HF 469 expands benefits for Iowa veterans across multiple state services. It requires state agencies to give veterans preference for state grants and public assistance programs like food assistance and housing vouchers. The bill's key provision creates automatic fee waivers for veterans-owned businesses (including LLCs, corporations, and partnerships) when filing specific documents with the Secretary of State, eliminating associated fees for eligible veterans. It also extends benefits like tuition exemptions, tax credits, and priority in civil litigation, with penalties for noncompliance. The bill affects all Iowa veterans and veterans-owned businesses filing designated documents.
SF 405 creates a voluntary program allowing individuals to exclude themselves from purchasing alcohol at retail stores. People can request exclusion for 5 years or life, and stores must check an electronic list (with names and Social Security numbers) kept confidential, except when required by court order. The bill requires stores to provide information about substance use disorder treatment programs to anyone who requests exclusion, and protects stores and the state from liability if they follow the process. This directly affects individuals seeking to limit their alcohol access and retailers who sell alcohol.
HF 620 aims to legalize the production and administration of psilocybin for individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill establishes a regulatory framework, defining roles for qualified medical providers who can recommend psilocybin and qualified therapy providers who can administer it. It also outlines requirements for psilocybin cultivation facilities and independent testing laboratories, including strict inventory control systems and secure administration locations. These provisions are designed to ensure controlled access and oversight of psilocybin for therapeutic use.
HF 584 establishes Iowa's Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council to develop statewide strategies for addressing the opioid crisis. The council, composed of 11 appointed members representing health providers, treatment programs, courts, and local health departments, will focus on prevention, treatment access, recovery services, and overdose prevention - particularly expanding naloxone availability. It will review existing initiatives, set priorities, recommend specific projects for funding from the opioid settlement fund (capping grants at $500,000 each), and ensure funds align with other state and federal efforts. The council must report annually to the legislature by January 31 on funded projects and progress toward measurable goals like reducing overdoses and improving treatment access. This bill directly affects Iowans impacted by opioid use disorder and guides how settlement funds are allocated to combat the epidemic.
HF 626 creates an Iowa veterans home members fund in the state treasury to provide monthly stipends to eligible veterans. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to use fund money to give a $45 monthly stipend to each resident of an Iowa veterans home who receives Medicaid benefits. Funds in the new account come from state appropriations, federal sources, or private donations, and any unused balance at year-end cannot revert to the general state fund. This policy directly affects veterans living in state veterans homes who qualify for Medicaid, providing them with a fixed monthly financial support.
SF 109 establishes Iowa's first state-run paid family and medical leave insurance program. It provides eligible employees at covered employers (private companies with 10+ workers, or all public employers) with up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave annually for reasons like childbirth, caring for a seriously ill family member, or their own serious health condition. Employees qualify after working 1,250 hours over 12 consecutive months. The program covers up to 16 combined weeks of family and medical leave per year, with benefits calculated based on the employee's "spendable weekly earnings."
HF 92 modifies Iowa's urban renewal law by changing which property tax revenue funds urban renewal projects. It specifies that taxes for emergency medical services (under Chapter 422D) are excluded from the revenue pool used for urban renewal financing and low/moderate income housing assistance. The bill ensures that only certain property taxes - excluding those for emergency medical services, school levies, and other specific programs - are allocated to the municipality's special fund for urban renewal projects and housing. This change applies to property taxes due in fiscal years starting July 1, 2026.
HF 755 authorizes municipalities to establish length of service award programs for volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers, providing them with tax-deferred benefits. The bill creates a state "length of service award program grant fund" under the Department of Revenue, initially funded with $2 million annually from lottery revenues. This fund can grow up to $5 million if depleted. Municipalities can apply for matching grants from this fund, up to $500 per participant, to help contribute to their local award programs. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
This bill, HF 941, expands the ground emergency medical transportation (GEMT) program by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to hire dedicated staff. These staff will assist eligible ground emergency medical transportation providers with technical support, actuary services, and Medicaid enrollment to help them join the program. The department is directed to develop the program to ensure access to emergency medical services throughout the state. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual report to the general assembly detailing enrollment numbers, assistance provided, and barriers to participation in the GEMT program.
This bill removes Iowa's residency requirement for obtaining a medical cannabidiol (CBD) registration card. It directly affects non-residents who currently cannot access these cards in Iowa. The key change amends Iowa Code §124E.4 to eliminate language requiring applicants to be Iowa residents, updating the required applicant information to only include full name, Iowa address, and date of birth. This policy change allows non-residents to legally register for medical CBD use in Iowa without needing to live in the state. The bill does not alter medical CBD use rules or eligibility criteria beyond residency.
