This bill (SF 2209) reduces the number of days Iowa legislators receive per diem pay for session expenses. It shortens the per diem period from 110 to 55 days for the first regular legislative session and from 100 to 50 days for the second session. Most state legislators (excluding leadership roles like Senate President or House Speaker) are affected, with Polk County members receiving 75% of the standard per diem rate. The bill also maintains a $300 monthly allowance for district expenses and travel reimbursement rules.
SF 2174 requires public schools and colleges in Iowa to ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers avoid teaching, promoting, or acting upon stereotyping or scapegoating based on demographic group membership (like race or gender) in curriculum, materials, or training. It prohibits using public funds or school resources for such content and mandates that school districts provide staff with training on these requirements. The bill also allows parents, employees, or residents to file lawsuits to stop violations without needing to prove personal harm. This affects all public school districts, higher education institutions, and their employees, contractors, and volunteers who create or deliver educational content.
HF 2594 allows each Iowa House of Representatives member to hire a legislative clerk who works under their direction and the chief clerk's oversight. The bill requires clerks to be on duty 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and other days as needed by the chief clerk, updating current rules that only required Monday-Thursday sessions. It also specifies that the chief clerk of the House determines the clerks' pay rate. This procedural bill directly affects House members and their staff by standardizing clerk work schedules and compensation authority.
This bill allows public schools and accredited nonpublic schools (members of athletic organizations) to hold practice scrimmages with nonaccredited home school sports groups. It requires a written agreement covering date, location, safety protocols, and liability coverage before any scrimmage occurs. Scrimmages cannot count toward official records, standings, or eligibility, must be noncompetitive and voluntary, and cannot involve scorekeeping, admission fees, or paid officials. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.
SF 2181 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create a pilot program where one rural school district (defined by specific 2020 census population thresholds) and one urban school district (with at least 7,000 students) must establish attendance centers for students needing special education or facing behavioral challenges that interfere with learning. The bill mandates these districts to provide tailored educational services, report annually on student participation, academic performance, and program feedback, and redirect 48% of their special education funds toward the pilot. The program, set to expire July 1, 2031, will be monitored by the Department of Education and reported to the legislature each year. This directly affects eligible students in the designated districts and their schools.
This bill regulates nonmedical pregnancy resource centers in Iowa, which provide pregnancy counseling without medical services or abortion referrals. It requires these centers to visibly disclose they are not licensed medical providers, include nearby hospital information in all materials, ensure ultrasounds are performed by licensed providers, and comply with HIPAA confidentiality rules. The bill terminates the existing "More Options for Maternal Support" (MOMS) program by August 2026, redirecting unspent funds to increase reimbursement rates for labor and delivery services under Iowa's medical assistance program. A $1 million appropriation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year supports this reimbursement increase.
SF 2314 clarifies Iowa's rulemaking process by defining "major rules" as those with significant costs (e.g., $200,000+ annual expenditures or major economic impacts) or effects on competition, employment, or Clean Air Act implementation. It requires state agencies to provide detailed public notices - including rule text, economic impact summaries, and classification as "major" - and conduct regulatory analyses comparing costs, benefits, and less burdensome alternatives before adopting such rules. The bill also mandates the Legislative Services Agency to independently review major rules, assess their impacts on businesses and state finances, and publish findings for legislative consideration. This affects state agencies creating regulations and regulated entities (like businesses) by adding transparency and review steps for significant rules.
HF 2603 updates Iowa's licensure rules for respiratory care practitioners. Starting January 1, 2027, new applicants must hold a "registered respiratory therapist" credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (or its successor) in addition to passing an exam and meeting other board requirements. Out-of-state license holders must also obtain this credential or pass a board-approved exam. Current licensees (held before 2027) are exempt unless their license lapsed over three months prior to renewal. The bill also requires the licensing board to work with educational institutions to create pathways for certified therapists to earn the new credential and develop continuing education programs.
This bill (SF 2322) requires most health insurance plans in Iowa to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription insulin at $35 per prescription for up to a 31-day supply. It directly affects diabetes patients covered by health insurance plans that include prescription drug coverage, limiting their cost-sharing for four types of insulin: rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting. The cap applies to any covered insulin prescribed as medically necessary by a healthcare provider, though insurers may choose to set lower cost-sharing amounts. The rule takes effect for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and excludes certain specialized insurance types like Medicare supplements.
This bill prohibits Iowa public agencies from purchasing or collecting health information from entities not covered by federal HIPAA privacy rules, regardless of whether individuals consented to share their data. It directly affects public agencies (like state or local government offices) by restricting their ability to obtain health data from non-HIPAA sources, such as private health apps or unregulated businesses. The key provision explicitly bans such data collection or purchase, defining "health information" using federal standards and "public agency" per Iowa law. The bill aims to limit government access to sensitive health data outside established federal privacy protections. It does not change individual privacy rights but restricts how public entities may gather health information from certain third parties.
HF 2637 protects confidential conversations between public safety workers (including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical staff, and civilian employees in these agencies) and their peer support counselors. It prohibits counselors from disclosing these communications in investigations, disciplinary actions, or legal proceedings, except when the conversation involves a plan to commit a crime, an explicit threat of harm, or mandatory reporting requirements like child abuse. The bill defines "confidential communication" as any discussion during peer support sessions and ensures these protections do not limit employers' ability to direct staff to employee assistance programs. This law aims to encourage open mental health support by preventing fear of professional consequences for sharing sensitive information.
HF 2648 increases the maximum number of retail alcohol licenses a native winery in Iowa can hold from two to three. Specifically, it allows native wine manufacturers to operate up to three "class C" retail licenses for their premises, which permit selling alcohol for on-site consumption and off-site sales in unopened containers. This change directly affects native wineries seeking to expand retail sales at their production locations. The bill modifies existing licensing rules but does not alter similar provisions for native distillers or brewers.
