SF 35 expands the definition of harassment to include the unauthorized sharing of personal information. This bill directly affects individuals whose private contact or identity details are shared without their consent, as well as those who engage in such actions. It specifies that a person commits harassment if they purposefully disseminate, publish, distribute, or post another person's personal information without consent, intending to threaten, intimidate, annoy, or alarm them or encourage others to do so. "Personal information" is broadly defined to include contact details like home address, phone numbers, email, social media profiles, place of employment, and photographic depictions. Violations of this provision are classified as harassment in the first degree, an aggravated misdemeanor.
SF 515 requires Iowa courts to prioritize a child's current educational setting during custody disputes. It creates a legal presumption that children should remain in their existing school (public, private, or homeschool) unless a parent provides strong evidence showing it harms the child's best interests. The bill applies specifically to cases where parents disagree about schooling, including those with joint legal custody. Court orders must now explicitly outline each parent's rights regarding school access, records, and decisions about the child's education.
This bill amends Iowa law to require strict liability for individuals or entities in control of hazardous substances. It specifically holds them financially responsible for "excessive and extraordinary" costs incurred by the state or local governments during oversight and monitoring of hazardous conditions they caused. The new provision directly affects businesses and individuals handling hazardous materials, as they may now face additional financial obligations beyond typical cleanup costs. This change focuses solely on monitoring and oversight expenses, not remediation or cleanup costs, which remain governed by existing law.
SF 301 allows county hospitals to establish and operate child care facilities. It permits a county hospital's board of trustees to either directly run the facility or contract with a licensed provider for its operation. All child care facilities established by county hospitals under this act must adhere to the existing state regulations for child care facilities outlined in Code chapter 237A.
This bill modifies the duties of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) concerning air quality. It adjusts the timeframe for DNR's annual greenhouse gas emissions report to align with federal EPA inventories and allows the federal report to fulfill this requirement. The bill also updates administrative rule references for air emission and operating permit fees. Furthermore, it repeals state mandates for DNR to create a greenhouse gas inventory and a voluntary registry, and removes a provision requiring rules for solid waste incinerator operator certification.
SF 445 modifies Iowa's early childhood education programs to expand access and improve quality. It allows community-based child care centers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program (rather than only partnering with school districts) and sets new requirements for these centers, including demonstrating readiness for high-quality instruction and participating in data collection. The bill also establishes a new "child care continuum partnership grants pilot program" within the Department of Health and Human Services to support coordinated early care services. These changes affect school districts, community child care providers, and children enrolled in preschool programs, with funding adjustments included to support the modifications.
SF 395 expands the definition of illegal gaming under Iowa law. The bill defines "account sharing" as sharing access to a gambling account to conceal a person's identity, and "proxy betting" as placing a wager on behalf of another to hide their identity. It adds these two activities, along with delivering funds received for a fee outside a gambling structure for wagering, to the list of prohibited acts considered illegal gaming. Individuals found engaging in these activities would be subject to existing criminal penalties for illegal gaming, which range from serious misdemeanors to class "C" felonies based on the amount involved and any prior offenses.
Senate File 649 is a legislative bill that appropriates state funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates money to the Department of Veterans Affairs for administration, the Iowa Veterans Home, and a home ownership assistance program for eligible service members. The bill also provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for aging and disability services, including programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it appropriates funds for behavioral health initiatives, such as prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for substance use and problem gambling, impacting individuals and families across the state. These appropriations support various public health programs and services.
This bill authorizes municipalities to establish length of service award programs (LOSAPs) for volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers. It creates a state grant fund, managed by the Department of Revenue, which will be annually replenished from sports wagering receipts up to $1.5 million. This fund provides matching grants, up to $300 per year per recipient, to municipalities that establish a LOSAP, requiring the volunteer participant to also contribute. These programs offer tax-deferred awards to eligible volunteers, and the bill's provisions are set to be repealed on July 1, 2030.
This bill amends Iowa law concerning private sector employee drug testing, affecting both employers and employees. It clarifies that "safety-sensitive positions" are those designated by the employer and allows for electronic or in-person delivery of drug test notifications and requests, if the employee chooses this option over certified mail. The bill also modifies civil remedies for violations, specifying that employers are liable, requiring attorney fees to be reasonable, and placing the burden on the employee to prove that a violation directly caused damages. Additionally, it removes the employer's burden to prove compliance in actions alleging a drug testing violation.
SF 658 is a state budget bill that allocates funds for the administration and regulation of various state government departments and offices. For the budget year starting July 1, 2025, it provides money for salaries, operational costs, and sets staffing levels for entities such as the Department of Administrative Services, the Auditor of State, and the Governor's office. The bill also includes specific provisions, such as maintaining a workers' compensation fund for state employees and setting an administrative charge for state employee health insurance plans.
SF 425 mandates the disclosure of lead service lines in real estate transactions. This bill directly affects individuals selling real property, requiring them to inform potential buyers about the presence of these lines. It adds definitions for "lead service line," which includes pipes made of lead or galvanized lines downstream from lead or unknown materials, and "service line" to existing real estate disclosure laws. The real estate commission will adopt rules detailing how this information must be disclosed.
