demonstrating compliance with approved energy efficiency plans. These changes aim to increase rate stability and transparency for utility customers.
This bill requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited private schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to cooperate with lawful requests from federal immigration and customs enforcement officers. It prohibits schools from adopting policies that discourage staff from assisting such officers or distributing communications indicating non-cooperation to students, parents, or employees. Violations could lead to loss of school accreditation (for public/private schools) or revocation of charter contracts (for charter schools), as determined by the state education department. The law specifically mandates that administrators must comply with these requirements and face disciplinary action if they violate them.
HF 734 increases Iowa's requirement for U.S. government instruction in high schools (grades 9-12) from half a unit to one full unit. It mandates that all students in public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools complete this course, covering voting procedures, Constitution/Bill of Rights study, and civics education. The bill also updates curriculum standards to align with this new requirement and ensures schools comply with these changes. This directly affects all high school students and educators in participating Iowa schools by expanding the mandated social studies content. The change raises the current standard from a half-unit to a full-unit requirement for U.S. government instruction.
HF 535 requires Iowa's legislative council to hire an independent, nonpartisan reviewer (not tied to political parties or school districts) to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's K-12 public education system. The review must examine 30 years of trends, funding sources, rural/urban school challenges, international education models, and innovative approaches like technology use and alternative teaching models. The reviewer must provide updates to lawmakers, submit a final report with actionable recommendations by January 1, 2026, and present findings in a joint legislative session. This process directly affects Iowa's public education system, including students, schools, and educators, by establishing a structured framework for evaluating and potentially improving education policies and funding.
HF 48 requires public employers in Iowa to grant leave to public employees running for elected office during election periods (30 days before an election until the day after) and prohibits public employers from retaliating against employees who seek public office. The bill also prohibits all employers in Iowa from restricting employees' political contributions, such as by requiring approval, setting contribution limits, or punishing employees for contributing or not contributing to political committees. Violating the public employee provisions is a simple misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine), while violating contribution restrictions is a serious misdemeanor (up to one year in jail or a $2,560 fine). The bill directly affects public employees seeking elected office and all employers operating in Iowa.
This bill (SF 375) changes the maximum allowable power for electric motors on low-speed e-bikes and pedestrian conveyances (like scooters, wheelchairs, and strollers) from "less than 750 watts" to "not more than 750 watts." It directly affects manufacturers, sellers, and users of these devices by allowing motors up to exactly 750 watts, rather than capping them below that threshold. Devices exceeding 750 watts would then be classified as motor vehicles under standard traffic laws. The bill clarifies definitions and technical standards without altering broader vehicle regulations.
