HF 2255 amends Iowa law to allow U.S. senators, representatives, statewide elected officials, and state legislators to request that their names be redacted from public electronic documents maintained by county assessors or recorders. Currently, only law enforcement personnel could make such requests. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit recommendations by November 2026 on protecting candidates' personal residence information while still verifying residency for election purposes. This change directly affects elected officials seeking privacy for their names in publicly accessible property records. The bill focuses on modifying access procedures, not altering property tax or election rules.
This bill prevents Iowa state agencies and law enforcement from sharing drivers' personal information (like license or registration details) when trying to collect fines for traffic violations recorded by cameras located outside Iowa. It specifically blocks the use of such data to issue or collect fines for out-of-state camera violations, such as speeding or running red lights captured by cameras in other states. Exceptions apply only if the request involves investigating criminal or civil violations unrelated to traffic law. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.
HF 2649, the "REACH Act," creates a pilot program allowing eligible Iowa community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in specific high-demand fields like nursing, IT, and education. To qualify, colleges must be at least 50 miles from existing bachelor's programs and limit offerings to three degrees per institution, with upper-level courses taught on campus (not online). The bill requires annual reporting on enrollment, student outcomes, and workforce alignment to the state education department and legislature. It directly affects community colleges in rural or underserved areas seeking to expand local higher education options without replacing university programs.
HF 2609 requires political campaign materials containing synthetic media - digitally altered images, audio, or video that falsely mimic real people - to include a clear disclosure: "THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA." It directly affects political advertisers, including websites, social media, TV ads, and printed materials like campaign signs. The law mandates this disclosure be prominently displayed, places sole responsibility on the publisher for compliance, and imposes penalties for willful violations (up to a year in jail or fines of $430-$2,560). The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board must create implementing rules, and the disclosure does not prevent other legal actions against harmful synthetic media use.
HF 2645 requires Iowa's state court administrator to establish an opt-out electronic notification system for criminal cases by July 1, 2027. The system will send text messages to people involved in criminal cases - including defendants, victims, witnesses, and their attorneys - providing reminders for court dates, fee notifications, and payment options. It mandates clear opt-out options, protects nonpublic case information, and limits system use to enrolled individuals. The bill does not require participation, and the system may be run by Iowa courts or a qualified outside vendor.
SF 2224 requires all Iowa public high schools (grades 9-12) to include artificial intelligence fundamentals in computer science courses, mandating instruction on what AI is, how it works, and its societal impacts. It updates graduation requirements to mandate a half-unit of computer science starting in 2022, allowing schools to fulfill part of this requirement through applied science, technology, engineering, or manufacturing courses. The bill also adds new standards for teacher preparation programs, requiring future educators to complete training in AI and computational thinking relevant to their grade level. These changes apply to all Iowa public schools and teacher training institutions, directly affecting students, educators, and curriculum developers. The law modifies existing education codes (sections 256.7, 256.11, and 256.16) to implement these requirements.
HF 985 modifies how the Iowa Secretary of State collects fees for services. It allows the Secretary to set additional fees (capped at $2 million annually starting July 2025) for services like document copies, with all such fees deposited into the Business Services Modernization Fund. This fund must be used to modernize the Secretary’s technology and business operations by June 30, 2026. The bill also updates expedited filing surcharges (e.g., $250 for 1-hour service) and specifies that these fees go to the Business Administration Fund for administering business entity regulations. It directly affects businesses filing documents with the Secretary’s office and the office itself, as it changes fee structures and fund usage.
This bill makes it illegal to use automated software (bots) to purchase event tickets online. It directly affects consumers who use such bots to buy tickets and ticket sellers who enable or facilitate automated purchases. Violators face civil penalties, meaning they could be fined for breaking the law. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor in June 2025.
SF 35 expands the definition of harassment to include the unauthorized sharing of personal information. This bill directly affects individuals whose private contact or identity details are shared without their consent, as well as those who engage in such actions. It specifies that a person commits harassment if they purposefully disseminate, publish, distribute, or post another person's personal information without consent, intending to threaten, intimidate, annoy, or alarm them or encourage others to do so. "Personal information" is broadly defined to include contact details like home address, phone numbers, email, social media profiles, place of employment, and photographic depictions. Violations of this provision are classified as harassment in the first degree, an aggravated misdemeanor.
This bill requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt policies by July 1, 2025, that restrict student use of personal electronic devices during classroom instructional time. The Department of Education will develop model policies for schools to consider. These policies must identify methods for parents to communicate with students during school hours and emergencies, establish disciplinary actions for violations, and outline secure storage protocols for devices. They must also include provisions allowing students to maintain access to devices for legitimate physical or mental health reasons, or as required by an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. Additionally, school districts are mandated to revise their emergency operations plans by July 1, 2025, to align with these new policies on electronic device use.
