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.
This Iowa bill establishes rules for chatbots by defining them as AI systems that generate new content and respond to open-ended user input, while excluding simple lookup tools or narrow-field applications. It prohibits chatbots from encouraging self-harm or violence and requires clear disclosures that they are not human beings and do not provide professional advice in areas like medicine, law, or finance. The law imposes civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation and gives the attorney general authority to enforce compliance through civil actions. The attorney general must also develop specific rules to implement these requirements.
This bill directs the Iowa Department of Management to use state funds for technology infrastructure projects that improve government services and protect resident privacy. It establishes a Technology Reinvestment Fund with annual appropriations of $17.5 million starting in 2026, requiring projects to prioritize innovation, scalability, and rural access while ensuring long-term sustainability. The legislation also mandates stricter background checks for IT staff and vendors, including FBI criminal history checks every five years, and prohibits certain contract terms such as indemnity clauses, foreign law provisions, and blanket confidentiality requirements. Additionally, the bill requires annual reporting on funded projects to track progress and spending, with unspent funds rolling over for two years rather than reverting to the general fund.
This Iowa bill establishes rules for chatbots, requiring developers to clearly disclose that these AI tools are not human beings and do not provide professional advice like medical or legal services. The law prohibits chatbots from encouraging self-harm or violence and mandates regular reminders to users about the AI's limitations. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 per incident, which would be collected by the state attorney general. The attorney general would also have the authority to create additional rules to implement these requirements.
This bill allocates state funding to the economic development authority and related agencies for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, to support business growth, job creation, and community development across Iowa. The legislation establishes specific goals for the authority to focus on recruiting new businesses, retaining existing ones, and fostering entrepreneurship while prioritizing commercially viable projects in agriculture, technology, and biotechnology. It includes provisions requiring businesses receiving financial assistance to hire workers legally authorized to work in the United States and prohibits funding for geothermal snow-melting systems. Additionally, the bill provides separate appropriations for tourism promotion, support of the World Food Prize, and arts council activities, with requirements for annual reporting on tourism office performance.
This bill establishes a statewide electronic system for county veterans service offices to submit federal benefit claims and requires staff in these offices to obtain specific federal certifications and security clearances within twelve months of employment. It creates a new veterans services excellence fund funded by lottery proceeds and state appropriations to incentivize counties to improve veteran outreach and application efficiency, with annual allocations based on performance metrics starting in 2027. The legislation also clarifies that recognized veterans' service organizations can represent veterans in federal benefit claims and grants them power of attorney for this purpose. Additionally, it sets up quarterly reporting requirements to share performance data with county commissions and boards of supervisors.
This bill requires designated public entities in Iowa, including state agencies, counties, cities, and school districts, to post all statutorily required public notices on a centralized online portal managed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state will charge a five-dollar fee for each notice posted, with collected funds deposited into a new public notice administration fund capped at $350,000. Each notice must include essential information such as meeting details, contact information, and instructions for public comments, and must remain accessible on the portal for five years after the notice period ends. While the bill mandates online posting, it also requires entities to maintain a physical copy of notices at their principal offices for public access. Exceptions apply to certain government offices and specific interstate licensure compacts, and disputes over notice publication will be handled by the Iowa public information board.
This bill allocates state funding to the Iowa Department of Justice and related agencies for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, primarily supporting the attorney general's office, victim assistance programs, legal services for low-income individuals, and correctional facilities. Key provisions include specific funding amounts for victim compensation grants, cybersecurity improvements, and the hiring of additional staff such as program planners and human trafficking training instructors. The legislation also requires the department to report on non-state funding sources and mandates reimbursement for law enforcement academy training costs. Additionally, it directs unappropriated antitrust and consumer education funds to the department of justice for operational expenses.
This bill creates a new licensing system for companies that use artificial intelligence to provide medical services in Iowa, requiring them to register with a newly formed Board of Autonomous Medical Practice. The legislation defines different types of AI medical tools, from advisory systems that suggest diagnoses to fully autonomous AI that can independently make clinical decisions, and establishes specific roles for oversight including medical directors and designated responsible officials. Key provisions include setting up a board with diverse membership from healthcare professionals, technology experts, and the public, while also defining terms like adverse events and reportable incidents to ensure accountability. The bill does not currently specify the application process or fees but focuses on creating the regulatory framework and board structure needed to oversee these new AI medical services.
SF 2301 creates Iowa's "EDGE Program" (Headquarters Expansion and Development for Growth and Employment), which offers tax incentives to eligible businesses that retain or establish corporate headquarters in the state. It directly affects businesses in advanced manufacturing, bioscience, insurance/finance, technology, or R&D - requiring them to generate over 50% of revenue outside Iowa, offer comprehensive employee benefits, and demonstrate state-level competition for their headquarters. Key mechanisms include tax credits tied to creating new corporate jobs (e.g., strategic roles at headquarters) or retaining existing ones at risk, with incentives calculated based on qualifying wage thresholds in the local area. The bill also repeals older programs like the New Jobs Tax Credit and Industrial New Jobs Training Program while establishing new funds for electric transmission planning.
