Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SSB 3161: A bill for an act relating to victim’s rights including the definition of victim.

SSB 3161 amends Iowa's definition of "victim" to explicitly include first responders (such as police, firefighters, and EMTs) who were harmed during their duties. This change allows these personnel to present victim impact statements to the court during sentencing for crimes that affected them. The bill specifically updates Section 915.10(3) of the Iowa Code to clarify that first responders may be considered "victims" for this purpose under sentencing procedures. It directly affects first responders who experience harm while responding to incidents, granting them a formal role in the sentencing process. The bill focuses on defining eligibility for victim impact statements, not on broader policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SF 2350: A bill for an act relating to the use of automatic registration plate readers, and providing penalties.

SF 2350 regulates Iowa law enforcement's use of automatic license plate readers (LPRs). It requires officers to obtain a warrant before searching LPR data, reduces data retention from 30 to 7 days, mandates detailed usage logs, and prohibits sharing LPR data with third parties without a warrant. The bill also creates public transparency portals showing what plates are scanned, how many searches occur, and retention statistics. Violating these rules constitutes a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SF 2344: A bill for an act relating to Parkinson’s disease prevention, research, and care, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2344 creates a $3 million Parkinson’s disease prevention, research, and care fund in Iowa’s state treasury, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund allocates $1 million each for research grants (prioritizing cure development), caregiver support programs (including respite care and mental health resources), and developing a statewide plan addressing Parkinson’s disease. It requires an advisory council with diverse stakeholders (researchers, patient advocates, caregivers, medical professionals) and annual reports from grantees and the department. The bill mandates a comprehensive state plan covering prevention, diagnosis, care coordination, workforce development, and research priorities, with updates every five years. This legislation directly supports Iowans living with Parkinson’s disease, their caregivers, and research institutions conducting Parkinson’s-related work.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HF 2306: A bill for an act modifying the responsibilities of school district teachers and other educational staff related to students who have individualized education programs or plans under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act.

HF 2306 requires Iowa school district teachers and instructional staff to read and acknowledge individualized education programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans for students with disabilities. Specifically, teachers must read these plans and provide written notice to the special education teacher or principal, while instructional assistants must attend related meetings unless parents object. The bill modifies staff responsibilities to ensure alignment with federal disability accommodations under the Rehabilitation Act. Funding for compliance will be covered by existing state school foundation aid, eliminating the need for additional state funds.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SJR 2011: A joint resolution calling for an Article V convention in order to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States that limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and limit the number of terms that a person may serve in Congress or as a federal official.

Iowa's Senate Joint Resolution 2011 is a state application requesting Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. The resolution specifically seeks to propose amendments that would limit federal government power and jurisdiction, impose spending limits on the federal budget, and establish term limits for members of Congress and federal officials. This is a procedural request from Iowa's legislature, not a law that would take effect immediately. The resolution states it remains active until two-thirds of states apply for a similar convention or Iowa withdraws, and directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to federal and state officials as required by Article V.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HF 2081: A bill for an act establishing standards for obstruction lights on wind energy conversion facilities and providing penalties.

HF 2081 requires wind energy facilities (turbines generating over 100 kilowatts) built on or after July 1, 2026, to use aircraft detection lighting systems (ADLS) for obstruction lights, with existing facilities needing to switch by January 1, 2028. The ADLS automatically activates lights when aircraft are detected, turning them off after the aircraft passes, and must be FAA-approved. Facility owners must maintain continuous ADLS operation, with exemptions for locations where ADLS is impractical due to terrain, airports, or military routes. Violations incur civil penalties of $100-$2,500 per day, with fines going to the state general fund. This bill directly affects wind energy facility owners and operators in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HF 2137: A bill for an act relating to businesses removing and disposing of wild animal carcasses, including licensing, reciprocity, possession, and reporting requirements for carcass removers.

HF 2137 establishes licensing requirements for businesses that remove and dispose of wild animal carcasses from public or private land, including roads. These businesses must obtain a license from Iowa's natural resource commission, which specifies their operating area, with nonresidents paying a fee (unless their state has a reciprocity agreement) and residents receiving free area permits. The bill also requires businesses to maintain detailed records of carcass removals and disposals (including location and date) and submit an annual report by May 15, while mandating that deer antlers be delivered to a conservation officer for disposal. This directly affects commercial carcass removal services operating across Iowa's public and private lands.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HSB 595: A bill for an act concerning reimbursement of the attorney general for services relating to the second injury fund for workers’ compensation.

This bill increases the annual reimbursement cap for the Iowa Attorney General's office from $450,000 to $900,000 for services related to the state's Second Injury Fund (a workers' compensation program for employees with prior work injuries). It requires the reimbursement amount to automatically adjust each year based on the Consumer Price Index (adjusted to the nearest $5), ensuring it keeps pace with inflation. The change directly affects the Attorney General's office (which receives the funds) and the Second Injury Fund (which pays the reimbursement). The Commissioner of Insurance must treat this reimbursement as a liability when determining fund funding availability.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SF 2116: A bill for an act relating to open enrollment, including by modifying provisions related to the open enrollment of pupils who are truant or chronically absent and children receiving educational instruction and course content delivered primarily over the internet, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2116 modifies Iowa's open enrollment rules for students with attendance issues. It prohibits students who are chronically absent (as defined by state law), participating in school engagement meetings, or under absenteeism prevention plans from transferring to another district until they resolve these issues - unless the receiving district specifically approves the transfer. The bill also removes a prior exception that allowed online learners to bypass standard enrollment deadlines. These changes directly affect students with attendance challenges, their families, and school districts handling transfer requests. The law applies to open enrollment applications submitted on or after its effective date.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HF 2174: A bill for an act providing for a task force to address legal services for indigent parties.

HF 2174 establishes a task force within Iowa's judicial branch to examine legal services for indigent parties (those unable to pay for legal representation) in criminal, juvenile, and child abuse/neglect cases. The task force, composed of appointed legal and judicial representatives, must identify current service delivery methods, recommend improvements, address conflicts of interest for public defenders, ensure competent representation, and propose sustainable funding and attorney recruitment strategies. The task force will operate from July 2026 through November 2030, submitting annual reports to the governor and legislature with findings and recommendations. This is a procedural bill focused on analysis and recommendations, not direct policy implementation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SF 2143: A bill for an act relating to selection committees for presidents of regents institutions.

This bill requires Iowa's regents university boards to use a presidential selection committee when hiring presidents, making it mandatory rather than optional under current law. Only board members serve as voting members on the committee, which must recommend the most qualified candidates to the board, and the board can only select a president from this list. The committee may hire executive search firms and use allocated funds for the process, while keeping candidate identities confidential unless disclosed by written agreement. It directly affects the hiring process for presidents of Iowa's public universities governed by the Board of Regents.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HF 2187: A bill for an act requiring the boards of directors of school districts to allow certain youth-oriented community organizations reasonable access to school property.

HF 2187 requires Iowa school district boards to allow "youth-oriented community organizations" (like Scouts or 4-H, defined by federal law) reasonable access to school property. These groups can distribute materials and provide instruction to encourage participation, but only outside of classroom time and during after-school events when reasonably accommodated. School boards must establish rules to protect students, staff, and school property, explicitly prohibiting interference with teaching hours. The bill directly affects school districts and these specific youth organizations by mandating access under defined conditions.

Bill results