Iowa Bills

HF 2353 creates a scenic byways enhancement fund to support Iowa's scenic byways. It requires county treasurers or the Department of Transportation to ask vehicle registrants to make a voluntary $1 or more contribution during registration renewal, with up to 5% retained by counties for local use. Unspent funds remain available for byway maintenance, development, and litter prevention without reverting at year-end. The fund becomes operational January 1, 2026.

HF 2468 creates a dedicated Iowa Rural Health Transformation Fund within the state treasury, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The fund holds federal dollars from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) established under the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which must be used for rural health initiatives as defined by federal guidelines. HHS must report quarterly to the legislature on all fund expenditures, including specific cities where funds were used, and submit all federal performance reports; the fund expires on October 1, 2032. This bill directly affects Iowa's rural health programs receiving federal RHTP funding.

HF 130 creates a state scenic byways enhancement fund to support Iowa's scenic byways through voluntary $1 or more donations during vehicle registration renewal. County treasurers must request these contributions at registration, retaining up to 5% for local county funds while sending the rest to the state fund. The fund finances byway maintenance, development, litter prevention, and enhancement, with unspent funds rolling over annually. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

SF 545 requires battery producers (like manufacturers and brand owners) to implement approved recycling programs by 2028, targeting portable and medium-format batteries used in consumer products (excluding medical devices, car batteries, and certain electronics). It mandates that batteries sold in Iowa be labeled with the producer’s name and prohibits sales of covered batteries without an approved plan. The bill establishes collection sites for public drop-off, sets recycling efficiency targets, and defines key terms like "covered battery" (e.g., excluding lead-acid car batteries and medical devices). This law directly affects battery producers, retailers, and recycling organizations operating in Iowa, with full compliance required by 2029 for labeling.

HF 581 creates a state fund to support Iowa's scenic byways, managed by the Department of Transportation. It requires county treasurers or the vehicle registration department to ask vehicle owners to make a voluntary $1 or more contribution during registration renewal, with up to 5% of collected county funds allowed to stay in the county general fund. The fund will finance byway maintenance, development, litter prevention, and enhancements. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

HF 531 increases the maximum gross weight limit for trucks transporting fluid milk products under annual permits from 96,000 pounds to 130,000 pounds when traveling on primary roads and city road extensions. This change directly affects dairy transport companies that rely on annual permits for milk delivery routes. The bill does not alter the existing 20,000-pound-per-axle weight limit but allows larger total vehicle weights. The new limit applies to all permits issued on or after the law's effective date, including existing permits still active at that time.

This bill establishes a "scenic byways enhancement fund" in the state treasury, managed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The fund's purpose is to support, develop, maintain, and enhance the state's scenic byways, including litter prevention efforts. To finance the fund, county treasurers and the DOT will request voluntary contributions of one dollar or more from individuals applying for vehicle registration renewal. Funds collected will not revert at the end of a fiscal year and any interest earned will be credited back to the fund. This act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

This bill appropriates state funds from the road use tax fund and the primary road fund to the Iowa Department of Transportation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation allocates specific amounts for various operational needs, including salaries, vehicle maintenance, utility services, and administrative costs, as well as funding for projects like driver's license system modernization and road facility repairs. A key provision allows certain unspent funds designated for multi-year projects to remain available for up to three years after the fiscal year ends, rather than reverting to the general fund, provided the projects are not completed earlier.

This bill allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to various Iowa government agencies responsible for administration, regulation, and oversight. It provides specific budget amounts for departments including administrative services, the auditor of state, ethics board, governor's office, and agencies handling licensing, insurance, and revenue collection. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements, such as a fraud investigation report from the department of inspections and mandates that certain funds remain available for future use rather than reverting to the general fund. Additionally, it sets administrative fees for health insurance contracts and allows the auditor of state to hire additional staff for reimbursable audit work.

This bill modifies Iowa's subacute mental health care regulations. It requires facilities to create a resident's initial treatment plan within 24 hours of admission (replacing a prior 10-day limit), and sets strict timelines for insurance approval: 48 hours for urgent requests, 5 days for standard non-urgent requests, and 10 days for complex cases. It directs health and licensing departments to eliminate rules hindering facility expansion or access, and to ease staffing requirements for subacute facilities compared to state mental health institutes. The changes apply immediately upon enactment.

HF 2359 clarifies that city ordinances can require property owners adjacent to public streets (abutting property owners) to maintain the area between their property line and the curb line, such as sidewalks. It adds that these owners can be held liable for damages if they fail to use "reasonable care" in maintaining this public space, as required by local ordinance. The bill specifically excludes requiring property owners to remove diseased trees or dead wood on publicly owned property or right-of-way. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.

SF 2297 amends Iowa's public employees' retirement system (IPERS) to improve member communication and payment options. It allows IPERS to share a member's legal name and city of last known address with the state treasurer to help locate missing members or beneficiaries. The bill changes the annual requirement for benefit statements to quarterly updates of contributions and accrued credits, and adds a reloadable payment card as a no-fee option for retirees, alongside existing electronic and paper payment methods. These changes take effect immediately upon enactment.