HF 947 requires Iowa counties and cities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on single-family residential lots. It sets size limits (max 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the main home's size), prohibits local rules that are stricter for ADUs than for main homes (like extra parking fees, design matching requirements, or occupancy restrictions based on income or age), and mandates automatic permit approval for compliant ADU applications. The bill also clarifies that ADUs using manufactured homes must be converted to real property with permanent foundations. This directly affects homeowners seeking to build ADUs and local governments responsible for zoning and permitting.
HF 771 would have required Iowa's Department of Education to create a "Purple Star School Initiative" recognizing public schools that support military-connected students and their families. Schools applying for this designation would need to demonstrate existing commitment to this student group, with the goal of encouraging more schools to expand such support. The initiative would operate as a voluntary recognition program, not direct funding. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but was withdrawn on April 8, 2025, after being substituted by another bill.
HF 651 amends Iowa Code sections to adjust notice requirements for specific local government actions, affecting cities and counties across the state. The bill specifies notice periods (e.g., 4-20 days for building code withdrawal hearings and 10 days for city discontinuance or council size reductions) and requires notices to be published in local newspapers or posted publicly. It applies to decisions including withdrawing from the state building code, discontinuing a city, reducing council members in small cities (under 500 population), and holding budget hearings. These changes standardize public notification procedures before local governments make certain decisions.
This bill changes Iowa's requirements for becoming a certified public accountant (CPA). New applicants must now meet one of two paths: complete 150 semester hours of college education with a degree and at least one year of accounting-related experience, or complete 120 semester hours with a degree and at least two years of experience. The degree must be a bachelor's in accounting or a substantially equivalent field, and experience must involve services like tax, audit, or financial consulting as verified by the applicant. These changes take effect July 1, 2026.
SF 385 requires Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to establish a process for reviewing nursing facility deficiencies *before* issuing citations for immediate jeopardy or substandard care. Under this bill, nursing facilities would be able to provide context and evidence to DIAL during this pre-citation review, rather than after receiving a citation as current law allows. The bill aims to ensure consistent application of federal and state inspection standards when determining if a facility's practices pose serious risks to residents. This change directly affects nursing facilities facing potential citations for violations that could cause serious harm, injury, or death to residents.
SF 458 repeals Iowa Code section 12C.6A, which previously required banks seeking to hold public funds to demonstrate a commitment to serving their local community, maintain an eligibility list, and submit annual reports. This bill directly affects financial institutions that may hold state or local government deposits by removing those specific requirements. The key mechanism is the repeal of the community commitment mandate and the associated eligibility list process. It also updates related sections to clarify investment options for public funds and enforcement procedures for banking violations. The change simplifies the process for banks to qualify for holding public deposits without the prior community engagement requirements.
This bill (SF 154) expands when Iowa courts can waive preplacement investigations for adoptions. It allows courts to skip these background checks for legal guardians who have cared for a child for 36 consecutive months and met all guardianship duties, beyond the current rule that only waives checks for relatives within the fourth degree of kinship. The bill requires guardians to disclose any serious criminal convictions or child abuse reports before the final adoption hearing, and courts must rule on whether to waive the investigation. It directly affects legal guardians seeking to adopt children they’ve cared for long-term, streamlining the process for these specific cases.
SF 450 requires Iowa's Department of Education to develop and distribute family resources supporting math learning at home, a statewide math plan by July 2025, and a list of approved screening tools for K-6 students. It mandates school districts to assess all K-6 students in math three times yearly using approved screeners and to provide targeted interventions for students identified as "persistently at risk" (not meeting benchmarks on two consecutive assessments). Schools must create personalized math plans and deliver small group or intensive support until students meet proficiency targets on state assessments. The bill also updates teacher preparation programs to include specific math pedagogy requirements for educators teaching K-12.
This bill appropriates $1 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund Iowa's Double Up Food Bucks program, which helps SNAP recipients buy fresh produce at farmers markets and grocery stores. It requires grant recipients to match funds dollar-for-dollar and allows unspent funds to carry over. The bill also directs Iowa's health department to request a federal waiver changing SNAP eligibility to restrict benefits to "healthy" foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins. The funding and eligibility changes would take effect only after federal approval of the waiver.
HF 277 removes birth centers from the definition of "institutional health facility" in Iowa law. This change eliminates the requirement for birth centers to obtain a Certificate of Need (CON) from the state before expanding services, relocating, or adding new offerings. The bill updates definitions in sections 10A.711, 135.131, and 135P.1 of the Iowa Code to clarify that birth centers are separate from hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. As a result, birth center providers would no longer face the CON approval process for operational changes. The bill directly affects birth center operators and their ability to expand services without state review.
This bill raises the annual gross income limit for businesses to qualify as "targeted small businesses" in Iowa from $4 million to $200 million. It directly affects Iowa businesses that are 51% owned and operated by women, minorities, service-disabled veterans, or people with disabilities. Under the change, qualifying businesses must now have less than $200 million in average annual gross income (over three years) instead of the current $4 million cap. This adjustment would allow larger businesses to access programs supporting these ownership groups.
HF 43 establishes a new criminal offense for adults (18+) who knowingly send unsolicited sexually explicit images or videos electronically. It specifically targets transmissions depicting genitals, pubic areas, sex acts, or engorged male genitalia. Violators face a serious misdemeanor charge punishable by up to one year in jail, fines of $430-$2,560, mandatory sex offender registration, and a 10-year custody term with parole eligibility. The bill was withdrawn on March 31, 2025, after committee approval.
