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 bill (SSB 3118) prohibits utilization review organizations (insurance companies that approve medical treatments) from using artificial intelligence as the sole basis to deny, delay, or downgrade prior authorization requests for medically necessary care. It requires human review by qualified medical professionals - either a "qualified reviewer" (a physician in the same specialty) or a "clinical peer" (a non-physician specialist) - for all denials or downgrades. The bill mandates written explanations for denials, including specific reasons and reviewer credentials, and requires a consultation between the provider and reviewer within seven business days of denial. It directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers requesting coverage, and patients needing treatment approvals.
This bill restricts certain activities involving foreign entities in Iowa. It prohibits state agencies and local governments from purchasing or operating drones made by companies on a federal "covered list" (typically Chinese manufacturers), requires replacing such drones with approved models, and creates a class D felony for flying foreign-made drones within 400 feet of critical infrastructure like power plants. It also mandates that foreign entities engaging in lobbying or political consulting in Iowa register with the ethics board within 48 hours and submit detailed records of their activities, with daily fines up to $5,000 for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill states that international agreements (e.g., from the WHO or UN) do not have legal force in Iowa unless formally adopted by the state legislature, and bans using taxpayer funds to enforce such agreements.
HF 2375 requires a human driver to be physically present in self-driving vehicles used for commercial purposes (like delivery services or ride-hailing) in Iowa, while allowing driverless operation for personal use. The human driver must monitor the vehicle, intervene manually if needed (including stopping the vehicle), hold a valid driver's license with required commercial endorsements (like a CDL), and follow all vehicle safety laws. This directly affects commercial operators of autonomous vehicles, ensuring human oversight during operations. The bill builds on existing Iowa law that already permits driverless vehicles without humans for personal use, adding this specific requirement for commercial applications.
SF 2421 would have required healthcare review groups to use human reviewers - not solely artificial intelligence - for decisions denying, delaying, or downgrading prior authorizations (e.g., changing urgent requests to standard ones). It mandated that denials include written explanations citing specific criteria, along with detailed attestations about the reviewer’s qualifications and specialty expertise. The bill also required separate human reviews for appeals and prohibited the same reviewer from handling both initial denials and appeals. This bill was withdrawn on March 4, 2026, and did not become law.
This bill (SF 2226) requires health insurance carriers in Iowa to use human clinical reviewers before automatically denying or downcoding claims submitted by health care providers. It mandates detailed written notices to providers explaining any automated denial or downcode, including the reason, policy justification, and appeal rights (with 30 days to appeal). Health carriers must also disclose their automated system use and oversight processes to the insurance commissioner and maintain documentation for five years. The law applies directly to health carriers (insurance companies, HMOs, etc.) and affects health care providers who submit claims for reimbursement.
HF 2635 sets new rules for health insurance companies and claim review organizations (utilization review organizations) in Iowa, directly affecting health care providers and patients. It prohibits using artificial intelligence as the sole method to deny, delay, or downgrade prior authorizations for medically necessary services, requiring instead a qualified physician review. The bill also establishes strict timelines for audits (45 days to complete after receiving documents) and appeals (30 days for a final decision), with penalties including 10% interest for violations. These changes apply to most health insurance plans in Iowa starting January 1, 2027, but exclude certain coverages like dental, Medicare supplements, and short-term policies.
HF 2451 sets a 60-minute daily limit on digital instruction for Iowa students in kindergarten through fifth grade, excluding uses like IEP-required technology, teacher demonstrations, or state assessments. It requires school districts to adopt written technology use policies for these grades, including daily limits, a list of digital platforms, parent opt-out rights, and a statement that technology should support foundational learning. The bill also mandates a technology adoption checklist for one-to-one device programs, covering instructional purpose, age appropriateness, content filtering, and student data practices. These policies and checklists must be published online for public access. The bill applies to all school districts, charter schools, and innovation school zones in Iowa.
HF 2646 restricts state agencies and local governments from purchasing, leasing, or operating drones made by companies on a federal "covered list" (e.g., certain foreign manufacturers), requiring replacement with drones on a federal "blue list" and auditing their security protocols. It creates a class D felony for flying foreign-made drones within 400 feet of critical infrastructure like power plants or national guard facilities. The bill also mandates foreign entities lobbying in Iowa to register within 48 hours and file detailed records of their activities, with daily civil penalties for non-compliance. Finally, it prohibits using state tax funds to enforce international agreements (like UN or WHO guidelines) unless formally adopted by Iowa’s legislature, affirming state sovereignty over public health and safety policies.
HF 2685 establishes Iowa's first statewide standards for student instructional technology in elementary schools (K-5). It limits digital instruction to 60 minutes daily, excluding uses like IEP-required technology, teacher demonstrations, assessments, and computer science classes. School districts must adopt written policies detailing daily limits, digital tools used, and parental opt-out rights for reduced screen time, and publish these policies online. The bill also requires transparency around one-to-one device programs, including data practices and parental choice options, but excludes online learning programs.
