SF 2340 clarifies that counties and cities cannot regulate battery-charged security alarm systems on nonresidential properties as fences or require fence permits. The bill defines these systems as outdoor alarms powered by a low-voltage battery (≤12V DC) that interface with business security systems, and prohibits local governments from banning or regulating their installation unless they meet specific safety standards. These include IEC certification for the energizer, placement behind a 5-foot non-electric fence with a system at least 10 feet tall or 2 feet above the fence, and visible "WARNING - ELECTRIC FENCE" signs every 30 feet. The law does not apply to residential properties and allows standard alarm system licensing requirements to remain in place.
HF 2571 updates Iowa's criminal procedure rules for commitment hearings after a defendant is found not guilty by reason of insanity. It requires courts to consider seven specific factors - such as the original offense, past violent behavior, current mental health, substance use history, and how the person functions outside structured settings - not just recent actions when deciding if someone remains dangerous. The bill explicitly states that the absence of recent dangerous acts should not be the sole factor, as highly structured environments (like hospitals) may suppress behavior that could emerge in less controlled settings. This directly affects individuals acquitted by insanity who face potential civil commitment hearings.
This bill requires Iowa counties and cities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or secondary home, on the same lot as a single-family residence in areas where single-family homes are permitted. It sets clear size limits: ADUs cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main home’s size (excluding unfinished basements), and defines "size" to exclude garages and decks. The bill also restricts local governments from banning ADUs solely due to historic preservation rules - ADUs in historic districts can only be limited if a commission documents they clash with the area’s historical character. This directly affects homeowners in single-family zones seeking to build or rent out secondary living spaces.
HF 2582 modifies Iowa's licensing requirements for insurance adjusters. It requires adjuster applicants to secure a minimum $50,000 surety bond (evidence of financial responsibility) before licensing, which must protect policyholders harmed by adjusters' misconduct. The bill also clarifies that licensed insurance producers appointed by insurers don't need separate adjuster licenses. These changes aim to strengthen accountability for adjusters while streamlining licensing for certain professionals. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill clarifies definitions and procedures for interviewing children after child abuse reports in Iowa. It defines "interview" to specifically include exchanges between child protection workers and children, or forensic interviewers at specialized child protection centers and children, while allowing recording of visible abuse evidence. The bill also requires immediate referral to law enforcement if a report involves criminal harm to a child but doesn't meet child abuse criteria, and permits courts to authorize home entry, interviews, or observation without parental permission if probable cause is shown. These changes directly affect child protection workers, forensic interviewers, law enforcement, and families involved in abuse investigations.
This bill (SF 2418) changes how county auditors in Iowa handle drainage district parcel records. It allows county auditors to either file these records with the county recorder or make them publicly available online, rather than requiring physical filing only. The records identify all parcels within a drainage district, including legal descriptions, parcel IDs, and owner names as shown in county records. This affects landowners in drainage districts by clarifying how district boundaries and easements (for ditches, tile lines, etc.) are documented and accessed. The change streamlines record access without altering the content or requirements for the parcel records themselves.
This bill requires Iowa state agencies to ensure that any passenger vehicle rented or leased with a diesel engine can use biodiesel fuel blended at 20% or higher (B-20). Specifically, it mandates that private vendors must provide manufacturer documentation confirming the vehicle's engine is compatible with B-20 biodiesel before being awarded state contracts. The requirement applies to all new or renewed rental/lease contracts issued on or after July 1, 2026. It extends an existing certification rule currently used for state vehicle purchases to the rental/lease procurement process. The bill does not mandate biodiesel use but ensures state vehicles can utilize this fuel type if chosen.
HF 2506 amends Iowa law to require licensed prize-awarding organizations to distribute prizes on the day they are won. If a winner isn't present, organizations must notify them as soon as practical within one year of the prize being awarded. This bill directly affects businesses and groups holding licensed raffles, contests, or similar prize events in Iowa. The change updates existing timing requirements to ensure prompt distribution or timely notification to winners.
HF 2720 in Iowa allows either spouse to request a name change back to their birth name or pre-marriage name as part of a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or annulment decree. The bill requires courts to issue a separate, standalone document for the name change, excluding any other details from the divorce decree. This directly affects Iowans finalizing divorces who seek to revert their name, making the process clearer and more streamlined. The change simplifies administrative steps without altering existing name change options available under other laws.
This bill amends Iowa's definition of "public improvement" to exclude two specific types of projects from standard public construction bidding requirements. It removes city utility equipment for electric generating projects (under Chapter 388) and the furnishing/installation of manufactured homes (including foundation work, anchoring, and utility connections) from the bidding rules. This means these projects will no longer be subject to the usual public bidding process, directly affecting city utilities and manufactured home providers. The change applies to relevant sections of Iowa law governing construction contracts and reporting.
SF 2214 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request when planning transmission line placements on highway corridors. It mandates the DOT to assign a project coordinator within 30 days and share future highway project plans that might affect transmission lines. The bill allows longitudinal transmission lines on primary roads (including interstates) with DOT approval, unless safety or highway function is threatened, and requires public disclosure of denial reasons within 90 days. This directly affects utility companies seeking to install lines along highways and the DOT's permitting process. The law updates existing rules to create a more structured, timely coordination process for transmission line installations.
This bill clarifies the authority of a health care decision-maker (attorney in fact) appointed under a durable power of attorney for health care in Iowa. It requires the decision-maker to follow the person's expressed wishes as written in the power of attorney, a separate life-sustaining procedures declaration, or communicated directly to them. The bill specifies that verbal requests to others or other documents cannot restrict the decision-maker's authority unless the power of attorney document explicitly states limitations. If the person's wishes are unknown, the decision-maker must act in their best interests based on medical condition and prognosis.
