Iowa Bills

This Iowa bill (SF 2457) updates procedures for handling abandoned vehicles on public and private property. It requires police authorities or hired private entities to send certified mail notice to owners and lienholders within 20 days of taking custody, giving them 20 days to reclaim the vehicle by paying towing, storage, and notice costs. Private entities may only charge fees for the first 24 hours, and must provide itemized bills upon reclamation. If not reclaimed, vehicles are sold at auction, with proceeds first covering costs, then reimbursing lienholders, and any remaining funds going to state funds.

This concurrent resolution (HCR 6) is a request from Iowa's legislature to Congress to change federal law. It asks for an increase in the maximum gross weight limit for commercial trucks on interstate highways from 80,000 pounds to 96,000 pounds specifically for vehicles with seven axles. The resolution aims to align federal interstate weight limits with Iowa's current rules for non-interstate roads and eliminate inconsistent weight restrictions across state borders. It directly affects commercial trucking operations in Iowa and neighboring states by seeking to standardize and increase payload capacity on shared interstate routes.

This bill creates a new licensing system for companies that use artificial intelligence to provide medical services in Iowa, requiring them to register with a newly formed Board of Autonomous Medical Practice. The legislation defines different types of AI medical tools, from advisory systems that suggest diagnoses to fully autonomous AI that can independently make clinical decisions, and establishes specific roles for oversight including medical directors and designated responsible officials. Key provisions include setting up a board with diverse membership from healthcare professionals, technology experts, and the public, while also defining terms like adverse events and reportable incidents to ensure accountability. The bill does not currently specify the application process or fees but focuses on creating the regulatory framework and board structure needed to oversee these new AI medical services.

This bill creates a new health care-related tax on health maintenance organizations operating in Iowa, with revenues deposited into a new Medicaid managed care organization premiums health care tax fund. The tax rate begins at 3.5% for the first nine months of 2026 before dropping to 0.95% for the remainder of that year and all subsequent years, applying to payments made by these organizations for health care services and benefits. The legislation also establishes prepayment requirements, allowing organizations to pay estimated taxes in advance and receive credits or cash refunds if they overpay. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for tax collection, penalties for late payments, and the ability to offset certain assessments against this new tax liability.

This bill establishes a competitive grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help schools develop cardiac emergency response plans. It directly affects all Iowa schools, including public school districts, nonpublic accredited schools, and charter schools, by requiring them to meet specific safety standards to qualify for funding. Key provisions mandate schools receiving grants to implement response teams, place AEDs within three minutes of cardiac incidents, maintain equipment, provide staff training in CPR/AED use, conduct annual drills, and coordinate with emergency services. The grants are designed to supplement existing funding, not replace it, and apply to school years starting July 1, 2027.

SF 2141 establishes a dedicated "technology reinvestment fund" to support Iowa state government IT projects. It allocates $17.5 million annually (starting July 2026) from the general fund and $18.27 million from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund for technology infrastructure upgrades, new systems, and maintenance that enhance government services while protecting resident privacy. The bill requires the Department of Management to prioritize projects based on strategic alignment, ROI, scalability, rural access improvements, and sustainability, and mandates annual project status reports to the legislature. It also adds background check requirements for IT staff and contractors (including FBI checks every 5 years) and prohibits specific contract terms like excessive indemnity clauses or foreign law jurisdiction. The bill directly affects all Iowa state agencies using technology infrastructure funded through this mechanism.

This resolution asks Congress to propose a constitutional amendment that would permanently set the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. It directly affects the federal judiciary by seeking to prevent future changes to the court's size. The bill argues that fixing the number of justices is necessary to maintain the court's independence and public trust. If passed, it would require a formal amendment process to ensure the Supreme Court remains composed of exactly nine judges.

HF 2307 creates a "provisional coaching authorization" for the Board of Educational Examiners to issue to individuals seeking coaching roles without full credentials. It requires applicants to complete background checks, CPR/defibrillator training, youth sports concussion training, and child abuse reporter training. The provisional license expires after 180 days or the end of the sport season, whichever comes first, and allows conversion to a full authorization by completing specific training, coursework, or providing prior coaching experience. This bill directly affects prospective coaches in Iowa schools and adjusts hiring priority, placing those with provisional authorizations below fully credentialed coaches in school hiring decisions.

This bill amends Iowa's administrative procedure act to change how courts interpret laws in cases involving state agencies. It requires courts to interpret statutes and agency rules "de novo" (from scratch) instead of deferring to an agency's interpretation. The bill also mandates that when courts face uncertainty, they must favor interpretations that limit agency authority. This directly affects courts, agencies, and individuals or entities challenging agency decisions under Iowa law.

This bill allows public schools and accredited nonpublic schools to hold practice-oriented scrimmages with nonaccredited home school sports organizations. It requires a written agreement covering safety protocols, date/location, and liability coverage before any scrimmage, with both parties assuming responsibility for their participants. Scrimmages cannot count toward official records, standings, or eligibility, must be voluntary, limit duration/intensity to practice standards, and cannot charge admission or use play-by-play commentary. The bill specifically defines "nonaccredited home school sports organization" as groups serving students in unaccredited private instruction settings.

This bill adds career and technical education (CTE) instructors to the list of shared operational roles eligible for additional state funding. School districts in Iowa that share CTE instructors (licensed for grades 5-12 in fields like agriculture, business, or IT) with other districts or political subdivisions for at least 20% of the school year will receive a supplementary weighting of two pupils per shared function. This supplemental funding aims to increase resources for student programming by encouraging shared staffing. The bill specifically defines CTE instructors as those holding a valid endorsement or authorization for grades 5-12.

HF 853 modifies Iowa's Administrative Procedure Act to change how courts interpret laws in cases involving state agencies. The bill eliminates the current standard where courts defer to agency interpretations when a law's meaning isn't clearly vested in the agency's discretion. Instead, courts must interpret statutes and agency rules "de novo" (without deference) and resolve any remaining ambiguity by favoring interpretations that limit agency authority. This directly affects courts, agencies, and individuals or entities challenging agency actions under Iowa Code Chapter 17A.