Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2423: A bill for an act allowing a court to grant a grandparent or great-grandparent visitation rights of a child in certain circumstances.

HF 2423 would change Iowa law to allow courts to grant grandparent or great-grandparent visitation rights when a parent is deceased, without requiring proof that the surviving parent is unfit or that parental judgment is impaired. It maintains existing requirements that the grandparent had a substantial pre-existing relationship with the child and that visitation serves the child's best interests. The bill directly affects grandparents or great-grandparents seeking court-ordered visitation with a grandchild after a parent's death. This simplifies the legal standard for courts deciding such cases by removing a specific barrier under current law.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2429: A bill for an act relating to prohibited terms in state agency publications.

HF 2429 prohibits Iowa state agencies from using the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and Samaria in official government materials, such as press releases, rules, or guidance documents. It also bans the use of state funds to create such materials containing that term. State agency heads may waive these restrictions if they determine it serves the state's interest, but must provide a written justification to the legislature within 30 days. This bill directly affects all state agencies producing public communications and aims to standardize terminology in official state publications.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2433: A bill for an act relating to veterans’ benefits claims, and providing penalties.

HF 2433, the "Iowa Veterans’ Claims Protection Act," prohibits non-accredited individuals from charging fees to assist veterans, service members, or their dependents with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits claims. It bans misrepresenting VA accreditation, using personal information for unauthorized claims, or making false promises about claim outcomes. Violations carry $10,000 civil penalties per offense, collected into a veterans trust fund, and allow affected individuals to sue for damages. The bill also requires the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain a public list of accredited representatives and educate veterans about predatory practices.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2420: A bill for an act relating to education, including by establishing the office of the inspector general for school safety and modifying the duties of school districts, and making appropriations and providing penalties.

HF 2420 establishes Iowa's Office of Inspector General for School Safety to independently investigate specific school safety incidents and oversee school compliance. The inspector general, appointed by the governor, investigates events like weapon possession, credible threats, or extended lockdowns requiring law enforcement, and can issue binding corrective directives for safety risks - such as updating safety plans or staff training - without interfering with routine discipline or curriculum. This office directly affects all Iowa school districts, requiring them to address safety deficiencies identified through investigations. The bill defines "material school safety incidents" and limits investigations to serious threats, while ensuring compliance with federal disability and privacy laws.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2416: A bill for an act relating to the regulation of confinement feeding operations, including by providing for partially roofed structures and prohibiting the construction, including expansion, of structures, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2416 prohibits the construction or expansion of confinement feeding operation structures (including partially roofed facilities) in Iowa, affecting most livestock operations. It allows exceptions for small animal feeding operations and ongoing projects begun before the bill's effective date. The moratorium ends 30 days after Iowa's Department of Natural Resources publishes a notice confirming fewer than 100 impaired water bodies on the state's 303(d) list. The bill amends Iowa's Animal Agriculture Compliance Act to implement this temporary construction freeze, which takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HSB 730: A bill for an act relating to rehabilitation projects and tax incentives under the workforce housing tax incentives program.

This bill (HSB 730) amends Iowa's workforce housing tax incentive program to specifically include rehabilitation projects. It defines a "rehabilitation project" as one rehabilitating dilapidated housing (with minimum unit requirements) for resale as primary residences, and sets aside $5 million annually for such projects - $2.5 million reserved for small cities. The bill increases the annual tax incentive cap from $35-$36.5 million to $40 million, limits total incentives per housing business to $1 million, and removes first-come, first-served allocation. It directly affects developers of workforce housing rehabilitation projects, particularly those in small cities seeking tax incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2430: A bill for an act limiting individual campaign contributions, and making penalties applicable.

HF 2430 adopts federal campaign contribution limits for Iowa candidates, mirroring rules in 11 C.F.R. pt. 110. It limits how much an individual can contribute to a candidate during each election cycle (primary, general, or special election), with the total contributions capped at federal levels. The bill applies to all candidates for public office in Iowa and prohibits candidates or their committees from accepting contributions that exceed these limits. Violations are punishable as a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and a $2,560 fine) or subject to civil penalties up to $2,000.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2419: A bill for an act regulating animal feeding operations, including rulemaking requirements, and making penalties applicable.

This bill (HF 2419) regulates animal feeding operations (AFOs) in Iowa, directly affecting large livestock facilities like confinement feeding operations and open feedlots. It requires the Environmental Protection Commission to establish rules for manure management, permitting, and water quality standards, while ensuring state rules don’t exceed federal requirements except where needed to protect water quality. Key provisions include mandating compliance with federal NPDES permit standards for AFOs and allowing stricter state rules for manure storage, treatment, and application when necessary. The bill also clarifies that rules adopted under this law are exempt from certain state rule review processes. These changes aim to balance federal water pollution controls with Iowa’s specific water quality needs.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2422: A bill for an act relating to creation of transfer on death deeds and to disclaimers of an interest in real property.

This Iowa bill creates a legal framework for "transfer on death deeds," allowing property owners to automatically transfer real estate (like homes or land) to chosen beneficiaries upon their death without probate. Property owners can name beneficiaries, record the deed before death, and revoke it anytime during their lifetime - no beneficiary acceptance or payment is required. The transfer takes effect only if the beneficiary survives the owner, and the property remains subject to existing mortgages or liens at the time of death. It directly affects Iowa property owners seeking to simplify inheritance for their heirs.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2435: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to when children may enroll in kindergarten; when students enrolled in kindergarten in school districts, charter schools, or innovation zone schools may be promoted to first grade; and the responsibilities of school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools related to the discipline of students who cause violent or nonviolent disruptions.

HF 2435 modifies Iowa school policies related to kindergarten enrollment, promotion to first grade, and student discipline. It requires all school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt specific discipline policies for students causing violent or nonviolent disruptions, including behavior correction strategies, parent conferences, and mental health counseling (with consent). The bill mandates policies with escalating discipline levels, teacher input for classroom removals, and placement review committees for students removed from classrooms. It also adds requirements for schools to retain specified kindergarten students and follow federal education laws in discipline planning. These changes apply directly to all Iowa public and charter schools handling student conduct.

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2421: A bill for an act relating to funding of supplemental nutrition assistance program assistance benefits.

HF 2421 ensures uninterrupted SNAP benefits for Iowa households if federal funding for the program stops due to a government shutdown. It requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to use leftover state general fund money - unspent or uncommitted for that fiscal year - to continue providing full SNAP benefits at the same level as federal funding would have covered. This mechanism keeps eligible households receiving assistance until federal funds are restored, with HHS developing implementing rules. The bill directly affects Iowa SNAP recipients and prevents benefit disruptions during federal funding gaps.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2026

HF 2426: A bill for an act adding epinephrine delivery systems to statewide protocols under which pharmacists may order and administer drugs and vaccines to adults.

This bill (HF 2426) allows Iowa pharmacists to order and administer epinephrine delivery systems to adults under existing statewide protocols. It directly affects pharmacists and adults at risk of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions). The key change defines "epinephrine delivery systems" to include auto-injectors and nasal sprays, expanding pharmacists' authority to provide these life-saving devices without a separate prescription. The bill does not create new requirements but updates current protocols to include these specific treatments.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results