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.
HF 2297 requires Iowa's building code commissioner to adopt a state requirement that new single-family or two-family residential construction include passive radon gas mitigation systems. Specifically, it mandates using methods listed in Appendix AF of the 2021 International Residential Code for all new homes starting after the rule is adopted. This directly affects residential builders and developers constructing new single or two-family homes in Iowa. The bill focuses on preventive measures during construction, rather than retrofitting existing homes, to reduce radon exposure risks. It does not apply to renovations or existing buildings.
HF 2515 modifies Iowa's sentencing rules for individuals convicted of violating Section 728.12, which prohibits sexual exploitation of minors. The bill specifically removes the option for deferred or suspended sentences in these cases, requiring offenders to serve actual prison time instead of having sentences postponed or reduced. This change directly affects anyone found guilty under Section 728.12, mandating immediate incarceration for this specific offense. The bill passed unanimously in the Iowa House on March 4, 2026, and now awaits action in the Senate.
HF 2585 requires Iowa pharmacies to provide accessible prescription information - including drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides - in formats like audio or large print at no extra cost to people who are blind, visually impaired, or have print disabilities. Pharmacies must offer this by January 1, 2027, or refer customers to pharmacies that do, ensuring information is accessible in a timely manner comparable to sighted customers. Each year by April 1, the state pharmacy board must publish an online list of participating pharmacies. The law excludes institutional pharmacies (e.g., in hospitals), donation program pharmacies, and correctional facility pharmacies from these requirements.
This bill requires school districts, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies that exempt student absences for 4-H club or FFA activities from unexcused absence records. The policies must also allow students to make up any missed classwork due to these absences. It applies directly to all covered schools in Iowa, ensuring consistent treatment for students participating in these agricultural education programs. The requirement standardizes how schools handle absences related to 4-H and FFA activities without penalizing student participation.
HF 2615 sets minimum season lengths for horse racing in Iowa: thoroughbred seasons must be at least 67 days, and quarter horse seasons at least 26 days. It requires thoroughbred and quarter horse racing seasons to run separately with no overlapping dates - races for one breed cannot occur on the same day, and one season must end before the other begins - unless racing associations and Polk County’s racetrack licensee agree in writing. The bill responds to a recent commission interpretation that allowed overlapping races without such agreement. This directly affects thoroughbred and quarter horse racing associations and the Polk County racetrack licensee.
SF 2088 updates Iowa's motor vehicle regulations, primarily affecting drivers, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and law enforcement. It clarifies definitions of "driver's license" to explicitly include chauffeur's instruction and commercial learner's permits, adjusts fees for these permits (e.g., $12 for chauffeur's instruction permits), and modifies license expiration rules based on age. The bill also requires accident reports for certain collisions to be submitted electronically within 72 hours, with specific confidentiality rules and a $4 fee for copies requested by involved parties or insurers. These changes streamline registration processes, standardize permit classifications, and modernize accident reporting procedures.
HF 917 grants legal immunity to Iowa motocross facilities for injuries or deaths caused by the inherent risks of motocross activities, such as weather hazards, operator error, or natural events. It prohibits lawsuits against facility operators for these risks but allows claims if a facility intentionally harmed a participant, acted negligently in safety, provided unsafe equipment, or failed to exercise reasonable care. All facilities must post clear warning signs about this immunity. The bill applies to current and future incidents at motocross facilities but does not affect employer-employee claims under Chapter 87 or past cases.
