HF 415 clarifies how county and city boards of adjustment can grant variances from zoning rules for property owners. It requires property owners seeking exceptions to prove the difficulties are unique to their specific property (not self-created) and that the variance won’t significantly change the neighborhood’s character. The bill specifically covers variances for requirements like minimum lot size, setbacks, parking, signage, and building height. It does not change zoning rules but sets clearer standards for when boards may approve exceptions to allow beneficial property use.
HF 42 requires county attorneys in Iowa to review officer-involved shootings that result in death or serious bodily injury within 180 days. The county attorney must issue a written report detailing their findings, charging decision, or recommendation to convene a grand jury or refer the case to the attorney general. This report must be provided to the involved officer, their legal counsel, and their agency. If a conflict of interest exists, the review must be handled by an independent county attorney, the attorney general, or a special prosecutor instead of the regular county attorney. The bill applies specifically to cases involving law enforcement officers as defined in state law.
HF 108 allows peace officers in Iowa to file petitions for 72-hour emergency protective orders on behalf of domestic abuse victims who are in immediate danger and request the officer's help. This directly affects individuals experiencing domestic abuse who may be unable to file such petitions themselves due to fear, trauma, or other barriers. The key provision amends Iowa law to permit officers to act as advocates for these victims, streamlining access to urgent court-issued protection. The bill does not change the legal standard for issuing protective orders but expands who can initiate the process. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025.)
HF 64 amends Iowa Code 728.2 to increase penalties for distributing or displaying obscene material to minors, excluding parents or guardians. The bill upgrades the offense from a serious misdemeanor to a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of $1,025-$10,245. Convicted individuals must also register as sex offenders for 10 years. The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, after committee approval.
HF 34 requires schools, child care centers, and colleges to include clear information about immunization exemptions and how to qualify for them in specific communications. This includes providing exemption details in school communications to parents, on school websites, and in registration materials for elementary/secondary schools and child care facilities. The bill also mandates that higher education institutions include exemption information in any communication related to student immunization requirements. These requirements apply to all public and private schools, child care centers, and colleges in Iowa, with costs covered by existing school funding.
This bill requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reimburse counties $50 per day for holding or confining a sexually violent predator (SVP) who commits a new public offense while under a civil commitment order. Counties would receive reimbursement for both temporary jail holds during criminal proceedings and for sentences served in county jails. HHS must fund these reimbursements using existing budgeted funds for SVP treatment at the state mental health institute or transferred funds under Code section 218.6. The policy directly affects counties bearing these costs and HHS, shifting the financial responsibility for SVPs' temporary confinement during criminal cases.
HF 136 modifies how Iowa calculates school performance grades by changing the treatment of student dropouts. Specifically, it states that if a student returns to school after dropping out and then drops out again, that second or subsequent dropout will no longer negatively impact the school's performance grade. The bill directly affects Iowa public schools and their accountability ratings, which determine school classifications (like "needs improvement" or "priority") and eligibility for support or recognition. This change is part of the state's school performance profiles, which use metrics like graduation rates, attendance, and college-readiness to evaluate schools under federal and state requirements.
HF 220 would have required Iowa public school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to allow eighth-grade students who meet their academic standards to participate in high school athletic programs (grades 9-12). The bill's key provision, added as Section 280.13D, mandated that schools permit these students to join extracurricular sports teams provided for older grades. It directly affected eighth graders meeting academic requirements and school administrators responsible for athletic program rules. The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, after committee approval.
HF 331 requires Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to only participate in athletics organizations that establish a conference realignment committee by July 2025. This committee must approve all conference changes, considering factors like school enrollment, travel distance, and traditional rivalries, while ensuring schools offer at least one boys' and one girls' sport each season. The bill also mandates schools maintain gender-equivalent athletic programs year-round and penalizes unauthorized conference withdrawals with a two-year competition ban. It directly affects all schools participating in Iowa's high school athletics programs through the Iowa High School Athletic Association or Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, after committee approval.
HF 339 creates a "licensed sedation provider host permit" for Iowa dentists, allowing them to employ certified sedation providers (like anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists) to administer moderate sedation during dental procedures for patients aged 13 or older. To obtain the permit, dentists must complete a board-approved training course covering patient assessment, emergency response, and sedation monitoring; meet facility requirements; and hold advanced cardiovascular life support certification. The bill requires the dental board to annually review and approve training courses based on specific content standards, including patient safety and airway management. The bill was recommended for passage by committees but was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, without becoming law.
HF 137 requires the University of Iowa to admit at least 80% of students in its colleges of medicine, nursing, and dentistry who are Iowa residents or who previously attended an Iowa community college, private institution, or regents university. The bill directly affects prospective students applying to these specific health science programs. It also mandates an annual report to Iowa lawmakers detailing where graduates and medical residents live after completing their studies, including whether they moved out of state. The report must break down residency patterns by program and whether graduates attended Iowa schools before applying.
HF 698 prohibits Iowa employers (specifically motor carriers and related entities) from using the deployment, implementation, or use of motor carrier safety improvements as a factor when determining whether a worker is an employee, independent contractor, or jointly employed. The bill defines "motor carrier safety improvement" broadly to include devices, software, training, policies, or practices designed to enhance traffic safety compliance. This directly affects how motor carriers classify drivers and other workers under state law, preventing them from using safety-related measures as a basis for employment status. The bill was introduced in Iowa in 2025 but was withdrawn after being substituted by another measure on March 13, 2025.
