Iowa Bills

This Iowa bill prohibits the use of paraquat in pesticides for most agricultural purposes, banning sales, applications, and use starting January 1, 2027, except for strictly regulated research. It requires current users (like farmers and agricultural businesses) to report their paraquat usage details - including quantities, locations, and crop types - by December 31, 2026. The bill also creates a work group with farmer representatives, researchers, and environmental advocates to study paraquat's health impacts and identify safer alternatives, requiring annual reports until 2031. These provisions, including the reporting requirements, expire on July 1, 2032.

This bill requires app stores and developers to implement specific protections for minors (under 18) using mobile apps. App stores must verify a user’s age category (child, younger teen, older teen, or adult) during account creation, and for minors, they must link the account to a parent account and obtain verifiable parental consent before any app download, purchase, or in-app transaction. The law also mandates that app stores notify parents of significant app changes (like new in-app purchases or privacy updates) and secure parental consent renewal. These requirements apply to all app stores operating in Iowa, directly affecting app providers, developers, and minor users.

This bill requires automatic license plate readers used by law enforcement to permanently delete captured vehicle images and associated data within 72 hours (down from 30 days). It defines "historical location information" as data revealing locations more than 24 hours old and restricts sharing this data with private third parties. Law enforcement may access such data only with a warrant, consent, during emergencies (like Amber Alerts), or for specific enforcement purposes. The bill also limits interstate sharing of historical location data and mandates public disclosure of inter-agency agreements within metropolitan areas.

HF 2301 creates a public registry for individuals convicted of multiple domestic abuse assaults (defined as repeated offenses under Iowa Code §708.2A). It requires courts to order registration after a conviction with at least one prior domestic abuse assault conviction, including the offender’s name, date of birth, conviction details, and photo on the Iowa Department of Public Safety website (excluding addresses or Social Security numbers). Offenders must pay a $150 registration fee ($50 retained by the court, $100 for registry administration), and the registry automatically removes names after 2-10 years based on prior convictions. The registry applies only to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026, with prior convictions dating back to any time.

SSB 3120 updates Iowa's hunter education requirements for people born after January 1, 1972. It allows hunters to complete the required education via online courses approved by the Department of Natural Resources, removing the prior requirement for mandatory in-person field days (though optional in-person sessions may still be offered). The bill also expands accepted certifications to include those from nationally recognized organizations, in addition to state, provincial, or international programs meeting specific standards. This directly affects new hunters seeking licenses in Iowa who must now meet these updated education criteria.

This bill establishes a state-based health insurance exchange in Iowa, creating a dedicated fund to support it. The insurance commissioner must apply for a federal waiver by December 2026 to operate the exchange, which would allow Iowa to manage health insurance marketplaces under federal law. The bill creates a state fund in the treasury using state appropriations, federal funds, user fees, and grants, and requires strict confidentiality for all exchange-related information, barring public disclosure except under specific exceptions. It directly affects Iowa residents seeking health insurance through the state exchange and the insurance division as the program administrator.

SF 2177 requires Iowa library providers (like public libraries, schools, or library districts) offering digital services to minors to implement blocking measures preventing access to child pornography, hard-core pornography, obscene material, controlled substance-related content, and visual depictions of minors. If a library contracts with a third-party service provider for digital services, the contract must include specific clauses allowing the library to withhold payments, impose penalties, or terminate the contract for noncompliance after a 30-day notice period. Libraries must also report third-party noncompliance to the attorney general within 30 days. The bill does not apply to digital services used by students at state universities or community colleges.

HF 2377 makes it a crime for political campaigns to knowingly spread false facts about polling data to raise money or influence actions. It targets schemes where campaigns falsely claim independent or scientific polling (like fake survey results) to solicit donations, sell goods, or get people to take costly actions. The law applies only to false statements about objective facts (e.g., data existence or survey methods), not opinions, predictions, or clearly labeled informal polls. Violations face fines or jail time (from misdemeanors to felonies), with funds obtained through fraud subject to forfeiture.

HF 2270 establishes that Iowa's public libraries receiving state funding through the "enrich Iowa" program must meet measurable goals set by the state department, but cannot be required to follow standards from private organizations unless specifically allowed by law. The bill amends existing law to prevent the state from mandating compliance with private library standards (like those from national associations) without explicit legislative approval. It maintains the existing program that provides state funds to libraries based on performance measures, aiming to improve service quality and reduce disparities between communities. This change clarifies that the state department can only use performance measures it adopts itself, not those created by outside groups.

HF 2368, the Iowa Medical Freedom Act, restricts businesses, schools, and government entities from requiring medical interventions (like vaccinations) as a condition for services, attendance, or employment - except for specific foreign travel requirements. It prohibits businesses from denying service or employment based on medical intervention status, and bans schools and government agencies from mandating such interventions for students, staff, or access to public services. Exceptions allow employers to require medical interventions only for international travel where foreign entry requires them, with written contracts or 14 days' advance notice. The bill aims to prevent discrimination in employment or service access related to medical interventions while preserving limited foreign travel exceptions.

This Iowa bill (HSB 680) allows community-based child care centers to directly run state-funded preschool programs for four-year-olds, rather than requiring them to partner with school districts. It creates new rules for these providers to meet quality standards, receive funding, and track participation, including requirements for professional development and data reporting. Preschool funding must supplement, not replace, existing public funding and must be tracked separately from other school district funds. The bill directly affects community-based providers seeking to offer preschool, school districts collaborating with them, and families with four-year-olds eligible for the program.

SF 2200 requires all Iowa school districts, charter schools, and area education agencies to implement specific email security standards by January 1, 2027. The law mandates email security solutions that filter spam/malware, use AI for threat detection, block impersonation attacks, prevent data leaks of student information, and encrypt sensitive emails. Key provisions include scanning for personally identifiable information in emails, automatic encryption for confidential content, and comprehensive logging for compliance. Costs will be covered using existing state school foundation aid, with noncompliance defined as failing to meet all technical requirements.