Rep. John Wills

Maddy summaryHF 2090 establishes a regulatory relief office within Iowa's authority to help businesses navigate state regulations. The office administers a program allowing businesses to apply for temporary waivers of specific licensing or regulatory requirements to test innovative offerings, provided consumer health, safety, and financial risks are mitigated. Businesses must submit detailed applications outlining the regulations sought, consumer benefits, risk assessments, and demonstration plans, with state agencies reviewing and recommending approval or denial based on consumer protection. A 13-member advisory committee, including business and agency representatives, advises the office, and the office must issue annual reports tracking program participants, cost savings, and consumer outcomes. This bill directly affects new and existing businesses seeking regulatory flexibility and state agencies responsible for oversight.

Maddy summaryHF 2093 requires unmarried fathers to pay for the mother's pregnancy and birth expenses for children born outside marriage. It clarifies that paternity court cases cannot occur before a child's birth, and genetic testing must wait until after birth. The law also establishes that fathers must cover medical expenses related to pregnancy and birth, and their financial obligation extends to their estate if they die. This directly affects unmarried fathers, mothers, and children born out of wedlock in Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 620 aims to legalize the production and administration of psilocybin for individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill establishes a regulatory framework, defining roles for qualified medical providers who can recommend psilocybin and qualified therapy providers who can administer it. It also outlines requirements for psilocybin cultivation facilities and independent testing laboratories, including strict inventory control systems and secure administration locations. These provisions are designed to ensure controlled access and oversight of psilocybin for therapeutic use.

Maddy summaryHF 62 requires commercial entities that knowingly publish or distribute obscene material online to verify users are not minors using approved age verification methods. It imposes civil liability on these entities if a minor accesses the material, allowing victims to sue for damages, court costs, and attorney fees. The bill specifically excludes liability for platforms or users of interactive computer services (like social media) under federal law. This policy targets commercial distributors of online obscene content, not general internet platforms.

Maddy summaryHF 618 clarifies that digital platforms used by ride-hailing services (like Uber or Lyft) are not considered "products" under Iowa law. It specifically defines a "digital network" as an online app, website, or system enabling riders to prearrange rides with drivers, excluding these platforms from product-related regulations. This bill directly affects transportation network companies by ensuring their digital services are not subject to product-specific legal definitions in Iowa Code. The change is purely definitional, with no new requirements or restrictions added to these services.

Maddy summaryHF 140 allows licensed alcohol manufacturers (not retailers) to ship alcohol directly to Iowa residents who are 21 or older, subject to specific limits. Manufacturers must obtain a new "alcoholic liquor direct shipper license," ship only to personal-use consumers (with quantity caps based on their production volume), and include required labeling. The bill also requires manufacturers to pay the state 50% of the wholesale price for shipped alcohol and register products with the department. This applies only to manufacturers who produce or import limited volumes of alcohol, and it does not permit retailers to ship directly to consumers.

Maddy summaryHF 717 is an Iowa legislative bill that updates procedures for licensing decisions and judicial review. It requires licensing criteria for constitutionally protected activities to be written in clear, unambiguous language (otherwise void), sets a 30-day default deadline for agencies to act on license applications (unless extended by mutual agreement), and places the burden of proof on agencies in contested cases. The bill also mandates that courts conducting judicial review must examine all legal questions anew, not defer to agency decisions, and requires agencies to report on the law's impact by January 2026. This applies to all licensing decisions and court reviews starting July 1, 2026, affecting applicants, licensing agencies, and courts.

Maddy summaryHF 719 requires Iowa's Department of Revenue to commission a private study examining how local governments (like counties, cities, school districts, and townships) collect taxes and assess property values. The study aims to identify more efficient and cost-effective methods for these local taxing authorities. The Department must issue a request for proposals by July 1, 2026, with a contract finalized by October 1, 2026, funded 90% by the state and 10% by local entities. The Department must submit findings to the legislature by June 30, 2027. This bill does not change tax laws but seeks to improve existing local tax processes.

Maddy summaryHF 720 allows counties, cities, school districts, and townships (defined as "governmental units" with tax authority) to combine tax-related services through formal agreements. It enables these local governments to jointly handle tax levying, collection, and property valuation to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The bill establishes a legal framework for such collaborations under existing Chapter 28E of Iowa law. This change directly affects local governments seeking to streamline administrative functions, not individual residents or businesses.

Maddy summaryHF 718 establishes a process for delaying, rescinding, or approving certain state agency rules based on their fiscal impact. If a rule would cause $1 million or more in annual costs (or $5 million combined over five years) for affected entities, including the agency itself, its effective date is delayed until after the next legislative session ends. If the legislature does not approve the rule via joint resolution before the session adjourns, the rule is automatically rescinded and removed from state regulations. This applies to rules adopted by state agencies after July 1, 2026, and affects agencies creating rules with significant cost impacts on businesses, local governments, or other entities.