SSB 3192 allocates state funding to the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support services for veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health needs. The bill provides specific amounts for veteran home operations, aging and disability programs, and a comprehensive behavioral health system that includes prevention, treatment, and crisis services. It also funds child welfare initiatives, family support programs, and public health efforts while adjusting financial projections for child care and adoption subsidies. Additionally, the legislation establishes reporting requirements for the Iowa veterans home and directs a portion of sports wagering receipts toward behavioral health care.
SF 2483 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funds to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation provides specific funding for veterans' services, including administration and home ownership assistance, as well as programs for aging, disability, behavioral health, and public health. It also includes money for child welfare initiatives, family support programs, and mental health treatment, while repealing certain expenditure projections for child care and adoption subsidies. The bill establishes reporting requirements for the Iowa Veterans Home and directs portions of the funding toward federal matching programs and specific community capacity building efforts.
This bill establishes a dedicated fund within the Iowa state treasury to finance the construction and infrastructure improvements of state prisons. It creates two specific accounts within this fund: one for building new prisons or replacing old facilities, and another for programs aimed at reducing inmate recidivism, such as mental health care and job training. The funding for these accounts will come from fines, fees, and forfeited bail collected in criminal cases, with specific portions allocated once existing prison bonds are paid off. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Corrections to submit annual reports on the status of all infrastructure projects and directs the legislature to form a committee to study the need for additional prison capacity.
HF 2782 is a budget bill that allocates state funds to the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation provides specific funding for veterans' services, including the Iowa Veterans Home and a home ownership assistance program for military members. It also directs money toward aging and disability support, behavioral health treatment, and maternal care initiatives, while establishing reporting requirements for financial expenditures. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for graduate medical education and updates to various health-related programs.
This bill allocates state funding for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, supporting programs for veterans, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Key provisions include financial support for the Iowa Veterans Home, home ownership assistance for military members, and aging services such as elder abuse prevention and adult day care. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for expenditures and includes funding for maternal support, mental health services, and opioid settlement initiatives.
HF 2292 mandates Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to double the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute by 2028. The bill requires applying for a federal Medicaid waiver by July 2027 to fund this expansion, using the 2025 bed count as the baseline. It directly affects homeless individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders, as cited in the bill's findings linking untreated mental health to public safety concerns. The key mechanism is the Medicaid waiver process, which would allow state-funded bed increases beyond current federal restrictions. This policy change aims to expand institutional treatment capacity without specifying outcomes or advocating for particular approaches.
HF 2370 creates a confidential "green alert" system in Iowa for missing at-risk veterans, defined as those reported missing due to mental health crises, substance issues, or other well-being concerns. The system requires verification by a peace officer before activating a nonpublic alert shared only with specific agencies (like law enforcement, hospitals, and veteran support groups) to locate the veteran and provide voluntary assistance. It prohibits using the alert for arrests without independent probable cause, mandates 72-hour reviews, and penalizes false reports as a simple misdemeanor. The bill prioritizes de-escalation and trauma-informed responses while protecting veterans' privacy through strict data handling.
HF 2263 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to establish seven statewide peer-run respite programs. These programs must provide voluntary, short-term support for individuals experiencing emotional distress, mental health crises, or "life-altering challenges" (as defined in the bill), while operating independently from medical facilities and ensuring at least 51% of each program's board consists of people with lived experience of mental health conditions or similar challenges. The bill also limits clinical mental health services to under 10% of a program's total offerings and mandates that programs cannot be located on clinical or medical facility campuses. This legislation directly affects Iowans seeking crisis support and the state agency responsible for implementing these services.
HB 652 protects confidential communications between public safety officers (including police, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and correctional staff) and peer support counselors during crisis or wellness sessions. It prohibits counselors from disclosing these communications in disciplinary proceedings, administrative investigations, or legal cases, except when the communication involves a crime plan, an explicit threat of harm, or mandatory reporting requirements like child abuse. The bill explicitly states such communications cannot be used as evidence in fitness-for-duty evaluations or formal investigations. This law aims to encourage open dialogue about mental health by ensuring confidentiality for officers seeking peer support.
Iowa's SSB 3116 enacts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, allowing licensed psychologists to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer up to 30 days of temporary in-person care annually in another participating state without needing a new license. This directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to serve clients in other compact states and their clients, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Key mechanisms include creating a shared system for verifying licenses and disciplinary records between states, requiring psychologists to notify the receiving state before temporary practice, and defining "telepsychology" as service delivery via technology. The compact prioritizes public safety by ensuring psychologists meet licensing standards and enabling states to share enforcement information. It does not apply to permanent practice or psychologists licensed in both states.
