Iowa Bills

HF 831 establishes two specialized human trafficking prosecution units within Iowa's Department of Justice - one serving western Iowa and one serving eastern Iowa, divided by Interstate 35. These units, staffed by prosecutors, investigators, victim services, healthcare providers, and community partners, will investigate trafficking cases, prosecute offenders, and support victims. The bill also requires money transfer companies to collect a $5 fee per transaction under $500 (plus 2% on amounts over $500) and remit these fees quarterly to the Office to Combat Human Trafficking. Customers who file tax returns with valid ID can claim a tax credit for fees paid during the year. The funds directly support the Office's anti-trafficking efforts.

Bill HF 1011 establishes two human trafficking prosecution units within the Department of Justice, one for the eastern and one for the western half of the state. These multidisciplinary teams will identify, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking cases while providing care and support for victims. To fund these initiatives, the bill introduces a new fee on wire transmissions, collected from customers by money transfer services. This fee, $5 for transfers up to $500 and an additional 2% on amounts over $500, will be remitted to the Office to Combat Human Trafficking, and customers can claim an individual income tax credit for the fees paid.

SSB 3145 increases taxes on cigarettes to 6.85 cents per cigarette and establishes new tax rates for tobacco products (22.55% + 28% of wholesale price), with specific provisions for cigars (max $0.55 tax per cigar) and snuff ($1.19 per ounce). It directly affects tobacco distributors, retailers, and consumers by imposing these taxes at various points in the supply chain and for personal use. The bill includes exemptions for small personal quantities (e.g., less than 25 cigars or 1 pound of tobacco) and requires electronic tax payments for vending machines. It also allocates funding to Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice for tobacco-related programs.

HF 1040 allocates $12.9 million for Iowa's Economic Development Authority (EDA) and related agencies for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support statewide economic growth. It directs funds toward workforce recruitment, business development (including grants for women-owned startups), tourism marketing, and community economic programs, while requiring recipient businesses to hire U.S. citizens or authorized workers. The bill also eliminates the repeal of Iowa's housing renewal pilot program and appropriates additional funds for the World Food Prize ($650,000) and tourism advertising ($1.02 million). These provisions directly affect state agencies, local communities, and businesses receiving EDA financial assistance.

HF 980 changes Iowa's unemployment insurance tax system for employers. It reduces the percentage used to calculate taxable wages from 66.66% to 33.33% of the statewide average weekly wage (previously used for maximum benefit calculations), and adjusts the contribution rate tables to lower tax rates for most employers. The bill also requires employers to use any tax savings from these changes to pay employee salaries/benefits or cover seasonal unemployment, rather than keeping the savings. This directly affects all Iowa employers paying unemployment insurance taxes, particularly those with out-of-state workers, by lowering their tax burden under the new structure.

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.

SF 297 sets new rules for contracts state agencies in Iowa must use when buying goods or services. It bans 19 specific contract terms that could unfairly burden the state, such as clauses requiring the state to cover a vendor’s legal costs, using foreign law, hiding payment terms, or forcing arbitration. The bill also requires all contracts to follow Iowa law and be litigated in Iowa courts. These rules apply to all state agency contracts signed or renewed after the bill takes effect, directly affecting how state agencies negotiate and manage vendor agreements.

HF 1048 is a bill that makes appropriations to the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates over $202 million for the salaries of supreme court justices, judges, magistrates, and judicial staff, as well as for court administration and general expenses. The bill also appropriates funds for jury and witness fees, interpreter and translator services, and various court-ordered services for juveniles, including school-based supervision and graduated sanctions programs. Additionally, it mandates financial reporting requirements for the judicial branch and emphasizes the collection of delinquent fines and penalties.