Iowa Bills

House File 919 creates a new "specialty hospital" designation for certain nonprofit organizations in Iowa that were previously licensed nursing facilities. These hospitals must primarily serve individuals aged 30 and younger, with a high percentage of patients receiving Medicaid, and specialize in pediatric rehabilitation or complex medical/behavioral health needs. The bill directs state departments to grant qualifying entities a provisional general hospital license by July 1, 2025, enabling them to receive enhanced hospital-based reimbursement set at their average allowable per diem costs. It also allows for waivers from certain hospital facility requirements, construction standards, and exemptions from providing specific emergency, laboratory, or pathology services beyond what they currently offer. Furthermore, the bill permits the redesignation of nursing facility beds to specialty hospital beds and expansion up to 100 beds.

This bill eliminates the mandatory registration requirement for dental assistants in Iowa. It updates state law to reflect that all dental assistants, rather than just "registered dental assistants," will be subject to the Iowa Dental Board's authority. The board will continue to investigate complaints, mediate disputes, impose penalties, and take disciplinary action against any practicing dental assistant. This ensures that the existing scope of practice, including requirements for expanded functions and supervision by a licensed dentist, still applies to all dental assistants.

This bill mandates that counties and cities in Iowa must allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on lots with single-family residences. It directly affects property owners by standardizing and simplifying the process of building ADUs, and local governments by limiting their regulatory authority. The legislation sets statewide parameters, such as allowing ADUs up to 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main house, whichever is larger. It prohibits local ordinances from imposing overly restrictive rules on aspects like design, parking, owner-occupancy, or separate utility connections. Furthermore, it requires local governments to approve compliant ADU permits without discretionary review, following the same timeline as single-family home permits.

This bill clarifies the rights and obligations of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and county conservation boards regarding shared partition fences. It establishes that these state and local government entities have the same responsibilities as private landowners for erecting, rebuilding, or repairing such fences. When fence viewers issue an order, both the private landowner and the DNR or county conservation board must deposit funds for their assigned portion of the fence costs and fees. The bill also allows the DNR to use moneys from the open spaces account and county conservation boards to use moneys from the county conservation account within the Iowa Resources Enhancement and Protection (REAP) fund to cover their contributions.

SF 635 authorizes property tax abatements for eligible volunteer emergency services providers on their homesteads. To qualify, volunteers must have served for at least five years, earn less than $5,000 annually from their service, and be in good standing with their agency. They can petition their county board of supervisors, who will review the request and notify local taxing authorities, allowing them to object to the abatement. If approved, the abatement reduces property taxes and special assessments by 10%, up to $500 per year. Volunteers with ten or more years of service may receive this abatement for the remainder of their lives, provided their homestead remains in the service area.

SF 568 prevents the Department of Transportation (DOT) from designating a segment of State Highway 5 and US Highway 65 as an interstate road unless the federal government grants an exemption for vehicle weight and size. It allows agricultural implements of husbandry to continue using a specific portion of this highway, if it becomes an interstate, until an alternative route suitable for these vehicles is developed. The bill appropriates $250,000 to the DOT to study and develop this alternative route. This legislation directly affects the DOT, the State Transportation Commission, and agricultural operators using these specific highway segments.

HF 918 modifies Iowa law regarding motor vehicle financial liability coverage. It requires vehicle owners to certify and provide proof of insurance when registering or renewing their motor vehicle registration, effective December 1, 2028. The bill also revises penalties for operating a vehicle without coverage, increasing fines, particularly for violations connected to an accident or for repeat offenses. Drivers cited for lacking coverage can have their charge dismissed if they provide proof that coverage was in effect at the time of the stop, though court costs will be assessed. Fines collected will be distributed among the victim compensation fund, counties, and the state general fund.

HSB 335 is a bill concerning state finances, primarily impacting education funding and state appropriations. It allocates $14 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to supplement compensation for education support personnel in school districts, distributed based on student enrollment. The bill also limits funding for nonpublic school pupil transportation and sets instructional support state aid to zero for FY 2025-2026. Furthermore, it reduces overall funding for school districts and area education agencies by $25 million for FY 2025-2026. The bill also transfers over $21 million from the taxpayer relief fund to the general fund to support foundation aid and allows the use of special funds for state employee salary adjustments.

HF 1022 proposes to exempt the sale of laundry soap and detergent from the state's sales tax. This change would directly affect consumers by reducing the cost of purchasing these household items. The bill amends existing state code to specifically remove sales tax from laundry soap and detergent, an exemption that would also apply to use tax.

HSB 341 is a legislative bill that allocates funding for the administration and regulation of various Iowa state government departments and offices for the fiscal year 2025-2026. It provides appropriations for salaries, operations, and full-time equivalent positions for entities like the Department of Administrative Services, Auditor of State, and the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The bill also establishes a separate workers' compensation fund for state employees and sets an administrative charge for state employee health insurance plans. Additionally, it specifies how the Auditor of State should allocate its funds for audit work, including federally required audits and investigations.

This bill requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt policies by July 1, 2025, that restrict student use of personal electronic devices during classroom instructional time. The Department of Education will develop model policies for schools to consider. These policies must identify methods for parents to communicate with students during school hours and emergencies, establish disciplinary actions for violations, and outline secure storage protocols for devices. They must also include provisions allowing students to maintain access to devices for legitimate physical or mental health reasons, or as required by an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. Additionally, school districts are mandated to revise their emergency operations plans by July 1, 2025, to align with these new policies on electronic device use.

SSB 1234 establishes the Iowa retirement savings plan trust to help Iowans save for retirement. This trust, managed by the Treasurer of State, allows employed individuals to contribute to personal retirement savings accounts. The bill creates a program fund for participant contributions and an administrative fund, which receives an initial appropriation from the unclaimed property trust fund, to be repaid through administrative fees. It also limits the liability of the state, the treasurer, and employers regarding investment decisions and outcomes.