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Iowa Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 14,542 Active 9,814 In committee 9,347 Passed 1,314 Signed 1,696 Failed 1,704

introduced · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2119: A bill for an act relating to the possession of contraband in department of corrections facilities, and providing penalties.

HF 2119 defines "restricted or disruptive contraband" in Iowa correctional facilities as items not inherently illegal (like tobacco, cell phones, money, or synthetic cannabinoids) but prohibited for security reasons. It makes possessing such contraband a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison, with sentences served consecutively to any existing sentence. The bill also requires inmates to report contraband (failure is an aggravated misdemeanor) and authorizes X-ray searches of inmates suspected of carrying such items. This law directly affects inmates in Iowa Department of Corrections facilities and aims to enhance facility security by strengthening penalties for contraband possession.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2050: A bill for an act relating to the discipline of students who disrupt the educational process, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2050 requires Iowa school districts to adopt policies allowing teachers to immediately remove students who disrupt classes, threaten safety, or violate school rules. After a third removal, teachers and principals must discuss behavior patterns and hold a conference with the student (and parent/guardian if applicable) before the student returns to class. The bill also protects teachers from retaliation by administrators for following these discipline policies. It takes effect on December 31, 2026, and directly affects students, teachers, and school administrators in Iowa public schools.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2143: A bill for an act authorizing school districts to use revenues from the district management levy for targeted staff retention incentives and including applicability provisions.

HF 2143 allows Iowa school districts to use revenues from their district management levy for targeted staff retention incentives. Specifically, it permits payments for retention bonuses or financial incentives for employees in critical roles, those with high-need credentials (like special education, math, science, or career-technical education), and classified staff in essential operational positions. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 298.4 to explicitly include these uses of levy funds. This change applies to school budget years starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2146: A bill for an act relating to leaves of absence from civil public employment for members of the military.

HF 2146 clarifies that Iowa public employees (state, county, or municipal workers) taking leave for military service (including National Guard, federal duty, or Civil Air Patrol) count each workday as one day toward their 30-day paid leave limit, regardless of the number of hours worked that day. This applies whether the military duty occurs within a single workday or spans multiple calendar days. The bill standardizes how leave days are counted under existing law, ensuring employees aren't penalized for partial workday overlaps. It specifically addresses the calculation method for the 30-day paid leave entitlement already provided by statute.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2127: A bill for an act relating to parent, legal guardian, and legal custodian attendance in court-ordered classes due to the actions of the parent’s, legal guardian’s, or legal custodian’s child, and providing penalties.

HF 2127 requires a child's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian to attend court-ordered classes with the child when the child is adjudicated for a delinquent act and ordered to attend such classes. For children with three or more delinquent adjudications, the court must mandate a separate "parental responsibility class." Failure to attend results in penalties: a first offense is a simple misdemeanor (up to 10 days jail or $100 fine), escalating to serious misdemeanors for repeat offenses. Parents may avoid penalties by filing an affidavit proving a good-faith effort to comply, and the requirement does not apply to parents without physical care of the child or non-individual guardians.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2131: A bill for an act relating to the timing for establishment of the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2131 modifies the timing for setting annual funding growth rates in Iowa's state budget. It establishes specific growth percentages (e.g., 3% for 2023, 2.5% for 2024) for the "state percent of growth" and "categorical state percent of growth" through 2027, then requires these rates to be set by law within 30 days after the governor submits the budget for future years. For budget years starting July 1, 2026-2027, the rate must be set within 30 days of the governor's 2026 budget submission. For years starting July 1, 2028 onward, the rate must be set within 30 days after the governor's budget submission during the legislative session preceding the budget year. This directly affects how Iowa calculates state funding for programs like education and transportation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2142: A bill for an act relating to limitations on activities related to paid claims under the Medicaid program, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2142 limits Medicaid claim reviews by restricting post-payment reviews to claims paid within the last 12 months, unless fraud or misrepresentation is involved. It prohibits providers from being required to repay overpayments identified more than 12 months after claim payment or having those amounts offset against future reimbursements. The bill allows providers to resubmit claims identified as improper through reviews as claims adjustments. It does not apply to retroactive cost settlements or rate changes based on Medicaid/Medicare cost reports, directly affecting Medicaid providers like hospitals and clinics.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2126: A bill for an act relating to statute of limitations for dental malpractice claims and including applicability provisions.

HF 2126 extends the time limit for filing dental malpractice lawsuits in Iowa from two years to five years. Patients can now file claims within five years of knowing (or reasonably knowing) about the injury, but no later than six years after the dental incident occurred. The bill applies to claims against dentists, dental surgeons, dental hygienists, and dental assistants for injuries arising on or after July 1, 2026. This change specifically affects dental malpractice cases, while leaving the existing two-year limit for non-dental medical malpractice unchanged.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2115: A bill for an act relating to the issuance and display of one registration plate on motor vehicles.

This bill changes Iowa's vehicle registration plate requirements. It allows most vehicle owners to display just one plate (instead of two) on the rear of their vehicle, with annual registration renewed using a validation sticker instead of replacing the physical plate each year. Older vehicles (1948 or earlier) may also display a single plate if the second plate is kept in the vehicle. The changes apply to all registered motor vehicles in Iowa, simplifying renewal processes and reducing the need for physical plate replacements.

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2141: A bill for an act establishing an Iowa-Illinois boundary adjustment committee.

HF 2141 creates a committee to study whether Iowa should gain Illinois counties along their shared border. The committee will consist of six Iowa appointees (selected by the governor with no more than four from one party) and five Illinois appointees under Illinois law. It must meet annually starting September 1, 2026, and submit recommendations to both state legislatures within 60 days of completing its work. The committee cannot change the boundary itself - it only advises on potential adjustments.

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2116: A bill for an act relating to trainings and curricula regarding specific defined concepts provided by public institutions of higher education and school districts.

HF 2116 requires Iowa public schools and colleges to ensure all staff, contractors, and volunteers providing curriculum or training avoid teaching, promoting, or acting on stereotyping or scapegoating based on race, gender, or other demographic group identity. It mandates training for these individuals on the policy and prohibits using school funds, resources, or student time for any materials violating this rule. Parents, school employees, or residents can seek court orders to stop violations without proving personal harm. The bill updates existing education codes to clarify these requirements and enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2147: A bill for an act relating to motor vehicle special registration plate decals created by a nonprofit veterans’ organization or associated with military service, and providing fees.

HF 2147 creates special vehicle registration decals for Iowans who earned specific U.S. military combat awards, including combat infantryman, combat action, and combat medical badges. It authorizes nonprofit veterans organizations (501(c)(19) status) to design and administer these decals, requiring the state to produce them after 250 orders for each design. Veterans with qualifying awards can apply for free special plates with these decals, paying only a $10 annual fee per pair of decals, with all fees directed to Iowa's veterans license fee fund. The bill directly affects eligible veterans, qualifying veterans nonprofits, and the Iowa Department of Transportation, which will manage the program.

Topics ✓ Veterans