Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2345: A bill for an act relating to notice of immunization exemptions and providing civil penalties.

SF 2345 requires local health departments, schools, childcare centers, and colleges to include clear information about immunization exemption rules in all public communications about vaccines. It directly affects parents, guardians, and institutions like elementary/secondary schools, childcare facilities, and higher education institutions. The bill mandates this information be provided in written materials, websites, and registration documents, with a $1,000 civil penalty for each failure to comply. Penalties collected go to the state general fund, but the law does not change exemption eligibility or vaccine requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HSB 749: A bill for an act relating to state tort claims, including qualified immunity for state employees, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill expands qualified immunity for Iowa state employees by explicitly including common law rights and privileges under state tort claims law. It directly affects state employees facing lawsuits under Chapter 669 (state tort claims) by making it harder to hold them liable for monetary damages if the law at the time was unclear. The key provision amends Section 669.14A to clarify that immunity covers constitutional, statutory, and common law protections, reversing recent court rulings that excluded common law claims. The law applies retroactively to all claims filed on or after June 17, 2021.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2353: A bill for an act relating to residential tenant responsibility for utility charges, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.

This bill clarifies that when a rental agreement makes a tenant responsible for utility payments, landlords cannot be held liable for unpaid charges. It prohibits utilities from billing landlords, placing liens on landlords' property, or conditioning service on landlord payments for tenant-related utility debts. Utilities must maintain separate billing for tenants and face civil penalties of $500-$5,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law directly affects landlords, tenants, and utility companies by shifting responsibility for tenant utility payments exclusively to the tenant and their utility account.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2295: A bill for an act relating to licenses to conduct pari-mutuel wagering on dog races, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2295 updates Iowa's licensing rules for venues conducting pari-mutuel wagering on dog and horse races. It clarifies definitions (like "racetrack enclosure" and "wagering area"), requires licenses for events using pari-mutuel betting, and specifically allows dog racetracks to continue operating after live racing ends by shifting to telecast wagering - Dubuque County's track until October 31, 2014, and Pottawattamie County's until December 31, 2015. The bill also prohibits building racetracks on prime farmland outside city limits and mandates neighborhood impact studies for new licenses. This directly affects dog and horse racing venues seeking or holding licenses under Iowa law.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2355: A bill for an act relating to intelligent speed assistance devices on motor vehicles, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

This bill requires drivers who lose their license for severe speeding violations (exceeding speed limits by 10+ mph under 40 mph or 20+ mph over 40 mph) to install an intelligent speed assistance device in their vehicle to qualify for a temporary restricted license. The device must be approved by the state, and drivers cannot tamper with it. The law applies only to those whose license was revoked under specific speeding violations (sections 321.209, subsections 1, paragraphs "h" or "i"), not all speeding offenses. It also gives the state authority to set device standards and eligibility for low-income drivers. The bill includes effective date provisions but doesn't change penalties for speeding itself.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2291: A bill for an act concerning the beer barrel tax.

SF 2291 changes Iowa's beer tax structure by imposing different rates based on the beer's origin. It requires brewers and importers to pay $1.86 per 31-gallon barrel for beer made in the U.S. ("American brewery") and $5.89 per barrel for imported beer ("foreign import beer"). This replaces the current flat $5.89 tax on all beer, creating a lower tax rate for domestically produced beer. The bill directly affects all Iowa beer permittees who manufacture or import beer for wholesale sale within the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2352: A bill for an act relating to eviction procedures, including tenants who pose a clear and present danger, maximum durations for forcible entry and detainer actions, and including applicability provisions.

This bill (SF 2352) modifies Iowa eviction procedures for residential tenants who pose a "clear and present danger" to health or safety. Landlords may now seek immediate removal by a peace officer after a 3-day notice, without a court order, if the officer provides a sworn written affirmation of the danger and no exemptions apply. It also sets a strict 30-day maximum timeline for eviction court cases involving residential property, prohibiting courts from extending this period unless authorized by law. These changes aim to streamline evictions while ensuring tenants can contest termination in court. The bill applies to eviction actions starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Housing

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2354: A bill for an act relating to assistance animals in residential rental housing, including damage reimbursement, refundable income tax credits, and a landlord insurance risk pool, and providing penalties and effective date provisions.

SF 2354 (Iowa) establishes three options for landlords to seek reimbursement from tenants for damage caused by assistance, emotional support, service, or therapy animals in rental housing. Landlords may use the Department of Revenue’s tax setoff program, claim a refundable income tax credit, or join a state-run insurance risk pool (optional). The bill prohibits landlords from charging deposits for service animals but allows reasonable, refundable deposits for emotional support or therapy animals (used only for damage beyond normal wear and tear). It also penalizes intentional misrepresentation of an animal as an assistance or support animal with a simple misdemeanor charge. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HF 2560: A bill for an act relating to recordings of interviews during child abuse assessments and family assessments.

HF 2560 requires child protection workers in Iowa to electronically record all interviews during child abuse and family assessments using audio, body cameras, or other reasonable methods. Recordings must be kept for five years and can only be shared with investigators, the child's caregiver in legal cases (with court permission), or the child's guardian (with court permission). The bill directly affects child protection workers, children in abuse assessments, and their parents or guardians by standardizing recording procedures and limiting who can access recordings. It implements federal GRACIE Act requirements and specifies penalties for unauthorized sharing while ensuring recordings don’t block evidence admission in court.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2252: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program to include incentivizing the building of a professional sports stadium by a national football league franchise in the state.

SF 2252 modifies Iowa's Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) program to allow tax incentives for building a National Football League (NFL) stadium. The bill expands the existing program - which currently targets businesses in advanced manufacturing, biosciences, or R&D - to include NFL franchises constructing a professional sports stadium. Key provisions define "sports stadium" as a facility for NFL games and specify that incentives (like sales tax refunds and investment tax credits) would apply to the stadium project, subject to the program’s $1 billion investment threshold. This bill would directly affect NFL teams seeking to build a stadium in Iowa, but it does not change other MEGA program requirements or eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HF 2437: A bill for an act relating to the use of an electronic device by deaf or hard-of-hearing persons to communicate in American sign language while driving, and making penalties applicable.

This bill creates an exception to Iowa's general ban on handheld device use while driving for deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers who meet specific criteria. It allows eligible drivers (25+ years old with a license marked for their hearing status) to use a fixed electronic device to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) while driving, provided the device doesn't obstruct their view or operation of the vehicle. Drivers cannot touch the device while the vehicle is moving unless stopped, and violations would be a $100 misdemeanor. The exception applies only to devices used for ASL communication, not general device use.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SF 2330: A bill for an act relating to consumer rights to repair specified goods, and providing penalties.

This bill, the "Iowa Right to Repair Act," requires manufacturers of cell phones, home appliances, and motor vehicles to provide independent repair shops and consumers with diagnostic and repair information, software updates, and necessary tools after the product is six years old. Manufacturers must make this information available at no charge or on the same terms as provided to their own authorized repair shops. Additionally, manufacturers must sell diagnostic tools to independent repair providers at "fair and reasonable terms," considering costs and affordability. This law aims to expand repair options by reducing barriers for independent shops and consumers.

Bill results