SF 2199 clarifies ownership rights for artificial intelligence (AI) output and trained AI models in Iowa. It states that a person who provides input to an AI owns the resulting output (like text or images) they create, as long as it doesn't infringe on others' copyrights. The person who trains an AI model using lawful data owns the trained AI, unless they've already sold those rights. If an employee uses AI for work within their job duties under employer direction, the employer owns the output or trained AI, provided it doesn't violate existing copyrights. The law explicitly states it doesn't override preexisting copyright or intellectual property rights.
SF 2227 requires Iowa's public universities to freeze tuition for resident undergraduate students in their first academic year (starting in 2027) for up to three consecutive subsequent years. This applies to students who begin their first year of enrollment at a regents institution in 2027 or later. The bill does not apply to students who transfer credits allowing them to graduate in less than four years, and the freeze only covers the first three years after initial enrollment. It directly affects new resident undergraduate students at Iowa's public universities beginning in 2027 or later.
HF 2295 prohibits Iowa state and local police from using drones for routine traffic enforcement, except when assisting in pursuits of drivers fleeing law enforcement for violations like reckless driving. It allows certified officers to operate drones during active chases to help apprehend fleeing drivers and issue traffic citations for violations committed during the pursuit. The bill also restricts drone-collected evidence from being used in court unless obtained legally - such as from public airspace or with a warrant for private areas - and only if consistent with state/federal law. This directly affects law enforcement operations and the admissibility of evidence in traffic-related legal cases.
HF 2328 amends Iowa law to change how the state distributes its annual report on employee salaries. The bill requires the Department of Administrative Services to make the report available online and provide electronic copies to anyone who requests it for a fee covering costs (previously, legislative bodies received free copies). It removes the requirement to distribute the report without charge to legislative caucuses, the legislative services agency, and certain officials. The report must include employee names, titles, salaries, residence, and other specific data for state employees earning over $1,000 annually. This change affects all state employees whose salaries are reported and anyone seeking the document, shifting distribution from free access for lawmakers to a fee-based model for all requesters.
HF 2336 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to comply with federal standards for student religious, political, and ideological expression. The bill mandates that schools annually distribute federal guidance on religious expression to all staff, offer related professional development, adopt model policies, and certify annual compliance. Schools that fail to follow these requirements face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation. This legislation directly affects all public K-12 schools in Iowa by establishing specific administrative duties to ensure student speech rights align with federal law.
SF 2232, the "Increasing Civic Proficiency in Higher Education Act," requires Iowa's regents institutions (like the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa) to mandate that undergraduate students complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government, each worth at least three credit hours, as part of their general education requirements. These courses must cover all American history and government and fulfill social sciences or humanities requirements, applying to students starting at these institutions in academic years beginning July 1, 2028, while exempting three-year degree programs. The bill also directs three university centers to annually designate qualifying courses, host ongoing lecture and debate series promoting civil dialogue on American republic issues, and submit annual reports to state officials. This legislation directly affects undergraduate students and regents institutions by embedding specific civic education requirements into graduation criteria.
Iowa's SF 2283 restricts law enforcement use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) for general traffic enforcement, prohibiting state or local police from using them except in specific situations. The bill allows certified officers to operate drones only to assist in apprehending drivers fleeing police during a pursuit under Iowa Code §321.279, and to cite traffic violations committed during that pursuit. Operators must hold FAA certification, register drones with the FAA, avoid controlled airspace, and follow aviation notices, with noncompliance making them liable for damages. Evidence collected by drones under this exception is admissible in criminal cases against fleeing drivers, but otherwise drone-collected information is inadmissible in court unless obtained with a search warrant.
This bill (SF 2288) creates an automatic driver's license revocation for drivers convicted of exceeding 100 miles per hour in Iowa. It directly affects drivers found operating vehicles at or above 100 mph, requiring the Department of Transportation to revoke their license for 90 days without a preliminary hearing. Key provisions include new penalties of $235 plus $5 for each mph over 20 mph above the limit and prohibiting temporary restricted licenses for this offense. The law applies starting March 1, 2027, or when Iowa's new license system is implemented.
This Iowa bill (SF 2192) designates kratom - a substance derived from the *Mitragyna speciosa* plant - as a Schedule I controlled substance, placing it in the same legal category as drugs like heroin. It directly affects anyone possessing kratom in Iowa, making first-time possession a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $2,560 fine), repeat offenses an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years or $8,540), and three or more convictions a Class D felony (up to 5 years or $10,245). The bill defines kratom broadly to include all plant parts, synthetic versions, and key compounds like mitragynine. These penalties apply to possession only; the bill does not address other uses or sales.
SF 2303 requires Iowa's state board of regents to review all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at public universities (regents institutions) by fall 2028. The review specifically directs institutions to identify required courses containing diversity, equity, inclusion, or critical race theory-related content, with the board having discretion to order the elimination of such courses. The board must establish all necessary policies by December 31, 2026, to implement this review process. This bill directly affects course requirements at Iowa's public universities and aims to modify general education curricula through a state-mandated review.
SF 2300 requires Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to comply with federal religious expression standards. It mandates annual distribution of U.S. Department of Education guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression to all school staff, online publication of this guidance, and development of professional development programs for educators. Schools must adopt model policies ensuring compliance and certify annual adherence to the state education department. Non-compliant schools face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation, with affected students or clubs able to pursue legal action for discrimination against religious, political, or ideological speech.
SF 2359 (the "University President Selection Reform Act") requires Iowa's university boards of regents to use a formal presidential selection committee when choosing a new university president, replacing the current optional process. The committee must include five voting board members plus four nonvoting members (a student, faculty representative, institution employee, and either a graduate or public member). It mandates that the committee recommend only the most qualified candidates to the board, which must then select the president solely from those recommendations. The bill also allows committees to hire executive search firms, use allocated funds, and keep candidate identities confidential unless all voting members agree to disclose them.
