This bill (1361DP) ensures that the surviving spouse and children of Iowa state employees who die from work-related traumatic injuries can continue their existing state health insurance coverage. It applies only to deaths directly caused by traumatic injuries incurred while performing job duties (excluding deaths from stress, chronic illness, misconduct, intoxication, or gross negligence). The state must allow coverage continuation but isn’t required to pay for it; if the state doesn’t cover costs, the family can choose to pay the uncovered portion to maintain coverage. Exclusions include cases where the survivor contributed to the employee’s death or becomes ineligible for other reasons (like remarriage).
SF 63 creates an Iowa cancer research program funded by a $4 million appropriation from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026. The Department of Health and Human Services will use these funds to support cancer research projects at Iowa's public colleges and universities, allocating $1.25 million each for pediatric cancer research, cancer prevention research (addressing Iowa's high cancer rates), and basic cancer research (studying cellular responses to cancer). The department will select projects through requests for proposals, prioritizing scientific merit, potential health benefits for Iowans, and inclusion of diverse expertise. Up to 5% of the funds may cover administrative costs for the program.
SF 84 limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases against health care providers and hospitals to $250,000 per injury or death, with exceptions for substantial bodily impairment, disfigurement, or death (up to $1 million, or $2 million if a hospital is involved). It removes the "loss of pregnancy" exception and repeals the annual 2.1% cap increase. For punitive damages, the bill requires that only 25% of the award goes to the plaintiff in medical cases, with the remainder funding indigent legal aid and insurance programs via a civil reparations trust. This directly affects patients filing medical malpractice claims and health care providers facing lawsuits. The bill does not change how economic damages (like lost wages) are calculated.
HF 143 establishes a $750,000 fund to support rural veterinary practices in Iowa counties with populations of 30,000 or fewer (based on the latest U.S. Census data). The fund provides financial assistance - up to $25,000 per practice annually - for eligible practices to improve facilities, acquire equipment, or adopt new technologies for treating agricultural animals. To qualify, practices must be located in Iowa, employ fewer than 50 people, have no recent disciplinary actions against their licensed veterinarians, and not be in bankruptcy. The Iowa Department of Agriculture will administer the program, prioritizing practices serving livestock like cattle, pigs, and poultry.
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SF 113 modifies Iowa school curriculum and library policies. It requires all public school districts and charter schools to provide age-appropriate human growth and development education (including STD and HPV information) in grades K-12, and mandates school library programs to contain only age-appropriate materials. The bill establishes penalties for violations, including written warnings for first offenses and potential disciplinary hearings for repeated violations by school staff. It defines "age-appropriate" to exclude explicit sexual content and requires school libraries to maintain diverse, updated collections supporting curriculum needs. The law directly affects school districts, charter schools, and their employees in implementing these educational and library standards.
This bill requires Iowa school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to provide free breakfast and lunch programs to all students whose families earn at or below 300% of the federal poverty level starting July 2025, increasing to 400% for 2026-2027, and becoming universal (no income limit) beginning July 2027. It appropriates state funds to cover costs not covered by federal programs, ensuring meals meet nutrition standards. The bill directly affects all eligible schools and their students, expanding access to free meals while mandating compliance with federal and state nutrition rules. The state board of education must adopt rules to administer these provisions, effective upon enactment.
This bill modifies Iowa school funding rules for districts sharing certain staff services. It changes which staff positions count toward a school district's annual funding limit of 21 "additional pupils" in their budget. Starting July 1, 2025, funding for master social workers, independent social workers, mental health professionals, and school resource officers will no longer count toward this limit. This allows districts to hire more of these staff members without reducing their total funding allocation for other programs. The bill directly affects Iowa public school districts receiving shared-service funding under current law.
SF 134 requires Iowa employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, upon request supported by a healthcare provider's advice. These accommodations include modifications like accessible workspaces, equipment adjustments, job restructuring, or flexible schedules, but cannot impose undue hardship on the employer. Employers violating this requirement face civil penalties of up to $750, with enforcement handled by the Iowa Office of Civil Rights through inspections and interviews. The bill specifies that compliance with these standards cannot be altered through collective bargaining agreements.
This bill increases penalties for assaults against specific public safety and healthcare workers, including peace officers, correctional staff, firefighters, healthcare providers, and Department of Corrections employees. It upgrades certain assaults to higher felony classifications (e.g., class C felony for assaults with intent to cause serious injury or involving weapons) and designates spitting or bodily fluid contact as an aggravated misdemeanor requiring a minimum 7-day jail term. The bill also creates a new class D felony for inmates who assault Corrections employees using bodily fluids like blood or saliva. These provisions directly affect individuals committing such assaults and the protected occupations listed in the law.
HF 121 requires Iowa school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and area education agencies to develop and distribute resources enabling school staff to provide testing services. These resources help parents or guardians of enrolled students submit applications for home and community-based services waivers through the Department of Health and Human Services. The waivers are Medicaid programs that allow individuals to receive necessary care at home or in community settings instead of in institutional facilities. The bill specifically authorizes area education agencies to offer these testing services to eligible schools upon request.
