SF 152 allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to waive the driving skills test and certain physical exams for eligible military personnel applying for a state driver's license. This applies to individuals currently on active duty or those separated from service within the past year. To qualify for the waiver, applicants must certify they've held only a military license for two years, maintained a clear driving record, and have recent military experience operating motor vehicles. They would still need to pass an eyesight screening, a highway sign recognition test, and a written test on state traffic laws, and would be exempt from driver education requirements.
SF 27 requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to include new information in its electronic database, which is used by the DOT and law enforcement. This database will now indicate whether a driver was required by the department or a court to complete remedial driver improvement actions, such as an education course, following an arrest, citation, conviction, or accident. It will also show if the driver successfully completed these actions. The bill further mandates that court clerks notify the DOT within ten days of a court order for such action and again within ten days of confirmation that the action was completed.
This bill requires a signed "declaration of value" from at least one seller, buyer, or their agent when most real estate transfers (like home sales) are recorded with county offices. It specifically expands existing exemptions to exclude certain transactions: corporate mergers/reorganizations, transfers between family entities and their owners without payment, and trust asset distributions to beneficiaries with no consideration. These changes simplify paperwork for those specific property transfers, reducing the need for declarations in those cases. The bill affects sellers, buyers, and county recorders handling property deeds across Iowa.
HF 2661 establishes four new Iowa economic development programs targeting the game industry. It creates an interactive digital entertainment tax credit (up to 30% of qualified spending, with a 5% bonus for "made in Iowa" projects), a game studio investment matching program offering forgivable loans matching private investments dollar-for-dollar (capped at $20 million annually), and a game industry fellowship program providing $150,000-$200,000 annual grants to relocate experienced professionals for two years. The programs require qualified developers to maintain physical presence and payroll in Iowa, with all tax credits and grants limited to a $20 million annual cap. These provisions directly affect Iowa-based game developers, studios, and experienced industry professionals seeking relocation.
HF 2699 modifies Iowa's charter school laws by eliminating provisions for "innovation zone schools" and making the State Board of Education the sole authorizer for new charter schools. It requires charter schools to operate as nonprofit organizations, clarifies they are exempt from most state rules (except specific requirements), and mandates new state-developed resources for math education, student device policies, and civics testing. The bill directly affects charter schools, public school districts, and students by changing how charter schools are approved, funded, and governed, including new requirements for immunization communication and extracurricular participation. Key provisions include setting a 75-day timeline for charter application reviews and requiring all charter schools to adopt standardized civics tests by 2026.
This bill (SF 2294) prohibits Iowa-based video streaming services from transmitting commercial advertisements louder than the accompanying video content, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu that deliver video via internet protocol within Iowa, excluding TV stations, cable operators, and ad-free services. The Iowa Utilities Commission will enforce the rule, with penalties of up to $500 per daily violation, and can require services to demonstrate compliance through evidence of adherence to volume standards. The bill does not create a private right for consumers to sue over violations.
SF 2421 would have required healthcare review groups to use human reviewers - not solely artificial intelligence - for decisions denying, delaying, or downgrading prior authorizations (e.g., changing urgent requests to standard ones). It mandated that denials include written explanations citing specific criteria, along with detailed attestations about the reviewer’s qualifications and specialty expertise. The bill also required separate human reviews for appeals and prohibited the same reviewer from handling both initial denials and appeals. This bill was withdrawn on March 4, 2026, and did not become law.
HF 2548 increases the annual cap on fees collected by Iowa's Auditor of State from cities not required to undergo mandatory audits or fiscal examinations, raising it from $375,000 to $600,000. The fees, based on a city's budgeted gross expenditures (a sliding scale), must be paid by cities that don't need an audit or fiscal year exam. If fees exceed $600,000 in a fiscal year, the excess funds must be used to provide financial management training for city officials, either directly or through contracted organizations. The funds collected cannot revert to the general state fund and remain available for future training or examination purposes. This bill applies to fees collected starting July 1, 2026.
SF 2420 establishes the "Choose Iowa" program to promote Iowa agricultural products, directly affecting farmers, food businesses, schools, and food banks. It creates two new purchasing initiatives: a school program reimbursing 100% of costs for eligible Iowa-grown food (like meat, dairy, and produce) when purchased from enrolled farms, and a food bank program offering similar reimbursement with a $50,000 annual cap per organization. The bill also allocates $1.75 million annually for renewable fuel infrastructure and sets membership criteria for farms/businesses to join the program. These changes provide concrete market access for Iowa producers through direct financial support for local purchases.
This bill allows Iowa drivers to obtain special Gadsden flag license plates with a specific design: black background, yellow text, a coiled yellow rattlesnake on grass, and the phrase "Don’t Tread on Me." Owners pay a $50 one-time fee for standard plates or an additional $25 for personalized plates (limited to five characters), plus a $5 annual fee. All fees collected are deposited into the road use tax fund, with half allocated to the Natural Resource Commission for shooting range grants (requiring school access) and half to the Homeland Security Department for school infrastructure grants. The bill directly affects vehicle owners seeking these specialty plates and funds specific state programs through dedicated fees.
This concurrent resolution confirms Bernardo Granwehr's appointment as Ombudsman for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2026, as required by Chapter 2C of the law. It follows the constitutional process where the Legislative Council appoints the Ombudsman, subject to approval by both chambers of the legislature. The resolution formally approves his appointment without creating new policy or affecting any specific group.
SF 2157 creates a legal pathway for private individuals to sue others who file lawsuits against them with malicious intent. To win such a case, a plaintiff must prove the original lawsuit was dismissed or decided in their favor, the defendant lacked reasonable legal/factual justification for filing it, the defendant acted with improper purpose (like harassment), and the plaintiff suffered actual financial harm directly from the case. The bill clarifies that plaintiffs don’t need to prove special harms like arrests or property seizures - only the normal stress and costs of defending a civil lawsuit. This applies solely to disputes between private parties, not to challenges against government actions.
