HF 320 would establish Iowa's "Right to Try" framework, allowing terminally ill or severely debilitating patients to access investigational drugs, biological products, or devices not yet approved by the FDA. It defines eligibility for patients with terminal illness (after exhausting all FDA-approved treatments) or life-threatening conditions requiring personalized genomic-based therapies. The bill requires detailed written informed consent documents outlining treatment options, potential outcomes (including risks of hastened death), cost liabilities (patients bear all expenses unless a manufacturer contract states otherwise), and impacts on hospice care eligibility. It specifically applies to Iowa residents seeking individualized treatments based on their genetic profile, such as gene therapy or personalized vaccines, under physician recommendation.
HF 124 requires mental health facilities and hospitals to follow specific steps before discharging people involuntarily committed for mental health treatment. Facilities must refer patients to administrative services organizations, assess suicide risk, provide a 30-day supply of prescribed medications, and create detailed discharge reports including appointment schedules, medication lists, crisis prevention plans, and educational materials about mental health symptoms. The bill also mandates post-discharge coordination by these organizations through follow-ups and home visits, and requires facilities to report discharges to the court for confirmation. This directly affects individuals receiving involuntary mental health treatment in Iowa facilities, aiming to improve continuity of care and safety after discharge.
HF 265 would require Iowa's Department of Public Safety to revise firefighter certification rules by January 1, 2026, to prohibit individuals who committed adult crimes requiring sex offender registry registration from becoming certified firefighters (including volunteers). The bill directly affects people seeking or holding firefighter certification in Iowa who have such criminal histories. It mandates a specific rule change to block certification for these individuals, without altering existing requirements for other criminal backgrounds. The bill was recommended for passage by committees in February 2025 but was withdrawn on March 21, 2025.
HF 1 would require Iowa public school districts to allow students enrolled in nonpublic schools (who live within the district or a contiguous district) to immediately participate in public school athletic competitions, provided the school districts and nonpublic schools have a written agreement. Nonpublic school students would pay the same participation fee as public school students, and their participation would not affect how public schools are classified for athletic competitions. The bill also ensures these students meet residency requirements for athletic eligibility under existing rules. This bill directly affects nonpublic school students seeking to join public school sports teams and the school districts managing those programs. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on March 21, 2025.)
HF 292 would expand eligibility for Iowa's "veteran" special vehicle registration plates to include any Iowan who served in the U.S. armed forces, reserve forces, or Iowa National Guard and was honorably discharged, regardless of service length. Currently, some reserve/National Guard members need 20+ years of service or specific activation periods to qualify. The bill modifies Iowa Code to remove these duration requirements while specifying that fees from these plates fund veterans' programs. The bill was withdrawn on March 21, 2025, and is no longer active.
HF 49 creates an "establishment training program" allowing licensed barbering and cosmetology businesses (including home-based operations) to register with the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Under this program, participating businesses may employ unlicensed staff to perform services like shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair under the direct supervision of a licensed professional, after completing two hours of state-mandated education on laws and sanitation. Businesses must disclose in writing to customers that unlicensed staff are providing services under the program, comply with all facility and safety requirements, and undergo regular inspections. The bill was recommended for passage but withdrawn on March 21, 2025, and does not affect services like hair removal or nail technology.
HF 114 would require school districts operating therapeutic classrooms - designed to support students with emotional, social, or behavioral needs that interfere with learning - to incorporate specific nutritional and environmental changes. Key provisions mandate providing access to micronutrients (like vitamins D and K2), assessing students' macro-nutritional needs, serving minimally processed whole foods (fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins), restricting artificial food additives, limiting excessive digital screen use, and increasing natural light exposure. These changes would apply to classrooms funded through the state’s competitive grant program for therapeutic classrooms. The bill aimed to integrate science-backed health initiatives into these classrooms to improve student outcomes. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on March 21, 2025.)
HF 157 would have required Iowa city councils to notify residents if they planned to appoint someone to fill a vacant city office, allowing voting residents to petition for a special election instead if the remaining time in the term was at least one year. The bill specified that if enough signatures were collected within 14 days of the notice, the council’s appointment would become temporary and a special election would be held. It directly affected city councils and residents in Iowa cities with elective offices facing vacancies. The bill was withdrawn in March 2025 and did not become law.
This bill would expand access to experimental treatments for Iowa patients with terminal or life-threatening illnesses who have exhausted all FDA-approved options. It establishes a framework allowing patients to receive investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that have completed Phase 1 FDA clinical trials but remain unapproved for general use. Eligible patients must obtain physician attestation, written informed consent detailing risks and costs, and documentation of failed standard treatments, with specific requirements for both terminal illness and life-threatening conditions. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but withdrawn before committee action.
HF 874 requires dental insurance companies (dental carriers) to honor prior authorizations for covered dental services, meaning they must reimburse providers at the agreed rate if services were pre-approved. It mandates that dental carriers notify providers when a patient’s plan is state-regulated (via online portal and ID cards starting July 2025). The bill also sets strict rules for recovering overpayments: carriers must provide written notice of errors within 365 days and allow providers a 90-day appeal period. These provisions directly affect dental providers, insurance companies, and patients covered under state-regulated dental plans.
HF 794 requires Iowa to withhold state income tax from sports wagering winnings whenever federal income tax is withheld on those winnings. This applies to individuals who win amounts triggering federal tax withholding, such as winnings over $600 from gambling under federal rules. The law will take effect on January 1, 2026.
HF 842 would make it a crime to steal, alter, or fraudulently obtain gift cards or their access information with intent to defraud. Penalties range from a serious misdemeanor (for $500 or less value) to a class C felony (over $5,000), depending on the amount involved. Authorities could combine multiple offenses within six months for sentencing. The bill directly targets individuals committing gift card fraud, not cardholders or retailers.
