Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HSB 724: A bill for an act relating to notarial acts, recording of instruments affecting real property, quiet title proceedings, and providing penalties.

HSB 724 strengthens safeguards for property transactions in Iowa. It requires notaries to verify personal appearance (or use approved technology for remote notarization) when handling real property transfers, with increased penalties for violations - ranging from serious misdemeanors to class D felonies if property is involved. The bill also mandates photo ID copies for property filings and streamlines quiet title proceedings for fraud cases by requiring simplified forms and expedited processes when fraud is alleged. These changes primarily affect notaries, property filers, county recorders, and individuals involved in real estate transactions.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2185: A bill for an act relating to the reporting of serious reportable events, and providing penalties.

SF 2185 requires hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and birth centers in Iowa to report "serious reportable events" (like severe injuries or lost body parts) to the Department of Inspections within 15 working days. Facilities must also conduct root cause analyses and implement corrective action plans for these events, filing reports confidentially via an electronic system. The bill mandates the Department to analyze reports to identify systemic failures and improve healthcare quality, while prohibiting the system from punishing individual errors. It protects confidentiality of patient and staff information and requires annual public reports on trends and recommendations. This applies directly to healthcare facilities providing inpatient or surgical care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SSB 3132: A bill for an act relating to motor vehicles equipped with an excessively dark or reflective front windshield, and making penalties applicable.

This bill (SSB 3132) sets a new enforcement standard for motor vehicle front windshields in Iowa, requiring a minimum of 50% light transmittance (down from the current 70% standard for visibility). Drivers operating vehicles with windshields below this 50% threshold face a citation and potential vehicle impoundment, though they may instead immediately fix the windshield to meet the 70% standard or tow the vehicle off the road. The bill prohibits operating an impounded vehicle until its windshield meets the 70% transmittance requirement, with a $70 fine for violations. It excludes law enforcement vehicles operated during official duties from these rules.

Topics ✗ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2309: A bill for an act relating to public library requirements for materials harmful to minors, and providing civil and criminal penalties, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HF 2309 requires Iowa public libraries to implement specific safeguards for materials deemed harmful to minors. It mandates that libraries physically separate adult sections with clear signage, prohibit minors from accessing such materials without written parental permission on file, and maintain that consent record. The bill defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to minors' prurient interest in sex, depicting graphic sexual acts under community standards, and lacking literary or educational value for minors. These requirements apply to all public libraries receiving state funding or operating under state oversight, directly affecting libraries, minors, and parents seeking access to restricted materials.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2271: A bill for an act relating to captioning requirements for motion picture theaters.

This bill requires Iowa motion picture theaters to provide closed captioning for films available with closed captions, directly affecting deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. Large theater chains (5+ locations) must offer specific open captioning screenings based on film release timing (e.g., at least two screenings in the first two weeks, including evening/weekend options), while small chains (1-4 locations) must either provide open captioning within eight days of a patron request or meet large chain standards. Theaters must advertise these screenings using "OC" symbols, maintain compliance records for a year, and post online contact information for captioning requests. These provisions align with federal accessibility standards but apply specifically to Iowa theaters.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2247: A bill for an act relating to persons prohibited from participating in economic development programs.

SF 2247 prohibits businesses or organizations from applying for Iowa's economic development programs if any of their employees are receiving government assistance (like food stamps or cash aid) on the day they submit their application. The bill requires program authorities to automatically reject such applications, directly affecting applicants who have employees currently enrolled in public assistance programs. Key provisions include defining "public assistance" under existing state law and mandating rejection based solely on an employee's assistance status at the time of application. This rule creates a strict eligibility barrier for economic development program participation based on the employment status of applicants' workforce.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SR 106: A resolution recognizing and honoring the Animal Rescue League of Iowa on its centennial anniversary.

This resolution honors the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for its 100 years of service since 1926, recognizing it as Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter. It specifically acknowledges their work caring for over 13,000 animals annually, returning 1,776 pets to owners in 2025, and providing programs like low-cost veterinary services and pet food pantries. The resolution is purely ceremonial and does not create new laws, policies, or funding changes. It formally recognizes the organization's role in supporting animal welfare and community partnerships across Iowa.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2237: A bill for an act relating to closed captioning in places of public accommodation, and providing for civil penalties.

This Iowa bill requires public accommodations (such as restaurants, stores, and theaters) to enable closed captions on all TVs and online broadcasts shown to the public during business hours. Businesses must keep captions enabled unless a customer specifically requests to disable them on a single device, and must restore captions when that customer stops viewing or leaves. Violations carry a $25 civil penalty per incident, with collected fines deposited into the state general fund. The bill directly affects any business displaying video content to customers in public spaces.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2261: A bill for an act relating to confinement feeding operations by requiring the installation and operation of pollution monitoring systems, and making penalties applicable.

SF 2261 requires owners of larger confinement feeding operations (excluding small animal feeding operations) to install and operate water pollution monitoring systems that track pollutants discharged to groundwater or surface water. These operators must report the collected data to Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) every 90 days, with the DNR publishing the data online and sharing it with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill applies to operations exceeding 500 animal units (e.g., large swine or cattle facilities), which are currently subject to less stringent regulation under Iowa law. Violations could result in daily civil penalties of up to $10,000.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2270: A bill for an act regulating animal feeding operations, including rulemaking requirements, and making penalties applicable.

SF 2270 requires Iowa to establish state rules for animal feeding operations (AFOs), such as large livestock facilities, to manage manure handling, prevent water pollution, and protect water quality. These rules must meet federal water pollution standards as a minimum but can be stricter if needed to ensure Iowa's water bodies meet quality requirements. The bill applies to all AFOs defined under state law - including confinement operations (e.g., barns) and open feedlots (e.g., pastures) - that confine animals for 45 days or more in a 12-month period. It also includes penalty provisions for non-compliance, though specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2243: A bill for an act relating to the operation of state government, including the commencement of audits, information made available to the auditor of state, and disputes between governmental agencies.

SF 2243 modifies Iowa's audit and transparency rules for state government. It clarifies that the auditor of state may access confidential agency information (like health records or tax data) but must maintain confidentiality and cannot access individual tax returns or disease reports identifying specific people. The bill requires audit reports to be public unless they contain protected information (like personal health data), and replaces previous dispute resolution rules between agencies with a new arbitration process requiring a 3-member board appointed by the involved agencies. It also repeals outdated provisions about when audits begin and removes a 60-day deadline for arbitration decisions. The changes primarily affect state agencies, the auditor's office, and the public's access to government financial information.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2265: A bill for an act relating to water quality standards, including by providing for the regulation of animal feeding operations, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.

SF 2265 establishes new regulations for animal feeding operations (AFOs) in Iowa to protect water quality. It directly affects medium and large livestock farms (defined by federal standards) by requiring them to obtain federal-style NPDES permits for managing manure and waste runoff. Key provisions include mandating permit requirements for these operations, setting rules for manure storage and application, and defining terms like "effluent" to cover manure, bedding, and other pollution sources. The bill aligns with federal water pollution laws but adds state-specific requirements for AFO management.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results