Iowa Bills

HF 774 removes a requirement that counties with populations under 200,000 must set county attorney salaries between 45% and 100% of a district court judge’s salary. The bill directly affects county attorneys and local governments in smaller Iowa counties by eliminating this mandated salary range. Key provision: County attorneys’ pay will no longer be tied to a percentage of a judge’s salary, granting counties more flexibility in compensation decisions. This is a concrete policy change to salary-setting authority, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

HJR 7 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Iowa's Constitution that explicitly states residents have the right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife using traditional methods. This right would be subject to laws and rules focused on wildlife conservation, resource management, and preserving hunting/fishing opportunities. The amendment specifies that public hunting and fishing should be a preferred method for wildlife management and clarifies it won’t affect existing laws on property rights, trespass, or water resources. If adopted, it would require voter approval after legislative passage.

HF 166 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to display the national motto (from 36 U.S.C. §302) and Iowa's state motto in a visible location, such as the main entrance of each school building. It also mandates that schools begin each school day with two minutes of silent time immediately before the daily pledge of allegiance in grades 1-12. Students may opt out of reciting the pledge if they or their parents object, but the silent time requirement applies regardless. The bill does not change the existing requirement to administer the pledge but adds the silent period as a new procedural step.

HF 212 requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools offering breakfast or lunch programs to follow specific food standards. It mandates using natural fats and oils (like butter, olive oil, or coconut oil) instead of margarine in school meals and bans the use of certain ingredients - including artificial dyes (like blue dye 1 and red dye 40), brominated vegetable oil, and margarine - in meals served to students. The bill also prohibits selling beverages containing these banned ingredients during school functions unless sold off-site or after 30 minutes past the school day’s end. These rules apply to all schools with meal programs starting July 1, 2027.

This resolution commemorates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps and recognizes the advocacy work of We the Veterans and Military Families. It does not create new laws or policies but formally honors military service history and the organization's efforts through its Military250 campaign. The resolution is symbolic, expressing the Iowa Senate's appreciation for veterans, military families, and their contributions to national defense. It affects no individuals or entities through legislative action, as it is a non-binding commemorative measure.

SF 269 modifies Iowa's property tax and lien rules. It changes when buildings or improvements become taxable liens (applying different rules for residential vs. non-residential structures under $20,000 or over $20,000). The bill also clarifies how property tax credits and rent reimbursements are processed for eligible claimants, including payment deadlines. Additionally, it defines "valueless homes" in rural areas and streamlines removal procedures for abandoned mobile homes, requiring notice to county treasurers after removal and presuming disposal costs as the home's value. These changes directly affect property owners, mobile home residents in rural areas, and local governments handling tax collections.

This bill creates a dedicated funding stream for Iowa's disaster recovery programs, including hazard mitigation loans, housing assistance after disasters, and support for insurance professionals like adjusters. It establishes a separate revolving loan fund (not part of the state's general budget) that can issue tax-exempt bonds to finance disaster repairs and meet federal matching requirements. The fund will be repaid through income from approved projects and loan repayments, ensuring these resources stay available for future disasters. It directly affects Iowans impacted by natural disasters by improving access to recovery funding and streamlining how insurance claims are handled after events like floods or storms.

SSB 1220 is an appropriations bill allocating $20.3 million from the general fund to Iowa's Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for its 2025-2026 operations, including administration, regulation, and programs. It specifically funds targeted initiatives such as $325,000 for Iowa State University’s grape and wine research, $249,700 for a butchery innovation program supporting small meat businesses, $1.05 million for foreign animal disease preparedness, and $230,000 for a statewide program assisting farmers with disabilities. The bill requires quarterly spending reports to the legislature and allows unspent funds for certain programs to carry over into the next fiscal year. This bill directly affects state agricultural agencies, universities, and eligible businesses through dedicated budget allocations for existing programs.

SSB 1217 is an appropriations bill that allocates funding for Iowa's state government operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides specific budgets for agencies including the Department of Administrative Services ($3.75 million for salaries/utilities), the Auditor of State ($1.02 million), the Iowa Office of Civil Rights ($1.42 million), and the Ethics Board ($910,105), covering routine operations like staff, maintenance, and programs such as "Enrich Iowa" at the state library. Key provisions include allowing unspent funds for utility costs and workers' compensation to carry over into the next fiscal year, avoiding automatic forfeiture. The bill directly affects state agencies and their ability to fund ongoing services but does not create new policies or regulations.

SF 575 replaces several existing healthcare funding programs with a new "health care professional incentive program." It ends the rural Iowa primary care loan repayment, health care professional recruitment, health care award, and mental health professional loan repayment programs, transferring their remaining funds to the new incentive program. The bill also establishes a "hub-and-spoke" funding model to improve rural healthcare delivery through regional provider collaboration. These changes affect healthcare professionals in Iowa, particularly those in rural areas, by redirecting funding toward the new incentive program instead of the eliminated initiatives.

SSB 1218 is an appropriations bill allocating funds from Iowa's Rebuild Infrastructure and Technology Reinvestment Funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides $8.2 million to the Department of Agriculture for water quality demonstration projects in priority watersheds, requiring projects to follow Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy, use cost-sharing (state covering up to 50% of costs), and maintain confidentiality of agricultural land data. Additional allocations include $10 million for renewable fuel infrastructure, $5 million for state historical building maintenance, and smaller sums for corrections facility renovations, tourism funds, and other infrastructure projects. The bill specifies how funds must be used, including restrictions on public disclosure of agricultural land information.

SF 585 modifies how Iowa utilities calculate rates for large-scale energy projects. It establishes new ratemaking rules for electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facilities over 340 megawatts, including projects that convert coal plants to gas, add carbon capture, or repower existing facilities. The bill explicitly encourages development of nuclear power and innovation programs, creating new tariffs for utility-led projects and setting land restoration standards. It also updates loan programs for energy infrastructure and adds regulations for anaerobic digester systems, affecting utilities planning major facility investments in Iowa.