Iowa Bills

HF 876 requires sellers to disclose whether a property has lead service lines (pipes carrying water) as part of standard real estate disclosure forms. This directly affects home buyers and sellers in Minnesota during property transactions. The bill adds specific language to existing disclosure documents to ensure buyers are informed about potential lead pipe risks before purchasing. It became law after passing unanimously in both chambers and receiving the Governor's signature on June 6, 2025.

HF 870 exempts students attending religious instruction courses provided by private organizations from standard compulsory education requirements. It modifies attendance tracking rules so these students are not counted as chronically absent in school records. This directly affects students enrolled in such private religious programs and their school districts. The bill changes how schools document attendance for these specific cases under existing education law.

HF 767, now law after Governor's signature on June 6, 2025, establishes new rules for drug testing in private workplaces. It directly affects private employers and their employees by regulating when and how drug tests can be conducted. The bill's specific mechanisms - such as required consent, test accuracy standards, or employer reporting - are not detailed in the provided context. As a substantive policy change, it replaces previous standards with these new requirements for private sector drug testing. (Note: The context does not provide the bill's specific provisions, so key mechanisms cannot be described.)

This bill enacts changes across several areas overseen by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. It introduces definitions for "behavioral health districts" and "disability access points" and establishes new restrictions on who can serve as an advocate for involuntarily hospitalized patients, excluding those affiliated with administrative services organizations (ASOs) or care providers. The bill also updates child foster care laws to formally include "approved kinship caregivers" alongside licensed foster parents, granting them decision-making authority under the "reasonable and prudent parent standard" and ensuring their participation in care planning. These provisions directly affect individuals receiving mental health and disability services, children in foster care, and the various organizations involved in providing these services.

HF 890 updates Iowa's education policies by changing reporting requirements for community colleges and the state education department. It modifies a pilot program for national teaching certification and revises employment contracts between community colleges and their instructors. The bill also affects staff at the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired program and the Iowa School for the Deaf. These changes became law after the Governor signed it on June 6, 2025.

HF 787 modifies several education policies in the state. It changes how school districts calculate teacher salary supplements, updates requirements for teacher training programs, and sets rules for placing students needing special education services out of state. The bill also defines the Department of Education's duties and establishes minimum salary levels for teachers. These changes directly affect school districts, educators, and students requiring special education services. The bill became law after passing the legislature and being signed by the Governor.

HF 395 requires school bus drivers in the state to complete approved training courses for their position. The bill establishes a standardized training program that must be approved by the state education authority, directly affecting all school bus drivers and the school districts that employ them. Key provisions include defining the content and standards for these courses and including specific effective date language. The law, signed by the Governor on June 6, 2025, mandates this training requirement for new and existing drivers.

HF 706 strengthens Minnesota's open government laws by adding penalties for state and local government bodies that fail to comply with open meetings and records requirements. It requires government entities to provide public access to meetings and documents, with specific fines for violations. The bill passed the House (83-10) and was signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025. This directly affects all state agencies, local governments, and public bodies holding meetings or maintaining records.

SF 253 creates a lifetime license for disabled veterans to harvest fur, eliminating the need for annual renewals. This directly affects veterans with service-connected disabilities who engage in fur harvesting activities. The key provision replaces standard annual licensing requirements with a permanent license valid for the veteran's lifetime, removing recurring fees and paperwork. The bill became law after Governor's signature on June 6, 2025.

SF 588 requires local governments (like cities and counties) to provide written notice to the public before taking certain actions, such as approving major projects or changing land use. The bill specifies that this notice must include key details like the proposed action, location, and public hearing dates, ensuring residents are informed in advance. This law directly affects local government agencies and the communities they serve by increasing transparency for specific decisions. Signed by the Governor on June 6, 2025, it is now law.

SF 175 requires public school districts, charter schools, and other accredited schools to add specific content about pregnancy and fetal development to health and human growth classes for students in grades 5 through 12. This policy change directly affects all schools in the state and their students in those grade levels by mandating the inclusion of this topic in existing health education. The bill does not alter funding or create new programs but updates curriculum standards to include this subject matter. It was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025.

HF 306 prohibits the dissemination or exhibition of obscene material to minors and establishes penalties for violations. The bill directly affects individuals or entities distributing such material to minors, including online platforms, retailers, or anyone sharing content deemed obscene under state law. Key provisions require criminal penalties for offenders, with fines or imprisonment depending on the severity and repeat offenses. This law aims to protect minors from exposure to harmful material by creating clear legal consequences for distributors. The bill was enacted after passing both chambers and receiving the Governor's signature in May 2025.