Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 13, 2026

HF 2689: A bill for an act relating to the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2689 creates a sales tax holiday for clothing under $100 sold on July 3-5, 2026, in Iowa, exempting these purchases from state sales tax (with exclusions like sportswear and protective gear). It also establishes a task force to organize commemorative activities for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, including Capitol decorations, July 2026 events, an educational display honoring U.S. presidents, and Constitution Day school instruction on September 17, 2026. The bill affects Iowa residents purchasing qualifying clothing during the specified dates and requires public schools and state agencies to participate in anniversary programming. It does not alter tax rates permanently but provides a temporary exemption for a limited period.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 13, 2026

HSB 756: A bill for an act relating to captive insurance companies and life captive reinsurance companies, and including civil penalties.

This bill protects the confidentiality of tax returns filed by captive insurance companies and life captive reinsurance companies in Iowa. It prohibits state employees from publishing these returns, imposing serious misdemeanor penalties including dismissal from state employment for violations. The law allows limited sharing of these returns with federal tax authorities or other states under formal agreements. This directly affects companies operating under Iowa’s captive insurance regulations, ensuring their tax filings remain confidential except in specific, authorized circumstances.

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 13, 2026

HF 2331: A bill for an act creating an attorney loan repayment program, and making appropriations.

HF 2331 creates a program to repay student loans for Iowa-licensed attorneys who practice law in the state. To qualify, applicants must be graduates of the University of Iowa College of Law, be licensed to practice in Iowa, and agree to work in Iowa for the duration of the program while providing at least 50 hours yearly of free legal services for low-income clients. The program prioritits attorneys in rural areas (defined as counties under 26,000 population more than 20 miles from a city of 50,000+ people) and provides up to $10,000 annually per attorney, capped at six years or their total eligible student loan balance. The state fund for this program, administered by the College Student Aid Commission, can accept private and public funds and is limited to assisting no more than 110 attorneys annually.

died · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2728: A bill for an act relating to obstructing first responders, and providing penalties.

This bill creates a new criminal offense for approaching or staying within 25 feet of first responders after they have issued a verbal warning not to approach. It directly affects individuals who might interfere with law enforcement officers, probation or parole officers, firefighters, or emergency medical providers performing their duties. The law prohibits approaching within the specified distance with the intent to impede the responder's work, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. Violating this provision is classified as a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine between $430 and $2,560. The bill defines harassment as conduct that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress without a legitimate purpose.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2190: A bill for an act relating to the use of the titles physician assistant and physician associate.

SF 2190 changes Iowa's official title for licensed healthcare providers from "physician assistant" to "physician associate" throughout state law and administrative documents. It requires all references in the Iowa Code, regulations, and agency forms to be updated to "physician associate" by January 1, 2027, while keeping the terms synonymous with no changes to practice rights or scope. During a transition period, providers may use either title, and entities like hospitals, insurers, and government agencies cannot alter contracts or employment due to the title change. This bill is purely procedural, affecting only the terminology used in official records without altering existing laws governing physician assistants' roles.

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2215: A bill for an act relating to the applicability of the standard nonforfeiture law for individual deferred annuities to contingent deferred annuities.

This bill (SF 2215) exempts contingent deferred annuities from certain standard nonforfeiture requirements under Iowa's insurance law, while allowing the state insurance commissioner to establish nonforfeiture benefits for these products. It directly affects policyholders who purchase contingent deferred annuities by changing which protections apply to their contracts. The key mechanism is removing the automatic application of subsections 2-7 of section 508.38 to these annuities, but giving the commissioner authority to create rules ensuring benefits are equitable, appropriate for the risks, and aligned with the law's intent. This creates a tailored regulatory approach for contingent deferred annuities instead of applying the same rules as other annuity types.

died · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2308: A bill for an act relating to state participation in the federal tax credit program for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations.

HF 2308 would allow Iowa to join a federal tax credit program, enabling Iowa residents who donate to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) to claim a state tax credit. The bill requires the governor to elect participation in the federal tax credit (under IRS Section 25F) and mandates the departments of Revenue and Education to follow federal rules to administer the program starting tax years after January 1, 2027. This would let SGOs provide scholarships of up to $1,700 per year per student for eligible elementary and secondary school expenses, directly benefiting families using nonpublic schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2340: A bill for an act relating to agriculture, including by providing for the powers and duties of the department of agriculture and land stewardship, including the promotion and regulation of commodities and products; the regulation of the transportation of agricultural commodities; the use of agricultural land; and taxation, including property taxes, excise and sales taxes, and income taxes; making penalties applicable; and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HF 2340 establishes the "Choose Iowa" promotional program to support Iowa agricultural products. It creates a school purchasing program where schools receive matching funds (1:1) to buy eligible Iowa-grown food products from farms or businesses enrolled in the program. It also creates a food bank purchasing program, reimbursing Iowa food banks and emergency feeding organizations at a 1:1 rate for purchasing qualifying products, with a $200,000 annual cap and a $50,000 per organization limit. The bill requires farms/businesses to be "Choose Iowa" members to participate, and the Department of Agriculture administers both programs with annual reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2497: A bill for an act relating to peer-to-peer car sharing programs.

HF 2497 establishes rules for peer-to-peer car sharing programs in Iowa, where individuals rent their personal vehicles through a platform (not traditional rental companies) to other drivers. The bill requires programs to ensure minimum liability insurance coverage during sharing periods, covering third-party injury or property damage claims up to state-mandated limits. It mandates that insurance must apply to vehicle use through the program, and programs must assume primary liability for claims if disputes arise about vehicle control or return. This directly affects the platforms operating these services, vehicle owners participating in the programs, and drivers using shared vehicles.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2564: A bill for an act relating to a pregnant minor’s legal capacity to consent to the provision of certain medical care.

HF 2564 allows pregnant minors in Iowa to legally consent to prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal medical care from specific healthcare providers (including physicians, nurse practitioners, and emergency providers) if their parent, guardian, or legal custodian is not reasonably available. This directly affects pregnant minors who lack immediate adult support for their medical needs. The bill ensures minors can authorize care without parental involvement in these specific circumstances, while maintaining that healthcare providers must still obtain the minor’s informed consent. It does not change existing requirements for providers to secure consent directly from the minor patient.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2441: A bill for an act relating to the teach Iowa scholar program, including modifying eligibility provisions and establishing funding allocations.

HF 2441 modifies Iowa's Teach Iowa Scholar program by removing the requirement that applicants must rank in the top 25% of their teacher preparation program. Instead, it establishes new funding allocations starting July 1, 2026: 20% of funds must go to eligible classroom teachers providing special education instruction, and 50% must go to teachers employed in rural school districts (defined as districts with fewer than 1,000 students). The program continues to offer up to $4,000 annually (capped at $20,000 over five years) for teachers in STEM, ESL, special education, or hard-to-staff subjects. These changes directly affect teachers in rural areas and special education by altering how funds are distributed.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2340: A bill for an act relating to the authority of counties and cities to regulate the installation or use of battery-charged security alarm systems on nonresidential properties.

SF 2340 clarifies that counties and cities cannot regulate battery-charged security alarm systems on nonresidential properties as fences or require fence permits. The bill defines these systems as outdoor alarms powered by a low-voltage battery (≤12V DC) that interface with business security systems, and prohibits local governments from banning or regulating their installation unless they meet specific safety standards. These include IEC certification for the energizer, placement behind a 5-foot non-electric fence with a system at least 10 feet tall or 2 feet above the fence, and visible "WARNING - ELECTRIC FENCE" signs every 30 feet. The law does not apply to residential properties and allows standard alarm system licensing requirements to remain in place.

Bill results