HF 414 prohibits county attorneys in Iowa from engaging in legal work that creates conflicts of interest with their duties to the county or county officials. Specifically, it bars them from accepting fees related to cases they handle, representing other parties in similar cases, or jointly representing the county and officials with competing interests. The bill also gives county boards of supervisors the authority to hire outside lawyers to resolve disputes with county attorneys or determine if conflicts exist, and allows county sheriffs to petition courts for conflict determinations if boards refuse to act. If a conflict is confirmed, courts must rule within 30 days, with county costs covering the process. The bill was withdrawn in March 2025 after committee approval.
HF 206 changes Iowa's window tint law by lowering the minimum light transmittance requirement from 70% to 50% for front side windows and windshields. This means drivers can use darker tint on these windows than currently allowed, directly affecting most passenger vehicle owners. The bill removes the Department of Transportation's authority to set specific transparency rules and sets a $70 fine for violations. Law enforcement vehicles used for official duties remain exempt, as under current law. The bill was withdrawn before becoming law.
HF 373 requires Iowa courts to appoint legal representation for children in foster care based on age: children under 10 must have both a court-appointed lawyer and a separate advocate (guardian ad litem), while children 10 or older only need a lawyer. The bill ensures continuity by directing courts to reappoint the same lawyer or advocate if already serving the child, and mandates that representation continues until a child is no longer in foster care. It also clarifies that lawyers for children must perform specific duties, such as reviewing records and interviewing service providers, but are not required to submit certain written reports. The law applies directly to children involved in foster care proceedings across Iowa.
HF 589, the "Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act," requires healthcare providers in Iowa who diagnose a lethal fetal anomaly (a condition likely causing a baby's death within three months after birth) to inform pregnant women about perinatal hospice services. It mandates the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create and post online a geographically organized list of these services in both English and Spanish, including descriptions and contact details. The bill directly affects pregnant women facing such diagnoses who choose to continue their pregnancy, providing them access to support services like counseling, medical care, and family assistance. Key provisions include requiring in-person provider discussions about hospice options and HHS’s responsibility to maintain an accessible, multilingual resource. The bill was withdrawn in March 2025 after committee approval.
HF 519 requires Iowa's Department of Public Safety to sell seized or forfeited legal firearms and ammunition (not illegal or offensive weapons) through public auction, rather than destroying them by default. The department must prioritize auction sales unless items are kept for law enforcement use, added to their weapons archive, or exchanged with other agencies under specific conditions. Unsold or damaged items, or illegal/offensive weapons, may be destroyed. This change applies to firearms and ammunition deposited with the department after seizure or forfeiture proceedings.
HF 81 defines "obscene material involving a minor" as visual depictions meeting specific criteria (depicting minors in prohibited sexual acts, appealing to prurient interest, being patently offensive, and lacking serious value). It prohibits producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing such material, with first offenses classified as aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years jail, $8,540 fine) and repeat offenses as class D felonies (up to 5 years jail, $10,245 fine), requiring sex offender registration. The bill exempts law enforcement activities, educational materials in schools/libraries, and does not require the depicted minor to exist. The bill was withdrawn on March 31, 2025, after committee approval.
HF 177 enhances penalties for assaults against specific public safety and service workers in Iowa. It increases penalties for assaulting designated occupations - including peace officers, correctional staff, health care providers, fire fighters (paid or volunteer), and juvenile detention staff - to a class "C" felony when the assailant knows the victim's occupation and intends serious harm. The bill also adds a minimum 7-day jail term for assaults causing contact with saliva (e.g., spitting) against these workers, and classifies inmate assaults involving bodily fluids on corrections employees as a class "D" felony. These changes directly affect individuals assaulting these workers and inmates committing assaults within correctional facilities.
SF 312 would create a physician assistant licensure compact, allowing licensed physician assistants from participating states to practice in Iowa without obtaining a separate license. It requires physician assistants to follow the licensing rules of the state where the patient is located during care, not where they are licensed. The compact also enables military personnel and their spouses to use an existing license from another participating state to practice in Iowa. This bill was introduced in Iowa but was withdrawn on March 26, 2025, after being attached to another bill.
HF 583 defines "sex" biologically at birth as male or female based on reproductive systems for legal purposes. It requires birth certificates to list the sex assigned at birth (male/female), limits changes to medical documentation, and clarifies that "sex" in anti-discrimination laws refers to biological sex, not gender identity. The bill also specifies that "gender" in legal contexts should not be used as a synonym for gender identity and includes provisions affecting school curricula related to gender theory. These changes directly impact how vital records are maintained, civil rights enforcement, and educational materials in Iowa.
HF 925 repeals Iowa's current restrictions on carrying firearms in or on snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), removing requirements that firearms be unloaded and cased unless operated on the owner's private land. It eliminates associated fines ($35 for unloaded firearms, $70 for loaded ones) and the land ownership restrictions previously governing such conveyance. This bill directly affects individuals operating snowmobiles or ATVs by removing location-based rules for firearm carry. The legislation was introduced in March 2025 but later withdrawn.
HF 948 establishes work requirements for Iowa's Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), requiring most participants to work at least 80 hours monthly to maintain benefits, with exemptions for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and others. It creates an Information Technology Fund to modernize state health systems, transferring unspent funds from a previous public assistance modernization fund. The bill also updates eligibility for Iowa's Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities program to disregard certain income and asset limits (up to $10,000 for individuals), and mandates a state review of similar programs in other states by December 2025. These changes directly affect low-income Iowans enrolled in IHAWP or the Medicaid program for employed people with disabilities.
HF 827 amends Iowa law to regulate the use of electronic devices while driving, specifically targeting voice-activated or hands-free mode usage. It defines "electronic device" broadly and clarifies that violations of these restrictions (e.g., using devices for non-navigation purposes in hands-free mode) are not considered moving violations but may result in citations. The bill includes exemptions for public safety personnel, emergency responders, utility workers, and others performing official duties. It also preempts local ordinances, ensuring statewide uniformity in device-use restrictions while removing prior exemptions for certain device uses.
