Iowa Bills

SF 306 amends Iowa's lottery laws to clarify definitions, strengthen security, and update financial reporting. It defines "Lotto" and "self-service kiosk" (restricting them to ticket dispensing only), requires quarterly/annual revenue reports to state officials, and mandates independent CPA verification of drawing equipment. The bill prohibits state employees, their immediate family members (living in the same household for 183+ days), and vendors with access to confidential information from purchasing tickets or claiming prizes. It also creates a dedicated lottery fund for revenue transfers to the general fund and specifies security staff requirements for lottery operations.

SF 276 amends Iowa law to require county commissions of veteran affairs executive directors or administrators to complete specific training, obtain certification, and secure a personal ID verification card within one year of employment. Failure to meet these requirements results in removal from office. The bill also shifts continuing education requirements from the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers to Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs-approved programs. It updates reporting requirements to use the previous fiscal year (instead of calendar year) for tracking veterans' services hours. These changes directly affect county-level staff managing veterans' services across Iowa.

This bill (HF 5) requires health insurance plans in Iowa to cover autism spectrum disorder treatment without age limits or annual benefit caps. It eliminates the previous $36,000 yearly maximum for state employee plans (previously limited to those under 21) and removes the 19-year age restriction for applied behavior analysis coverage. Key provisions mandate minimum coverage of 30 inpatient days and 52 annual outpatient visits, prohibit lifetime limits on autism treatment, and require coverage coordination with other autism-related benefits. The bill applies to group health plans delivered or renewed in Iowa on or after January 1, 2026.

HF 10 modifies the effective date for attaching territory when a school district dissolves. It changes the rule so territory attachment takes effect July 1 of the year immediately following approval (instead of the next July 1). The bill also adds that small districts (under 600 students) may qualify for a reduced property tax levy if approved by the education director, with the director notifying the department of management. This applies to dissolution proposals approved by voters on or after the bill's effective date.

This bill would have expanded the pool of eligible professionals to serve as county medical examiners in Iowa. Currently, only licensed physicians (MDs or DOs) could hold this role, but the bill added advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to the qualifying list. It also changed the appointment process: medical societies would submit candidate lists for the county board to appoint from, and allowed out-of-county appointments if local professionals declined. The bill passed committee recommendations in February 2025 but was withdrawn before final passage.

HF 41 (withdrawn February 24, 2025) would have increased penalties for drivers convicted of traffic violations causing serious injury or death. Specifically, it added violations of Iowa Code § 321.288 (requiring reduced speed for pedestrians, animals, work zones, or hazardous conditions) to the list of offenses triggering additional penalties. If convicted of such a violation causing serious injury, drivers could face a $500 fine, up to 90 days license suspension, or both. For violations causing death, penalties would include a $1,000 fine, up to 180 days license suspension, or both. The bill was approved by committee but later withdrawn.

HF 120 allows Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to apply to the Department of Education for authorization to implement year-round school calendars for students in grades nine through twelve. Currently, similar authorization only covers prekindergarten through grade eight, so this bill expands the eligibility to high school students. To apply, school boards must hold a public hearing on the proposal before submitting it to the Department of Education, with initial applications due by November 1 of the preceding school year. The bill directly affects high school students and school administrators by providing a new calendar option, while maintaining the existing requirement for public input before authorization.

HF 14 would remove the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically crystalline polymorph psilocybin, also known as COMP 360) from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It directs Iowa to align with federal rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act, making it lawful to prescribe, distribute, and market this specific pharmaceutical product after FDA approval. The bill directly affects medical providers, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies seeking to legally offer this approved treatment. It does not change current penalties for non-pharmaceutical psilocybin possession, which remain classified as a serious misdemeanor or class B felony.

HF 123 amends Iowa's mental health laws to clarify procedures for involuntary treatment. It defines "psychiatric deterioration" as a condition where a person cannot understand their need for treatment, is unlikely to seek it, and faces risk of serious mental impairment without care. The bill requires courts to hold hearings within 48 hours if a person is deemed to be experiencing this deterioration or serious mental impairment, and limits involuntary detention to five days without court approval. This affects Iowans with severe mental health crises who lack judgmental capacity due to mental impairment or substance use disorders.

HF 174 modifies when school district boundary changes, enlargements, or dissolutions take effect. For voter-approved changes before January 1, 2025, the change takes effect July 1 following the election. For changes approved on or after January 1, 2025, it takes effect July 1 of the next calendar year. The bill also retroactively applies to January 1, 2025, and includes a provision allowing dissolved districts under 600 students to potentially reduce property taxes if approved by education officials.

This bill establishes specific annual funding growth rates for Iowa public schools starting in 2025, setting a 2.25% "state percent of growth" and a similar "categorical state percent of growth" for state funding. It modifies how school districts receive property tax replacement payments and transportation equity aid, calculating these payments based on each district's student enrollment and state cost-per-pupil formulas. The bill also creates a new school district funding supplement and includes required state appropriations for the 2025 budget year. These changes directly affect all Iowa public school districts by determining their annual state funding levels.

SCR 1 establishes joint rules for lobbyists in the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives for the Ninety-first General Assembly. It requires lobbyists to register with legislative clerks before lobbying, disclose details about which bills they're working on (and for whom), and file updates within one working day of changes. The rules also prohibit lobbyists from paying for members' club memberships, offering economic incentives to influence votes, or receiving bonuses tied to legislative outcomes. These rules aim to increase transparency by making registration and lobbying activity records publicly accessible.