HF 708 establishes clear guidelines for making healthcare decisions when patients cannot communicate, specifically for those with terminal conditions or serious illnesses. It defines key terms like "attorney in fact" (a health care agent), "close adult friend" (a designated trusted person meeting specific criteria), and clarifies hospice/palliative care eligibility. The bill creates a priority order for decision-makers: first a designated health care agent, then family members (spouse, children, parents), and finally a close adult friend, all guided by the patient’s known wishes. This focuses on ensuring patient autonomy and providing a structured process for care decisions without adding new services or altering hospice program requirements.
HF 162 requires employees of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide a urine specimen for alcohol and drug testing within two hours after operating a state-owned vehicle in an accident causing injury or death. The bill applies specifically to DOT workers involved in such collisions while driving state vehicles, mandating testing under the same procedures used for standard DUI cases (Chapter 321J). Employees may pay for an independent test but cannot block the use of the initial test results, and failure to comply is a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine. The bill does not apply if standard DUI testing already occurred under existing law.
HF 736 requires Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) to coordinate with utility companies upon written request to identify highway corridors for transmission line installation, assigning a project coordinator within 30 days. It prohibits the DOT from denying longitudinal transmission lines along highways (including interstates) unless safety or highway function is threatened, and mandates public disclosure of denial reasons within 90 days. The bill also limits utility right-of-way lease agreements to 20 years (replacing prior "extended" terms) and updates construction standards to allow lines within highway rights-of-way alongside roads, railways, and streams, provided they don’t interfere with public use. This directly affects utility companies, the DOT, and highway planning processes.
HF 814 allows pregnant minors in Iowa to consent to prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal medical care from specific healthcare providers if their parent, guardian, or legal custodian is not reasonably available. The bill directly affects pregnant minors who lack immediate access to a parent or guardian for medical decisions. It establishes that minors gain legal capacity to consent to this care, but healthcare providers must still obtain informed consent directly from the minor. The bill does not change existing requirements for providers to ensure minors understand their care options.
HF 632 limits civil liability for motocross facilities in Iowa by granting them immunity from lawsuits related to typical dangers of motocross activities, such as weather, terrain hazards, or operator error. This applies to facility operators (like rental parks or event organizers) and directly affects participants (riders) who cannot sue for injuries caused by these inherent risks. The bill includes exceptions where facilities remain liable for intentional harm, negligence causing injury, providing unsafe equipment, or failing to exercise reasonable care. It also requires facilities to post clear warning signs stating that Iowa law limits their liability for such inherent risks. The bill does not affect existing claims or common law defenses for injuries occurring before its effective date.
This bill requires designated public entities in Iowa, including state agencies, counties, cities, and school districts, to post all statutorily required public notices on a centralized online portal managed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state will charge a five-dollar fee for each notice posted, with collected funds deposited into a new public notice administration fund capped at $350,000. Each notice must include essential information such as meeting details, contact information, and instructions for public comments, and must remain accessible on the portal for five years after the notice period ends. While the bill mandates online posting, it also requires entities to maintain a physical copy of notices at their principal offices for public access. Exceptions apply to certain government offices and specific interstate licensure compacts, and disputes over notice publication will be handled by the Iowa public information board.
SF 2419, titled the "Third-Party Litigation Funding Transparency Act," regulates third-party funding of consumer legal claims in Iowa. It requires consumer litigation funding companies to register with the state, provide clear written contracts in everyday language, and fully disclose all fees and terms to consumers before funding. The law specifically affects companies providing nonrecourse funding for personal injury, medical malpractice, or similar civil claims, while excluding nonprofits, health insurers, standard loans, and attorneys working on contingency fees. Key provisions mandate that funding agreements must detail all charges (including interest and administrative fees), prohibit certain arrangements with attorneys, and include a 3-day right to cancel the contract.
SF 2450 establishes a permit system for selling telecommunications copper (copper from telecom equipment) and requires ID verification for all scrap metal sales in Iowa. Individuals selling telecom copper must obtain a county permit ($5 fee) and provide identification, while scrap metal dealers must verify customer ID at purchase and maintain confidential transaction records for two years. The bill exempts small sales ($50 or less) and business-to-business transactions, and imposes escalating civil penalties ($100-$1,000) for violations like selling without ID or permits. It preempts local scrap metal ordinances except in large cities with pre-2012 rules, focusing on tracking transactions to deter theft of telecom infrastructure.
This Iowa bill (SF 2282) creates a new state fund to support county veteran service offices, directly affecting county commissions that assist veterans with federal benefit claims. Key provisions include requiring county office staff to obtain federal certifications and access credentials within 12 months of hire, establishing a statewide electronic claim system for submitting VA claims, and allocating $990,000 annually from the state general fund (plus $300,000 from lottery funds) to incentivize efficient veteran service. The bill mandates that funds must supplement - not replace - existing county funding and requires annual reporting on how allocated money is used. It aims to standardize and improve how counties process veterans' claims through better staff training, technology, and accountability measures.
SF 2019 makes it a crime to knowingly view, photograph, or film another person (or attempt to do so) for sexual gratification, directly affecting individuals who commit such acts. The bill specifies that violating this law is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of $855-$8,540, and requires registration as a tier II sex offender unless the victim is under 13 (then tier III). This law amends Iowa Code section 709.21 to clarify penalties for privacy violations involving sexual motives.
HF 922 prohibits Iowa financial institutions from denying, restricting, or terminating financial services based on a "social credit score." It directly affects banks, credit unions, payment processors, and other financial institutions with significant assets or transaction volumes, and their customers. The bill defines "social credit score" to include evaluations of protected speech, refusal to comply with certain environmental or diversity initiatives, business ties to firearms/oil industries, or political status. Financial institutions must provide written explanations for service denials within 14 days and face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation (or triple that for willful violations), plus attorney fees. The law explicitly excludes standard financial risk assessments that are publicly disclosed.
This bill (HSB 324) requires credit and debit card networks to exclude sales tax amounts from the total transaction when calculating interchange fees charged to sellers. It directly affects retailers and businesses that collect sales tax on credit/debit card purchases, as they currently pay fees on the full transaction amount including tax. The key provision mandates that payment networks either deduct tax amounts from interchange fees at settlement or provide rebates proportional to the tax portion. This change aims to reduce costs for sellers by ensuring they are not charged fees on tax amounts collected for the government. The bill also includes penalties for non-compliance and a process for sellers to claim rebates if tax wasn't captured at checkout.
