HF 2118 establishes a pilot program allowing Iowa voters with disabilities that prevent hand-marking of ballots to independently mark absentee ballots by mail using assistive technology (such as nonvisual or low-vision access tools). It requires the state election commissioner to create rules for the program, including a mail request method for eligible voters. The program must test feasibility across enough counties if not statewide, with annual reports to the legislature. The pilot expires on July 1, 2029.
This bill (SF 2032) changes how counties collect special assessments for residential buildings or improvements on land leased from another owner. It allows counties to collect unpaid special assessments (like those for street improvements) through tax collection processes for qualifying properties - specifically, residential buildings or improvements valued at $20,000 or more. County treasurers must now send written notice to the landowner before starting tax collection for these properties. It directly affects landlords leasing land to builders and county tax collectors handling residential property assessments.
This bill amends Iowa law to allow state legislators (members of the general assembly) to obtain a professional permit to carry weapons. Under the bill, legislators would apply to their county sheriff, who may require a proficiency exam (at the legislator's expense) meeting standards for peace officers. The permit would be valid for the legislator's entire term in office and authorize carrying weapons anywhere in Iowa, including on school grounds. It does not change existing rules for other permit holders like peace officers or county attorneys.
SF 2062 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to annually distribute federal guidance on religious expression rights to all staff, develop training programs about protected speech, and adopt model policies to comply with federal standards. It prohibits schools from discriminating against students for religious, political, or ideological speech in classrooms, clubs, homework, or attire, ensuring equal treatment to other student expression. Schools failing to comply face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation, with students or clubs able to sue for enforcement. The bill applies to all public K-12 schools in Iowa and mandates annual policy certifications to the state education department.
SF 2063, titled the "Stop Woke Act," prohibits Iowa regents institutions from including courses or course requirements containing specific diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content in undergraduate general education or core curricula. The bill defines prohibited content as material discussing systemic racism, race-based privilege, or concepts like "critical race theory" or "systemic bias" in contemporary society. It requires the state board of regents to establish policies by December 31, 2026, and review all general education requirements to remove affected courses by the same deadline. The law specifically targets required courses in core curricula, not all courses or extracurricular programs.
This bill requires Iowa public schools serving grades 7-12 to include suicide prevention resources on their websites, specifically the contact information and internet address for "Your Life Iowa" or its successor program. Schools issuing student ID cards to grades 5-12 must also display crisis hotline numbers and the program's website on the cards. The law directly affects public schools in those grade levels by mandating the inclusion of these resources as accessible tools for students. It does not create new programs but ensures existing suicide prevention resources are visibly available through school communication channels.
This Iowa bill (HSB 649) allows beer manufacturers to ship beer directly to consumers within and outside the state, subject to specific rules. It requires manufacturers to obtain a $25 annual "beer direct shipper permit," pay a $5.89 per barrel tax on shipped beer (including out-of-state shipments), and submit electronic reports twice yearly. The law mandates shipping only to consumers aged 21+ for personal use (not resale), requires specific product labeling, and mandates shipping through licensed carriers. It directly affects Iowa beer manufacturers seeking direct sales and consumers receiving direct shipments. The bill also establishes reporting, tax collection, and enforcement mechanisms under Iowa’s alcohol regulations.
HF 2249 establishes new rules for vision benefit managers in Iowa, directly affecting optometrists and vision care providers who contract with these plans. The bill requires that reimbursement rates for covered vision services must be at least the Medicare physician fee schedule for those services, updated annually for inflation. It also mandates that the time frame for vision benefit managers to recover payments from providers (chargebacks) must match the time they have to pay providers, and prohibits managers from favoring providers based on discounts, volume, or brand. These provisions aim to create fairer payment practices and greater transparency in vision care billing.
SF 516 directs Iowa's Department of Education to form a working group with educators, mental health professionals, and parents to study how school-provided technology (like laptops and online learning systems) affects students' cognitive function and academic performance. The working group must examine research on potential negative impacts, such as effects on attention span and social development, and propose best practices for technology use. The group is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 31, 2025. This bill does not change current technology policies but mandates a study to inform future decisions about educational technology.
This bill allows experienced electricians to obtain a Class B master electrician license in Iowa without taking an exam, provided they can prove 16,000 hours of work in the electrical field since January 1, 1998 (including at least 8,000 hours after that date), with hours worked in any state counting toward the total. It directly affects electricians with extensive, long-term experience who would otherwise need to pass a licensing exam. The bill also restricts these license holders from planning or supervising electrical work in political subdivisions that have established specific licensing rules barring such activities for Class B master electricians. The Iowa Board of Electrical Examiners must create rules to implement these restrictions.
HF 2284 requires all Iowa wind turbines over 100 kilowatts to undergo annual safety inspections by qualified inspectors, covering structural, mechanical, electrical, and safety systems. Operators must submit detailed inspection reports to the Iowa Utilities Commission within 30 days and halt operations for safety issues until fixed within 90 days. The bill imposes civil penalties of up to $5,000 per turbine for missed inspections, $2,000 for late reports, and $10,000 for unresolved safety concerns. It directly affects wind energy operators statewide, with enforcement handled by the Iowa Utilities Commission, which will maintain a public inspection database and conduct random audits.
SSB 3150 amends multiple Iowa statutes related to county government operations. It requires county commissions to file quarterly reports on veteran assistance payments (Sec. 1), mandates county auditor elections every four years without party labels on ballots (Sec. 9), and updates absentee ballot procedures - including using postal barcodes for tracking and verifying mail delivery deadlines (Secs. 4, 6, 7). The bill also clarifies school fund apportionment processes (Sec. 8) and establishes guidelines for county compensation boards to set officer salaries based on comparisons to similar roles (Sec. 15). These changes directly affect county auditors, sheriffs, election officials, school districts, and voters handling absentee ballots.
