This bill updates Iowa's child passenger safety requirements. It extends the rear-facing car seat requirement from children under 1 year to those under 2 years (or until reaching the car seat's height/weight limits). It raises the age for forward-facing car seats from under 6 to under 8 years, and changes the requirement for booster seats or seatbelts to apply to children aged 8-18 (instead of 6-18). The bill removes an existing exemption allowing unrestrained children in the back seat if seatbelts are occupied by others. The rules apply to all registered motor vehicles except school buses and motorcycles.
This bill requires a signed "declaration of value" from at least one seller, buyer, or their agent when most real estate transfers (like home sales) are recorded with county offices. It specifically expands existing exemptions to exclude certain transactions: corporate mergers/reorganizations, transfers between family entities and their owners without payment, and trust asset distributions to beneficiaries with no consideration. These changes simplify paperwork for those specific property transfers, reducing the need for declarations in those cases. The bill affects sellers, buyers, and county recorders handling property deeds across Iowa.
This bill establishes Iowa's first statewide regulations for peer-to-peer car sharing platforms (like apps connecting car owners with drivers). It requires these platforms to assume liability for third-party injuries or property damage during sharing periods and ensures all participants have adequate insurance coverage meeting state minimums. The law specifically excludes traditional rental car companies from its definition of "peer-to-peer car sharing" and defines key terms like "shared vehicle" and "car sharing period." It mandates that platforms, owners, or drivers maintain insurance that covers shared vehicle use, with the platform providing primary coverage if other policies lapse or are insufficient. The bill directly affects car sharing platforms, vehicle owners participating in such programs, and drivers using shared vehicles.
HF 2535 makes it a class C felony to send, post, or transmit written or electronic threats to kill, cause bodily injury, or carry out a mass shooting or act of terrorism via any digital platform visible to others. The law applies to threats shared through social media, messaging, or other digital communications (excluding phone calls), targeting individuals who make such threats online. Violators face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $13,660. This directly affects people who issue violent digital threats, while exempting internet service providers from liability for users' violations. The bill creates new criminal penalties for digital threats, distinct from existing laws covering in-person or verbal threats.
This bill would establish a "seal of civics excellence" program administered by Iowa's Department of Education to recognize high school students who demonstrate proficiency in civics. The program requires students to show knowledge of American government and participate in civic activities, with the department setting the specific requirements for earning the seal. Participating schools would voluntarily notify the department of qualifying students, and the department would provide a seal (such as a sticker for transcripts or a certificate) that can be affixed to diplomas. The department may charge a nominal fee to cover printing and mailing costs for the seals.
HF 2505 changes Iowa's bail procedures by requiring judges to set bail at the standard bond schedule amount unless they provide written justification for a lower amount. It restricts release on personal recognizance (without bail) to defendants charged only with nonviolent, non-drug misdemeanors. The bill also clarifies that the standard bond schedule cannot be used for certain offenses like weapon-related violations or forcible felonies, and removes a previous limit on cash deposits for bail. The judicial council must update the bond schedule for inflation by July 2027.
SF 2391 establishes new requirements for Iowa's career and technical education (CTE) programs and community college coursework. It mandates high schools to offer computer science aligned with state standards starting in 2023, requires students to complete sequential CTE coursework across four of six defined career areas (like health sciences or business), and defines "high-demand," "high-skill," and "high-wage" occupations to guide program development. For community colleges, the bill requires implementing a statewide common course numbering system by 2027 to improve transferability and replacing traditional remedial math/English courses with corequisite models by 2028-2029. These changes directly affect Iowa K-12 students, educators, school districts, and community colleges through updated curriculum standards and institutional practices.
HF 2625 allows Iowa child support agencies to subpoena records from digital financial accounts (like online banking or payment apps) to enforce child support orders. It defines "digital financial account" as any online account storing, transferring, or receiving money digitally, and permits agencies to obtain transaction histories, income payments, and other relevant financial data. Parents or putative fathers who fail to comply with such subpoenas without a valid reason face a class "D" felony charge, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. The bill directly affects individuals obligated to pay child support who use digital financial services.
HF 2656 designates a segment of U.S. Highway 30 within Marshalltown's city limits as the "Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard Highway" to honor Staff Sergeant William "Nate" Howard, who died in action in Palmyra, Syria, while serving in the Iowa Army National Guard. The bill applies permanently to this specific highway segment, regardless of any future changes to the highway's official designation by the U.S. government. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or funding impacts beyond standard signage costs paid from the primary road fund.
This bill (SF 2442) limits county zoning boards' authority over residential construction in unincorporated areas. It prohibits counties from restricting the building or development of residential properties - defined as single-family homes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings (up to 12 units per building) - except for regulations necessary to protect life or property safety. Counties may no longer impose rules on residential construction for non-safety reasons, such as limiting building density or lot coverage. The law directly affects homeowners, developers, and county zoning boards in rural and unincorporated regions of Iowa. It updates existing zoning authority to prioritize construction access while maintaining safety-based regulations.
HF 2661 establishes four new Iowa economic development programs targeting the game industry. It creates an interactive digital entertainment tax credit (up to 30% of qualified spending, with a 5% bonus for "made in Iowa" projects), a game studio investment matching program offering forgivable loans matching private investments dollar-for-dollar (capped at $20 million annually), and a game industry fellowship program providing $150,000-$200,000 annual grants to relocate experienced professionals for two years. The programs require qualified developers to maintain physical presence and payroll in Iowa, with all tax credits and grants limited to a $20 million annual cap. These provisions directly affect Iowa-based game developers, studios, and experienced industry professionals seeking relocation.
HF 2699 modifies Iowa's charter school laws by eliminating provisions for "innovation zone schools" and making the State Board of Education the sole authorizer for new charter schools. It requires charter schools to operate as nonprofit organizations, clarifies they are exempt from most state rules (except specific requirements), and mandates new state-developed resources for math education, student device policies, and civics testing. The bill directly affects charter schools, public school districts, and students by changing how charter schools are approved, funded, and governed, including new requirements for immunization communication and extracurricular participation. Key provisions include setting a 75-day timeline for charter application reviews and requiring all charter schools to adopt standardized civics tests by 2026.
