Iowa Bills

This bill updates Iowa's laws regarding captive insurance and life captive reinsurance companies by clarifying definitions and expanding the types of insurance these entities can offer. It establishes new categories for different captive structures, such as protected cell and special purpose companies, and allows them to apply for certificates of authority to provide various insurance products like health, life, and property coverage. The legislation also strengthens privacy protections for tax returns filed by these companies while permitting information sharing with federal and other state authorities for regulatory purposes. Additionally, the bill imposes stricter penalties on state officials who willfully or recklessly publish confidential tax information, including dismissal from office or employment.

SF 2426 requires commercial drivers in Iowa to demonstrate English language proficiency meeting federal standards (49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2)) to obtain or renew a commercial driver's license. The bill mandates a computer-based English proficiency exam administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation, with exemptions for those who previously passed the test. Drivers who fail to meet the requirement face a serious misdemeanor charge ($1,000 fine), while commercial motor carriers employing unproficient drivers risk fines up to $10,000 per violation. The law takes effect March 1, 2027, or upon implementation of a new state records system, whichever comes first.

This comprehensive education bill modifies various aspects of Iowa's public school system, with a primary focus on charter schools, funding, and student services. It establishes the state board of education and the University of Northern Iowa as the sole entities authorized to approve new charter schools, while also defining how these schools can be created within or outside existing public school districts. The legislation mandates that all schools provide specific information regarding immunization exemptions to parents and requires the development of state-wide resources to support mathematics proficiency and civics education. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for teacher licensure, education savings accounts, and funding allocations, aiming to standardize oversight and operational requirements across different types of educational institutions.

This bill establishes new taxes and regulatory rules for alternative nicotine products and vapor devices. It directly affects manufacturers, sellers, and consumers of these items by creating a specific tax framework and setting compliance standards for their sale. The legislation includes provisions for how these products must be stored and tracked, ensuring that warehouse records are maintained and accessible. By defining these requirements, the bill aims to standardize how these products are handled within the state's existing tax and health systems.

SF 2231 expands access to preschool and college programs in Iowa. It allows community-based childcare centers and preschool providers to participate in school district programs under specific agreements, ensuring eligible four-year-olds can access services regardless of their program type. The bill also creates pathways for high school students (grades 9-12) to enroll in nonsectarian college courses at community colleges for credit, requiring school districts to notify students and parents about these options. Additionally, it mandates that public school districts make textbooks available to accredited nonpublic school students upon request, using state funds if appropriated. These provisions directly affect preschool providers, public/private school districts, high school students, and nonpublic school students.

HF 2676 requires physicians in specific specialties (like family medicine, pediatrics, and surgery) to complete one hour of nutrition and metabolic health continuing education every four years to renew their licenses. It also mandates that Iowa medical schools require 40 hours of nutrition coursework for graduation starting in 2028. The bill prohibits schools from serving meals containing eight specific dyes (including blue dye 1 and red dye 40) during the school day and bans their sale on campus. Additionally, it allows pharmacists to distribute ivermectin as an over-the-counter medication without professional penalties. These provisions directly affect healthcare professionals, medical students, schools, and pharmacies.

This bill establishes new formulas for calculating state funding increases for schools starting in 2026, directly affecting all public school districts. It modifies how property tax replacement payments are handled, changes transportation equity aid funding rules, and sets new methods for adjusting school district budgets based on enrollment changes. The bill also creates a salary supplement for education support personnel and includes funding appropriations to implement these changes. All provisions take effect for the 2026 budget year.

HF 2514 makes Iowa's state child care assistance program available to children of child care workers employed at licensed facilities. To qualify, a parent or guardian must work at least 32 hours weekly directly providing child care (not as an owner, substitute, or caring for their own child at home), and the facility must accept state reimbursement. The bill requires the state department to report annual spending, participation numbers, and household income data for the program. This policy directly supports low-income child care workers who previously faced barriers to accessing this assistance.

SF 2289 updates licensing and enforcement rules for gambling activities in Iowa. It increases the annual salary for gambling commission members to $10,000 and adds lifetime bans for individuals convicted of certain gambling violations, including illegal sports wagering. The bill also clarifies that license holders must operate under specific rules for internet fantasy sports and advance deposit wagering, with penalties including cease-and-desist orders. Additionally, it modifies building code standards for safe rooms/storm shelters and creates a new classification for pediatric palliative care facilities exempt from certain residential care regulations.

HF 2356 makes Iowa's temporary child welfare legal representation pilot program permanent as the "Project to Preserve Families" (PPF). It allows the state public defender to implement this program statewide (previously limited to 16 counties) for indigent families involved in child welfare cases. The program uses innovative legal approaches - such as team-based representation - to help keep families together, reduce trauma for children, and generate cost savings for communities. The public defender must coordinate with other agencies, study outcomes, and adopt rules to administer the PPF through 2025.

This Iowa bill establishes new rules for abortions, specifically requiring doctors to perform in-person examinations to screen for coercion before any procedure and mandating detailed informed consent for drug-based abortions. Under the new provisions, physicians must obtain a patient's signature on a federal form and provide written warnings about specific medical risks, including potential hemorrhage, sterility, and the possibility of the pregnancy continuing. The legislation also restricts the dispensing of abortion-inducing drugs to licensed healthcare settings and creates a private civil lawsuit allowing individuals to sue providers who violate these dispensing rules, while protecting the identity of women involved in such cases. Additionally, the bill defines "pregnancy" as beginning at fertilization and clarifies that these requirements do not apply in cases of medical emergencies.

This bill establishes a grant program and trust fund to support sexual assault forensic examination centers in Iowa, primarily affecting nonprofit organizations and survivors of sexual violence. It requires the Attorney General to contract with eligible nonprofits that are independent of hospitals and focus on serving diverse populations, including rural residents and people with disabilities. The funded centers must provide medical forensic services, offer training to professionals and the public, and submit annual reports on their activities and service gaps. Additionally, the bill creates a dedicated trust fund to accept private contributions and state or federal money specifically for operating these centers.