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Bill results

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SF 2051: A bill for an act relating to the elimination of the exemption of gaming floors from the prohibitions of the smokefree air Act.

SF 2051 removes an exception that previously allowed smoking on gaming floors at venues licensed under Iowa law, such as casinos, racetracks, and gambling boats. The bill amends the Smokefree Air Act to apply its smoking ban to the entire premises of these facilities, eliminating the prior exemption for gaming areas. This change directly affects all licensed gaming venues in Iowa by requiring them to enforce a complete smoking ban throughout their entire property, not just in certain sections. The bill does not change other aspects of the Smokefree Air Act or create new enforcement mechanisms.
Dennis Guth (R)
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2134: A bill for an act relating to rental agreements and early termination rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes.

This bill allows tenants who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, or certain other qualifying crimes to terminate rental agreements early without penalty. To do so, tenants must provide written notice to their landlord with specific documentation, such as a protective order, police report, or certified medical documentation from a healthcare provider. Landlords cannot charge fees, report negative credit information, or refuse to rent based on this termination right. Tenants remain responsible for rent through the termination date but are not liable for future rent if the unit is re-rented, and cannot be charged for forfeiting deposits.
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2155: A bill for an act relating to mandatory minimum sentences for certain criminal offenses, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2155 modifies parole eligibility for specific criminal convictions in Iowa. It requires offenders convicted of certain offenses - including forcible felonies involving dangerous weapons, habitual offender cases, methamphetamine crimes involving minors, child endangerment, and repeat domestic abuse assaults - to serve at least half their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The bill replaces previous fixed minimum terms (like 5 years or 10 years) with a requirement to serve one-half of the total sentence. These changes directly affect individuals convicted under the specified offenses, altering when they may qualify for parole or work release. The bill does not change the total sentence length but adjusts the portion that must be served before parole consideration.
Taylor Collins (R)
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2153: A bill for an act requiring community colleges, school districts, and institutions under the control of the state board of regents to adopt policies related to the use of artificial intelligence by students and employees.

HF 2153 requires Iowa community colleges, school districts, and state-controlled higher education institutions to adopt AI usage policies by July 1, 2028. These policies must specify when students and staff may use artificial intelligence during classwork and job duties, include prohibitions on certain uses, and define AI as any machine system generating outputs like content or decisions. Institutions must publish their policies online and submit copies to the state education department or board of regents. The bill applies directly to all students, faculty, and staff at these educational institutions across Iowa.
Aime Wichtendahl (D)
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2165: A bill for an act relating to the casting of ballots by absent voters.

HF 2165 modifies Iowa's absentee voting process to standardize ballot handling and return procedures. It requires absentee ballots to be mailed in a specific envelope system (including affidavit, delivery, and return envelopes with matching serial numbers) and sets a strict deadline: ballots must be received by the county commissioner's office by 5:00 p.m. the day before election day, either via mail (postmarked by that date) or delivered in person. This directly affects Iowa voters who request absentee ballots, changing how they must package, sign, and return their ballots. The bill clarifies verification steps and adds a secrecy envelope requirement if ballots cannot be folded to hide votes.
Charley Thomson (R) Eddie Andrews (R) Jason Gearhart (R) Helena Hayes (R) Cindy Golding (R)
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 439: A bill for an act relating to citizenship or immigration status for purposes of a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card, and including applicability provisions.

HF 439 requires all applicants for Iowa driver's licenses or nonoperator ID cards (including renewals) to declare their citizenship status - either as a U.S. citizen or as a noncitizen authorized to be in the U.S. The Iowa Department of Transportation must then display this status on the back of the license or ID card. This applies to all new applications and renewals submitted on or after the bill's effective date. The bill does not change immigration requirements but mandates this status disclosure for identification documents.
passed · Iowa · House Jan 25, 2026

HF 985: A bill for an act relating to services provided by the secretary of state, providing fees, and making appropriations.

HF 985 modifies how the Iowa Secretary of State collects fees for services. It allows the Secretary to set additional fees (capped at $2 million annually starting July 2025) for services like document copies, with all such fees deposited into the Business Services Modernization Fund. This fund must be used to modernize the Secretary’s technology and business operations by June 30, 2026. The bill also updates expedited filing surcharges (e.g., $250 for 1-hour service) and specifies that these fees go to the Business Administration Fund for administering business entity regulations. It directly affects businesses filing documents with the Secretary’s office and the office itself, as it changes fee structures and fund usage.
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2026

HF 2017: A bill for an act creating a state work opportunity tax credit available against the individual and corporate income taxes, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

HF 2017 creates a new Iowa tax credit equal to 100% of the federal work opportunity tax credit (from IRS Section 51) for individual and corporate income taxes. It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and affects Iowa employers who hire individuals facing barriers to employment, as defined by the federal program. The credit reduces tax liability but is non-refundable; any unused portion can be carried forward to offset taxes in the following year. The bill includes retroactive application starting January 1, 2026.
Chad Ingels (R)
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2026

HSB 539: A bill for an act providing for a due process policy for faculty, staff, and students at regents institutions and for related disciplinary matters, and including effective date provisions.

This bill, the "Campus Due Process Act," requires Iowa's public universities (regents institutions) to implement standardized due process protections for faculty, staff, and students facing disciplinary action. It mandates that institutions guarantee constitutional due process rights - including the presumption of innocence, right to counsel, access to all evidence, and clear definitions of misconduct - during disciplinary proceedings, with limited exceptions. The bill also requires institutions to immediately refer felony-related disciplinary matters to law enforcement, set strict experience requirements for Title IX employees, and publicly post due process policies and annual violation reports on their websites. These changes apply to all disciplinary actions at Iowa's public universities and take effect December 31, 2026.
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2026

HSB 519: A bill for an act relating to energy production including the modification of electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facility ratemaking principles.

This bill modifies how Iowa utility companies recover costs for new or significantly upgraded energy facilities. It establishes advance ratemaking principles for projects like new power plants over 340 megawatts, energy storage systems, or major upgrades (e.g., repowering coal plants to gas or adding carbon capture). Utilities can seek commission approval before construction to lock in cost recovery rules, with potential restrictions on future rate hikes for three years. The bill directly affects utility companies planning qualifying energy infrastructure projects within Iowa.
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2026

HSB 565: A bill for an act relating to the appointment of counsel by the court for an indigent person, and including effective date provisions.

HSB 565 requires Iowa courts to appoint a noncontract attorney for indigent defendants when no contract attorney is available, changing current law from a discretionary "may" to a mandatory "shall." This directly affects low-income individuals facing criminal charges who cannot afford legal representation. The bill mandates that court orders appointing such attorneys must include a specific finding that no contract attorney was available. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, with no additional implementation details provided in the bill text.
in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2026

HSB 520: A bill for an act relating to withdrawal requirements for insurance companies, insurance company affiliates, and other entities engaged in the business of insurance.

HSB 520 requires Iowa insurance companies planning major exits from the state to submit a detailed withdrawal plan to the state insurance commissioner. It applies when an insurer intends to reduce total annual premiums by 50% or more, reduce premiums in a specific line (like auto or homeowners) by 75% (for larger insurers), or cut premiums in certain high-volume lines by 50%. The plan must include timelines, policyholder and producer notifications, details on fulfilling obligations, replacement coverage options, and market impact estimates. The commissioner must approve compliant plans or may modify/limit them, with insurers allowed a hearing if denied. This directly affects insurance companies operating in Iowa that seek to significantly scale back their business.
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